3 Equipment Lubrication & Maintenance Tips: How to Extend Your Aluminum Foil Container Machine's Lifespan?

If you own an aluminum foil container machine, you’ve probably wondered: “What oil should I use? How often to change it?” These small questions matter—wrong oil or poor maintenance shortens the machine’s 10-year lifespan to 5-6 years, and frequent breakdowns cost $1,000+ in annual repairs. Let’s break down 3 key oil and maintenance rules, using real data from our equipment.

 Why Oil & Maintenance Matter for Your Machine

Oil is the “blood” of your aluminum foil container machine—without the right type or regular changes:  

• Gear wear speeds up, making the machine’s 35-68 strokes/min speed drop to 25-30 strokes/min (losing 20% daily output).  
• Hydraulic systems clog, leading to 2-3 unexpected stoppages weekly (each halting production for 4-6 hours).  
• Safety risks rise—worn parts may cause the machine to fail to auto-stop when the safety door is opened.  

Doing oil and maintenance right doesn’t just save money—it keeps your production line running smoothly.

 3 Key Oil & Maintenance Rules (With Real Data)

   1. Choose the Right Oil Type—Don’t Mix or Replace Randomly

Our machines (T63/T80/T130) need 3 specific oil types—using the wrong one voids the 1-year warranty:  

• 320 Gear Oil: For the gearbox. It reduces friction between gears—using 220 oil instead makes gear noise rise from 70dB to 90dB, and wear accelerates by 50%.  
• 46 Hydraulic Oil: For the hydraulic system (e.g., mold lifting, workbench adjustment). Must be “aluminum foil container special hydraulic oil”—ordinary 46 oil clogs valves, causing mold change time to jump from 15 minutes to 40 minutes.  
• Lithium Grease: For bearings and guide rails. Choose 0 (thick) for cold areas (below 10℃) and 00 (thin) for hot areas (above 30℃)—using the wrong thickness makes bearings overheat, leading to 1-2 replacements yearly.  

*Pro tip*: Never mix different oil brands—chemical reactions create sludge that blocks oil passages.

 2. Oil Change Schedule—6 Months Is the Golden Rule

The frequency depends on how often you use the machine—we recommend:  

• Daily use (8 hours/day): Change 320 gear oil and 46 hydraulic oil every 6 months. Lithium grease needs to be reapplied to bearings every 2 weeks.  
• - 24-hour continuous use: Shorten oil changes to 4 months. Check oil levels every week—low oil (below the scale line) causes the hydraulic pump to run dry, leading to $500+ in pump repairs.  
• *Why 6 months?*: After 6 months of 8-hour daily use, oil purity drops from 98% to 65%—impurities scratch internal parts, reducing the machine’s 10-year lifespan by 2-3 years.  
• Note*: When you receive the machine, there may be residual oil leakage—this is normal. We test each machine with oil before shipping, and some remains when放倒 for transport. Just wipe it clean—no need to add extra oil immediately.

 3. 2-Minute Daily Maintenance—Avoid Big Breakdowns

You don’t need complex tools—spend 2 minutes before starting the machine to do these 3 things:  

• Check Oil Levels: Ensure gear oil and hydraulic oil are above the scale line (not full—leave 10% space for expansion when heated).  
• Clean the Machine: Wipe aluminum foil scraps from the mold cavity and feeder—scraps cause defective rates to rise from 1/1000 to 5/1000.  
• Tighten Screws: Check mold fixing screws and safety door hinges—loose screws make the mold shift, leading to uneven container edges (scrap rate rises by 3%).  

*Monthly deep maintenance*: Disassemble and clean the oil filter—clogged filters reduce oil flow, making the hydraulic system work harder (energy use rises by 15%).

 FAQ—Quick Answers About Oil & Maintenance

 Q1: Can I use cheaper generic oil to save money?

 A1: No. Generic oil costs $20-$30 less per barrel, but it causes $500-$1,000 in annual repair costs. We recommend buying oil from our authorized suppliers—they provide oil that matches our machines perfectly.

Q2: How to check if the oil is bad?

A2: Look for 3 signs: ① Oil color turns from light yellow to dark brown; ② Oil has a burnt smell; ③ There are metal shavings at the bottom of the oil tank. If any of these happen, change the oil immediately.

The Bottom Line

Extending your aluminum foil container machine’s lifespan isn’t about expensive repairs—it’s about choosing the right oil and doing simple daily maintenance. Following these 3 rules saves you $2,000+ in annual repair costs and keeps your production line efficient.

If you’re unsure which oil to buy or how to do maintenance, contact our team—we’ll send you a free “machine oil & maintenance guide” with step-by-step photos!