The pre-commissioning of most large rotating and reciprocating equipment with large lube systems should include oil flushing to confirm equipment is free of containments before starting operation.

Before starting up a turbine, compressor, or other pieces of rotating equipment, it is important to remove all traces of metal and other hard contaminants left behind during the fabrication, transportation and installation of the equipment and lube oil piping. If not removed during a pre-commissioning oil flush, these hard contaminants can find their way to the bearing housing as well as other critical areas and cause irreparable damage.