H.G.S. oversees MWM approval of high-performance Texaco HDAX 9300 engine oil

H.G.S. GmbH is one of Germany's leading companies for the construction, maintenance, repair and technical management of combined heat and power plants (CHP). The company, based in Krefeld, has more than 130 employees in its team and is one of the leading engine service providers, with 13 locations in Germany and a European network. Founded in 2006, the business is a subsidiary of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. In addition, H.G.S. operates as a significant service partner for gas engine manufacturer Caterpillar Energy Systems (CES)/MWM. H.G.S. is responsible for servicing approximately 1,200 MWM and MAN engines – 50 per cent of which are MWM engines.

H.G.S.’s engine servicing operation is not only reliable merely due to the systems themselves, but because of the oils used, too. For years, the business has relied on lubricants from Texaco Lubricants, a Chevron brand. H.G.S. currently requires around 200 to 250 tonnes of oil every year, with approximately 90 per cent of the total volume sourced from Texaco Lubricants due to the multi-layered performance of its products. A high-performance engine oil must not only help ensure compliance with the maintenance and change intervals, but also contribute to operational safety. In addition, Texaco Lubricants offer good technical support and close co-operation, two benefits that are highly valued by H.G.S.

Jan Völkel, Service Point Manager at H.G.S., praised the business’ cooperation with Texaco. He commented, “Texaco Lubricants has been a very reliable partner for us right from the start.” This reliability has been demonstrated throughout the lubricant manufacturer’s relationship with H.G.S. and CES/MWM, not only with oils that have already been certified and approved, but also when testing new products. H.G.S. had already incorporated the Texaco HDAX 6500 and 9200 ranges into its operation, and sought out an endurance run with Texaco HDAX 9300 for the new MWM TCG 3016 V16 S engine. The aim of the field test was to obtain approval for MWM TCG and Caterpillar CG gas engines.

The machines ran for 6,000 operating hours with the newly developed Texaco HDAX 9300 gas engine oil. The engineers monitored the condition of the oil and the machine throughout the entire period, analysing the composition of the lubricant every 200 hours, and checking the combustion chambers of the engines for deposits every 2,000 hours following an endoscopy. The values were entered into an online database and continuously analysed. The technicians then dismantled two-cylinder head units, including pistons, liners and connecting rod bearings, measuring all components and checking them for wear. The results of the test were very positive; clean cylinder running surfaces and pistons, and virtually no deposits on the cylinder heads or valve heads. All operating and wear parameters corresponded to the manufacturer's specifications.

Völkel added, "As with all the Texaco Lubricants oils we use, Texaco HDAX 9300 has a low oxidation value, which is difficult to achieve." These low oxidation values are made possible by the engine oil’s low sulphated ash content and the prolonged stability of its TBN value. "This is very important for H.G.S.,” Völkel continued. “The reason for this is that we can operate the machines at low ash levels and don't have to deal with deposits which can reduce performance and even cause the system to fail. "If maintenance and oil changes do not coincide, the operating costs of the power plant increase unnecessarily. Texaco HDAX 9300 matches the maintenance intervals perfectly.”

Following the positive test results, CES/MWM has approved Texaco HDAX 9300 for the TCG 3016. Völkel concluded, “It is very important that our customers are aware that Chevron is by our side as a reliable and neutral contact. If there are any problems with a plant, we know that we can reach our contacts at Chevron immediately. For me, this encompasses reliability."

For more information on the Texaco HDAX range, click here.