Toromont uses the S·O·S Cat® process to carry out scheduled analysis of the motor oil in your equipment. It’s a simple, fast program that lets you detect potential issues with your machinery so you can plan maintenance and improve efficiency while keeping downtime to a minimum.
The S·O·S Cat® team is made up of highly qualified scientists, engineers and product experts with decades of heavy equipment know-how. Their goal is to look out for the health of your equipment and help you save on the cost of idled machinery and lost production. They act like heavy equipment doctors, analyzing your machine’s fluids and assessing the cause of abnormal findings. Was it a defective part, fuel contamination or antifreeze? The operating environment? Once they’ve thoroughly assessed their findings, they can point the way to the right fix for your machine.
“The actual sampling of your motor oil, coolant or fuel and the analysis by our experts is just the beginning. It’s what we do with the data that provides the real value to the customer,” says Djaouida Takouk, Toromont’s fluid analysis lab director. After the results come the recommendations for maintenance or repair, including how soon action needs to be taken. This information helps owners make informed decisions without needing a course in chemistry to understand the problem and take action when necessary. What’s more, owners of non-Caterpillar machinery can also take advantage of the S·O·S. Cat® program, which comes in handy in situations involving mixed fleets.
Quality control is in our DNA
For almost 50 years, the S.O.S. Cat® team has provided expertise in oil sampling to its dealers and customers. In 1968, S·O·S Cat® services started taking oil samples and analysing for traces of metal, oil viscosity, particle content and the oil’s condition, as well as any contamination by fuel, water or glycol. By leveraging current analysis technology and listening to the needs of our customers, our program has developed and grown. A pioneer at the time and today the recognized leader in the field, the S·O·S Cat® team is continuously looking for innovative new ways to get you the reliable and valuable information you need – faster.
Why it matters
Your equipment represents a significant investment and you want it working whenever and wherever it’s needed. And just as you depend on these assets, they in turn rely on quality fluids to perform under pressure. Fluid analysis is the process of sampling, testing and diagnosing the operating condition of those fluids. The liquid contaminants, wear metals and other external elemental constituents found within a sample serve to “tip off” an owner about the health of a unit’s major mechanical systems and/or components, including:
- ENGINES
- TRANSMISSIONS
- PUMPS
- VALVES & SEALS
- HYDRAULICS
- DIFFERENTIALS
- POWERTRAINS
- GEARBOXES
- COMPRESSORS
- FINAL DRIVES
A visual inspection can only reveal so much about the operating health of your equipment. But ongoing oil analysis helps you spot small problems long before they become costly repairs. That means you get more productive hours and fewer downtime headaches. “Only S·O·S Services gives you detailed information about your equipment’s oil condition, internal wear and contamination levels,” Takouk says. In addition, the program gives you trending metal wear data specific to your machine, which can quickly spot deviations and monitor gradual changes in concentration levels. That way you can intervene promptly when needed with a repair or part change.
We can help any brand
From massive mining machines to emergency generators to a whole range of equipment – even your personal vehicle – if your machine has a lubricated system, uses different types of coolant or runs on diesel or natural gas, S·O·S Cat® Services is your complete solution. They analyze all fluids on all equipment models, whether made by Caterpillar or by another manufacturer. In fact, about 25% of all samples come from equipment other than Cat.
