Texaco Crater

Crater lubricants are available in 7 grades and range in viscosity from a heavy oil to a semi-solid at normal ambient temperatures. Crater 0 is a residual straight mineral oil,. Crater A, 2X, and 5X are residual compounded oils, while Fluid M and Fluid H are residual compounded oils diluted with a high flash solvent to allow for easier application. They are recommended for the lubrication of wire ropes, chains, flexible couplings, gears and sliding surfaces of drag lines and shovels, and open gears of mine hoists, ball mills, rubber mixers, cement mills, clay products industries, construction equipment, dredging equipment as well as other applications where a heavy, adhesive oil is required. Crater CSF is a sprayable lithium soap thickened open gear lubricant which is chlorinated-solvent free (CSF).

Product Application

Crater A is primarily intended for the lubrication of wire rope exposed to both low temperature and severe weather conditions or where the presence of water requires the use of a specially compounded product.  It can be applied without heating; will remain pliable under most ambient conditions.  Crater A can be applied through a mechanical lubricator to both chains and wire rope.

Crater 0 is primarily intended for use on open gears, chains and wire ropes.  Due to its pour point, both ambient and operating temperatures must be considered in selecting Crater 0 for a particular application.

Crater 2X and 5X were developed specifically to give the user all the benefits of Crater where water conditions are involved and where the lubricant must withstand washing action.  They also meet the performance requirements of AGMA Lubricant Nos. 14R and 15R, respectively.

Crater Fluids M and H were developed to provide the benefit of heavy oil lubricants, but with easier application characteristics.  They are viscous materials thinned by a high flash point, chlorine-free solvent to permit application by brushing, swabbing, dipping, spraying, drip cup or spout type can.  The high flash solvent evaporates after application leaving a very viscous, tenacious oil film.  This solvent is not considered to be flammable by DOT and OSHA standards.  However, caution should be exercised when considering these products for applications exposed to open flame or spark sources (kilns, etc).  Both products, without solvent, meet the performance requirements of AGMA Lubricant Nos. 14R and 15R, respectively.

Crater CSF is primarily intended for gear applications where design prevents the use of a flood type lubrication system in a tight, leak-free enclosed gearbox.  Intermittent spray or hand application of a heavy adhesive type lubricant is instead employed to provide the necessary lubrication of the gears.  Often these gear sets are slow speed, large diameter, heavily loaded units where the lubricant minimizes or eliminates excessive wear by preventing metal-to-metal contact at the gear tooth mesh.  It is suitable for use where AGMA 14R and 15R lubricants are recommended and lubricant application can be a pressurized delivery system or hand application.  Typical applications include open ring gear and pinion drives, reduction gearing of kilns, furnaces, ball and roll mills, chemical agitators and mixers, crushers, pulverizes, drum-dryer drives, presses and grinders.  It is also suitable for exposed pump drives, chain and sprocket drives, fifth wheel, turn tables, dipper sticks and fork lift rails.

Product Description and Features

Crater A is a residual compounded oil with a low pour point and remains pliable under most ambient conditions.

Crater 0 is a residual straight mineral oil with a high pour point and remains pliable under appropriate ambient and operating conditions.

Crater 2X and SX are residual compounded oils with a high pour point and provide all the benefits of Crater where water conditions are involved.  They also meet the performance requirements of AGMA Lubricants Nos. 14R and 15R, respectively

Crater Fluids M and H are residual compounded oils cutback with a non-chlorinated solvent to allow easier application.  The solvent used is an aliphatic hydrocarbon with a closed cup flash point greater than 220'F.  This solvent is not considered to be flammable by DOT and OSHA standards.  Both products, without solvent, meet the performance requirements of AGMA Lubricants No. 14R and 15R, respectively.

Crater CSF is an NLGI 0 lithium grease containing a high viscosity base oil (ISO 1000) and fortified with extreme pressure additives, molybdenum disulfide and graphite to provide outstanding wear protection to shock or heavily loaded gears.  It contains special tackifiers which provide excellent adhesion to metal parts and resists water wash-off and squeezing out under pressure.  This product maintains a "grease-like" consistency over a temperature range of 0 to 300'F.  It is chlorinated solvent-free to facilitate disposal of used lubricant in accordance with local, state and federal regulations.  Older asphaltic-based products used for open gear lubrication sometimes trap dirt and wear particles and form a hard deposit in the gear tooth root area.  These deposits could distort the tooth profile causing premature wear.  Crater CSF does not create these deposits and results in a much cleaner appearance in service.

Benefits

In service Crater provides:

• Excellent wear protection under adverse conditions
• Rust protection of ferrous parts
• Resistance to water washout
• Excellent adhesion to metal surfaces
• Environmentally preferred product compared to straight solvent cut-back products (Crater CSF)
• Clean, deposit-free gear teeth (Crater CSF)