Across Europe's combined heat and power (CHP) sector, plants depend on engines that can run reliably over long periods. One factor behind that reliability, though often overlooked, is the engine oil. It doesn't get much attention, but it can have a genuine effect on whether a plant meets its performance targets. In the first of our pieces, we spoke with Michael Guelck, business development specialist at Texaco Lubricants, about how operators should approach selecting the right lubricant from the HDAX range, how its formulation can help support longer oil life, and why extended service intervals and a premium lubricant can make a real difference for operators running biogas, natural gas and district heating installations.
Q: Can you walk us through the decision-making framework for selecting the right lubricant in the HDAX range based on different engine types and fuel sources?
In my experience, a typical customer in the power generation market prioritises reliability above all else, and that shapes the entire decision-making process. It starts with a fundamental requirement that the chosen lubricant must carry OEM approval. OEM endorsement is important because it assures that the lubricant meets the OEM’s applicable technical requirements and is fully suitable for the specific engine application.
The second consideration factor is market reputation. Proven field performance and positive industry feedback build the confidence that a product will deliver consistent results under real operating conditions.
Only when those two criteria are satisfied does a customer move to the economic evaluation. That involves assessing the total cost of ownership, driven by three main parameters: oil lifetime, or drain interval, oil consumption, and the cost per litre. Together, these determine the overall cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is the most critical financial metric in the decision-making process.
Q: What specific formulation characteristics in HDAX account for longer oil life, and how does this translate into extended drain intervals in practice?
A high-quality gas engine oil is all about balance. Only a well-balanced additive system can help deliver optimised performance and extended running hours, which in turn enables longer drain intervals and clear financial benefits for the operator.
With more than 1,200 different CHP applications in the market today, it is essential to understand the specific operating conditions of each one, particularly the engine type and the fuel being used, because no two applications are truly the same.
The key lies in achieving the right balance between oxidation stability, TBN (Total Base Number) retention and viscosity control. Combining these three critical performance drivers into a single product is a complex task that requires comprehensive technical expertise. Texaco's experience, built over more than six decades, aims to deliver precisely that balance, helping to ensure reliability, performance and long-term value in demanding gas engine applications.
Q: How do extended service intervals change the economics of operating a CHP unit or biogas plant over a typical contract period?
For CHP operators and service providers, aligning engine oil drain intervals with planned maintenance activity can offer significant operational and financial advantages. In practice, oil drain intervals and maintenance schedules are often not synchronised, which means technicians may be required to visit the site twice.
Our objective is always to select a lubricant that matches the engine's operating conditions while also enabling oil drain intervals to coincide with maintenance schedules. By synchronising these activities, operators can reduce the number of site visits, lower labour and logistics costs, improve service efficiency and equipment availability.
Q: How should a technical operator make the business case internally for specifying a premium lubricant?
The first step is to determine the specific engine cost per unit of electricity produced per kilowatt-hour. That establishes a transparent baseline for evaluating overall performance. The second step is to quantify both the potential cost savings and the reduction in maintenance-related labour, particularly for planned and unplanned service interventions. Third, the financial impact of extended component lifetime must be assessed, including critical parts such as cylinder heads and turbochargers, because longer service intervals translate directly into reduced replacement costs and improved asset availability. Taken together, these factors can drive a clear improvement in total cost of ownership and overall financial performance.
