Oil Mist Lubrication Institute
Independent • Vendor-Neutral • 50 Years of Experience

Advancing Oil Mist Lubrication Technology

The Oil Mist Lubrication Institute provides unbiased training, technical guidance, and industry best practices so operators can apply this proven technology correctly and get the reliability, cost, and environmental results it was designed to deliver.

Explore Training Field Services
160,000+Process pumps worldwide lubricated solely by oil mist
87–90%Bearing failure reduction with properly designed systems
~50%Of U.S. refineries use oil mist lubrication extensively
< 2 yrsTypical payback period for a properly installed system
Our Mission

Unbiased. Non-Commercial. Technology-First.

The Oil Mist Lubrication Institute promotes the unbiased, non-commercial advancement of oil mist lubrication technology. Through training, technical guidance, and industry best practices built on 50 years of field experience, we help operators apply this proven technology correctly and get the reliability, cost, and environmental results it was designed to deliver.

Vendor-Neutral

We don't manufacture or sell oil mist equipment. Our guidance serves one interest only: the correct application of the technology.

Field-Proven Knowledge

Our body of knowledge is built on decades of installations, surveys, and troubleshooting across refineries, petrochemical plants, and power facilities worldwide.

Standards-Based

Grounded in API-610 and the published literature of Bloch, Towne, and Ehlert, the foundational authors of the technology.

Root-Cause Focused

Early failures blamed on "oil mist" were almost entirely installation and distribution errors. We teach the why, not just the what.

Why Oil Mist

A Proven Reliability Strategy, When Applied Correctly

Oil mist has been the predominant pump lubrication method in U.S. refining for decades. Properly designed systems deliver documented, repeatable results:

15–30°F coolerBearing temperature reduction vs. grease. Every 10°F drop adds ~11% bearing fatigue life.
4–6 year MTBFRoutinely achieved on pumps; 10+ years on record at best-practice facilities.
75% less oilDual-point injection per API-610 vs. legacy center injection. All oil does useful work.
90% of motor failuresAre caused by grease lubrication. Oil mist directly addresses the dominant failure mode.
99% oil recoveryClosed-loop systems are designated Best Available Technology for process equipment lubrication.
Continuous protectionSlight positive pressure excludes water and particulates, so bearings are protected even at standstill.
Training & Knowledge Transfer

Training for Every Role in the Plant

Oil mist systems need minimal but essential maintenance, never "set and forget." We build competency at every level, from the daily operator round to the reliability engineer's conversion study.

Operator Training

The 5–10 minute daily routine that keeps systems healthy.

  • Daily inspection: normal vs. abnormal indicators
  • Reservoir refilling and contamination prevention
  • Alarm response and escalation
  • Safety: LOTO, hot work, mist exposure limits
Maintenance Technician Training

System theory, systematic diagnosis, and hands-on component service.

  • Mist generation, distribution, and reclassifier function
  • Troubleshooting common failure modes to root cause
  • Reclassifier service, fittings, seal inspection
  • Piping modifications: materials, velocity, slope
Mechanical Training

Hands-on equipment conversion of pumps and electric motors to pure mist.

  • Pump conversion: dual-injection per API-610, drain-back port plugging
  • Motor conversion: complete grease removal, seal and drain protocols
  • Reclassifier selection and service factor sizing
  • Before/after temperature and vibration verification
Engineering & Reliability Training

Design, specification, and optimization for reliability professionals.

  • System sizing, oil selection, distribution design
  • Grease-to-mist and sump-to-mist conversions with ROI
  • API-610 standards compliance
  • CMMS integration and performance tracking
Technical Services

Field Surveys, Audits & Expert Guidance

Independent assessment of your oil mist systems against API standards and industry best practices, with actionable findings, not sales pitches.

System Surveys & Audits
  • Documentation review: P&IDs, schematics
  • Generator capacity vs. load, heater and oil verification
  • Distribution survey: slope, velocity, leak evidence
  • Injection method verification (dual vs. center)
  • Vent, collection, and environmental compliance
Troubleshooting & Problem Diagnosis
  • Reclassifier plugging and wax precipitation events
  • Lubrication related bearing failures and distribution faults
  • Stray mist and environmental issues
  • High bearing temperatures and mist delivery faults
  • Root-cause analysis: fix it and prevent recurrence
Design & Conversion Guidance
  • New system specification and generator sizing
  • API-610 compliant dual-injection design
  • Grease-to-mist motor conversion protocols
  • Oil selection: paraffin-free, correct viscosity
  • Closed-loop system evaluation
Technical Resources

The Published Foundation

Our guidance is grounded in the peer-reviewed papers and industry publications that established oil mist lubrication as a plant-wide reliability strategy.

  1. Bloch, H.P. (1980). "Large Scale Application of Pure Oil Mist in the Petrochemical Plant." ASME Paper 80-C12/LUB-25.
  2. Towne, C. (1983). "Practical Experience with Oil Mist Lubrication." Lubrication Engineering, Vol. 39, pp. 496–502. ASLE.
  3. Bloch, H.P. & Shamim, A. (1998). Oil Mist Lubrication: Practical Applications. Fairmont Press.
  4. Ehlert, D. (2004). "Oil Mist Lubrication in the Hydrocarbon Processing Industry." Machinery Lubrication.
  5. Bloch, H.P. & Ehlert, D. (2008). "Get the Facts on Oil Mist Lubrication." Hydrocarbon Processing.
  6. Rehman, C. & Bloch, H.P. (2010). "Closed Loop Oil Mist, Best Available Technology." Machinery Lubrication.
  7. Ehlert, D. (2011). "Getting the Facts on Oil Mist Lubrication." Texas A&M Turbomachinery Laboratory Tutorial.
  8. Bloch, H.P. (2022). Optimized Equipment Lubrication: Conventional Lube, Oil Mist Technology and Full Standby Protection. De Gruyter.

Put 50 Years of Experience to Work

Whether you're planning a conversion, troubleshooting a system, or building operator competency, start with an unbiased conversation.

Send an Inquiry
Founder & PrincipalKeith Macaluso
FocusRefining · Petrochemical · Power Generation