Seasoned mechanic told me to oil my guide rails monthly

Been running maintenance on a 12-stop Otis in a Chicago office tower and a 25-year vet caught me wiping down the rails dry. He said I was grinding metal dust into the surface and handed me a can of 30-weight non-detergent oil. Has anyone else had a senior tech call them out on a basic task that changed their whole approach?

2 comments

2 Comments

cooper.reese10d ago

Hold up on the 30-weight oil thing. Most Otis rails actually call for a specific mineral oil, not 30-weight non-detergent, cause 30-weight can gum up over time in the guide shoes. I'd double check the manual or ask that mechanic what they use for heavy traffic cars, cause I've seen guys switch to a lighter way oil with better results. Other than that, you're right about wiping dry being bad, you gotta keep that film on there.

sean_perry10d ago

Way oil's a different spec than straight 30-weight though. Big difference in tackiness.