I'm concerned about bad smelling coolant

[Webderland]

My boss gave me free reign to pick a new coolant because our shop and clothes really stink. we use trim e 206 and it starts to stink after a few weeks. we have deionized water and refractometers etc.
We cut mostly a2 and s7 with the occasional stainless or aluminum. I am less concerned with being able to cut parts faster than I am with going home not stinking like rotten oil. I've recently upset a co-worker and think he may possibly be urinating in my coolant for the last couple of months.

[Vern Smith]

I'm not sure a change in coolant will solve your problem. If your machine is the only one with the offensive odor, maybe a little heart to heart chat with the co worker would be more effective. A hidden video CAM might be the answer, or better yet, drop the hint that "management" has installed one.

[dertsap]

you can buy an anti bacterial liquid to add to the coolant if it is only from the coolant going skanky , if its someone taking a leak in the coolant tank then a good thumping easily cures that problem

[AMCTony]

If the problem is not the co-worker then I would change to Castrol Syntilo 9954. It is for agressive machining on ferrous and aerospace alloys and can also be used on aluminum. I switched to it in my shop from Hangsterfers s500 because of the greasy stink that apeared after about 6 weeks. The new stuff has been in my machines for months now with no stink. It did turn color very slightly but this does not seem to affect it. You do have to use de-ionized water with it.

[JROM]

I've been using E206 for years without any problems. I would look to other issues. If I caught someone pissing in my coolent sump they would leave the shop looking at the inside of the roof!

[Jarwalcot]

Tramp Oils are normally the cause of this issue... A good test is taking a sample of your coolant (pickling jar size) let it set for 24hrs and see if you have a separation line of coolant and oil. If so, check way lube lines for leaks or adjust the way lube settings if Haas allows you to.

Things to try:

1. Install an Oil-Skimmer
2. Add a simple fish tank air pump to agitate the coolant when the machine is not running (nights & weekends)

Good luck,

[big_mak]

We switched from Houghton to Oemeta. It's been great. No more funk on the roof of the machine. And finishes have gotte better too.

[Surfacefeet]

I would say its piss in the Coolant and/or your not skimming the waylube out.We use Trim E 206 and it lasts over 6 months before it needs to be changed.We used to use Blaser and also tried Cincinnati and they both went bad real quick.Also,dont let people spit in the machines either.I've worked at several places where people do that.Its nasty and allows germs and bacteria in there as well.

[Walt@SGS.Inc]

Almost every time the subject of coolant comes up, I recommend the following. Where the pipe comes off the coolant pump, install a tee and out of the side of the tee run a line (steel?) to the coolant tank. Terminate the line about 1 inch or less above the coolant at a 45 degree angle. Pinch it down a little so it squirts into the coolant and makes bubbles. This will cause air (Oxygen) to be pulled into the coolant and at the same time it will agitate the coolant. If you have a skimmer, try to keep the agitation away from the skimmer. This worked on Excellos because the coolant pumps ran all the time and the coolant to the spindle area was controled by an electrical solenoid. The agitation was full time.
The post above relative to the threat of a camera may solve the problem.
Regards Walt...

[Shotout]

Originally Posted by Webderland My boss gave me free reign to pick a new coolant because our shop and clothes really stink. we use trim e 206 and it starts to stink after a few weeks. we have deionized water and refractometers etc. We cut mostly a2 and s7 with the occasional stainless or aluminum. I am less concerned with being able to cut parts faster than I am with going home not stinking like rotten oil. I've recently upset a co-worker and think he may possibly be urinating in my coolant for the last couple of months.

I'd be concerned too... Don't know that anyone has checked to see how long various communicable diseases could live in coolant, but considering the fact that many can be passed on through urine, and I'd guess everyone of us has a least one cut on our hands, I'd say it could be at least a minor health concern. I'd seriously be considering the hidden camera suggestion offered above and if your suspicion is correct I'd consider taking it far enough to require a health screening with the company Dr. I mean if you honestly think the guy is nasty enough to take a leak in the coolant then I doubt his personal habits away from work would be any better and God only knows where he has been and what he has been doing.

[Rocko1]

Give him a week off (Blame a slowdown or something) and change the coolant the first day and see if it stinks at the end of the week.

[JDenyer232]

As others have said, getting rid of coolant smells requires regular coolant maintenance. First make sure operators are not spitting or putting any other bodily fluids into the coolant, if they are fire them, it's just plain gross! Next check coolant concentration daily and adjust if needed. Make sure your skimmer is working properly, and add an aeration pump. Also make sure to remove the swarf sitting at the bottom of the tank, you won't believe how much swarf I get out of the bottom of the coolant tank on a weekly basis. Finally if the machine is not used daily make sure to run the coolant pump for an hour on every day that the machine is not run, you can exclude weekends if you use an airpump. Hope this is of some help.