Been having the usual fun time at work trying to keep my fairly new dump truck and salt/sand spreader working for the upcoming winter weather. Auger gear box according to the manual takes straight 90 weight GL-4 EP gear oil. I drained it after the first 100 hours of use and refill with the correct fluid. It ran fine and continues to do so.
My employer the State of Kansas Department of Transportation is great at never supplying us with anything the manual calls for so I use my own money to put the right lubricants in the equipment I'am assigned (I know I'm nuts!). Told my supervisor that I drained and refilled my Auger Gear box with the correct 90 weight lubricant that the manual calls for. I then got the comment that we always use 80w-90 in all the gear boxes. He also made the comment that when he drains the box on the next go around that the box will be filled with globs of gunk. Funny thing is I ran this same exact lubricant nearly all last winter and this year upon draining the old fluid it was nice and clean, unlike all the other trucks in the Fleet which all came out dirty and full of water.
I can't seem to get anyone at this organization to every crack a manual open to see what is supposed to go in what. Don't get me wrong, I'am not trying to be a know it all. I'am just concerned about the huge expense and responsibility of the truck and equipment I'am assigned. Some examples of what is done at my workplace: Putting 80w-90 in an axle that calls for 85w-140, filling leaking hubs with 80w-90 that call for 75w-90 synthetic, etc... and I forgot to mention that wheel hubs, axles, and transmissions are never drained and refilled unless theres an excessive leak or the fluid looks burned.
This place is a maintenance nightmare. They should be ashamed of their maintenance practices. I just can't understand my supervisor, he gets angry at me for doing the right thing by taking care of my assigned equipment and I'am even putting the expense on my own pocket. Guess it just does not pay to do the right thing.
Thank you for listening to my rant.
Rob T.
My employer the State of Kansas Department of Transportation is great at never supplying us with anything the manual calls for so I use my own money to put the right lubricants in the equipment I'am assigned (I know I'm nuts!). Told my supervisor that I drained and refilled my Auger Gear box with the correct 90 weight lubricant that the manual calls for. I then got the comment that we always use 80w-90 in all the gear boxes. He also made the comment that when he drains the box on the next go around that the box will be filled with globs of gunk. Funny thing is I ran this same exact lubricant nearly all last winter and this year upon draining the old fluid it was nice and clean, unlike all the other trucks in the Fleet which all came out dirty and full of water.
I can't seem to get anyone at this organization to every crack a manual open to see what is supposed to go in what. Don't get me wrong, I'am not trying to be a know it all. I'am just concerned about the huge expense and responsibility of the truck and equipment I'am assigned. Some examples of what is done at my workplace: Putting 80w-90 in an axle that calls for 85w-140, filling leaking hubs with 80w-90 that call for 75w-90 synthetic, etc... and I forgot to mention that wheel hubs, axles, and transmissions are never drained and refilled unless theres an excessive leak or the fluid looks burned.
This place is a maintenance nightmare. They should be ashamed of their maintenance practices. I just can't understand my supervisor, he gets angry at me for doing the right thing by taking care of my assigned equipment and I'am even putting the expense on my own pocket. Guess it just does not pay to do the right thing.
Thank you for listening to my rant.
Rob T.