Free Reliability Resource
The Industrial Lube Room Audit Checklist
10 Steps to Eliminate Contamination and Implement Lubrication Reliability™
80%
of mechanical wear is caused by oil contamination. Use this checklist to audit your storage, handling, and transfer practices to identify hidden risks before they cause equipment failure.
Why This Checklist Matters
Contamination doesn't announce itself — it builds silently in drums, breathers, funnels, and transfer containers until it reaches your bearings, gearboxes, and hydraulic systems. A structured lube room audit is the fastest way to find these hidden entry points before they cause unplanned downtime.
This checklist walks you through ten practical checks across three phases: storage & climate control, contamination & moisture control, and handling, dispensing & identification. Work through each phase with your maintenance team and use it as the foundation for a genuine Lubrication Reliability™ programme.
1
Storage & Climate Control
2
Contamination & Moisture Control
3
Handling, Dispensing & Identification
The 10-Point Audit Checklist
Tick as you go
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Phase 1: Storage & Climate Control
1. Temperature Regulation: Is the lube room climate-controlled to prevent temperature fluctuations that cause oil containers to “breathe” in moisture?
2. Drum Storage: Are oil drums stored horizontally (if outdoors/unsealed) to prevent water from pooling on the lids and seeping through the bungs?
3. Access Control: Is the lube room restricted to trained personnel only, keeping it clean and free of general plant dust?
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Phase 2: Contamination & Moisture Control
4. Tank Breathers: Are all bulk storage tanks equipped with high-efficiency desiccant breathers instead of standard mesh caps?
5. Pre-Filtration: Is new oil filtered before it enters storage or before it is introduced to critical machinery?
6. Spill Containment: Are proper bunds and spill pallets installed beneath all fluid storage zones?
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Phase 3: Handling, Dispensing & Identification
7. Sealed Transfer: Are transfer pumps and oil dispensing containers completely sealed (no open funnels or open-top pitchers)?
8. Colour-Coding: Is there a strict, visible lubrication identification system (LIS) mapping specific oils to specific tools to prevent cross-contamination?
9. Dedicated Tools: Does every unique lubricant type have its own dedicated transfer pump and container?
10. Sampling Points: Do critical machines have dedicated, closed-loop oil sampling valves installed for clean oil analysis?