One of our members recounted a story about a switch in hydraulic oils which had a less than ideal outcome. The machines involved are mining-size hydraulic excavators.

These diggers were delivered to the end-user filled with the machine OEM’s own branded ISO VG46 hydraulic oil. This oil features a zinc-free, anti-wear additive package and has a viscosity index (VI) of … Read more

Last night I watched part of a documentary about over servicing in healthcare. The ordering of unnecessary and sometimes invasive tests. Performance of surgeries and other procedures which aren’t required or which are not scientifically proven to be helpful. And this issue is more or less universal across healthcare in developed countries. It’s a very costly one too. Not just … Read more

Many years ago during my relatively short career moonlighting as an oilfield diver, I was on a salvage job off the North West coast of Western Australia. While operating in shallow water, a 2,500 ton support vessel managed to strike an abandoned oil well. The well head pierced the hull of the ship and opened it up like a sardine … Read more