Texaco VARTECH Industrial System Cleaner (ISC) is a premium-performance industrial system cleaner that removes varnish before a scheduled oil change. This non-solvent-based product can be added directly to the oil while the system is running, cleaning varnish and sludge from the lubrication systems of steam and gas turbines, compressors, and hydraulic systems.
In testing, VARTECH outperforms many common cleaners on efficiency, effectiveness, and system compatibility, with no significant impact on water separation or oxidation stability.
What is varnish in industrial systems?
Varnish forms when lubricating oil is exposed to thermal and mechanical stress, creating varnish precursors that eventually build up into varnish layers. Varnish is a thin, oil-insoluble deposit of organic residues mixed with metals, inorganic salts, and other contaminants.
How do I know if I have a varnish problem?
Symptoms vary, but typically include sticky servo or thermostatic valves, seized hydraulic cylinders, inefficient oil coolers (high oil temperatures), high bearing temperatures, and subsynchronous vibrations in bearings and seals.
Why remove varnish from your system?
Varnish reduces heat dissipation, causing systems to run hotter. The consequences: reduced capacity, unplanned downtime, inefficiency, higher maintenance costs, and lost revenue.
VARTECH customer success stories
- Helped an SJV gas turbine return to maximum productivity → annual revenue increase of more than $350,000
- Helped recover gas turbines, saving over $80K per year in maintenance
- Reduced compressor temperature from over 110°C to around 105°C
- Dropped bearing outlet temperature from over 100°C to around 93°C in 4 days
*Actual savings may vary depending on installation and operating conditions.
Benefits of VARTECH® Industrial System Cleaner
- Reduces or removes varnish deposits during operation
- Minimizes maintenance downtime and costs
- Optimizes equipment performance by removing varnish-forming deposits
- Reduces or eliminates varnish-related servo valve sticking
- Extends overhaul-to-overhaul intervals
- Prepares the system for a fresh oil charge → peak lubricant performance
Product in detail
VARTECH FAQs
How long does an effective cleaning with VARTECH ISC take?
For most cleaners this takes 1 to 30 days. The longest test period with VARTECH ISC was five months in a single system.
Should I replace the oil after using a cleaner?
Yes. Cleaners move varnish into the oil, and oil carrying suspended contaminants is no longer a good lubricant. Best practice: replace the oil once the cleaner has done its job.
What is the long-term effect of cleaner residues on new oil?
Modern oils are highly engineered. Cleaners are not part of the original formulation, so long-term effects are hard to predict. Always consider the possible impact of residues on performance.
Can a cleaner clog filters?
Some alternatives can clog filters, depending on the varnish and oil chemistry, the deposits, and the system configuration. Keep spare filters on hand during cleaning.
Why does filter differential pressure sometimes rise during cleaning?
Removed varnish particles can get trapped in the filter, especially larger pieces. Hard particles that were previously stuck in sticky varnish are now captured.
Is filter differential pressure increase a problem with VARTECH ISC?
After extensive field testing: an occasional slight increase, but never above alarm limits – even in systems where other cleaners crossed that line.
Is all varnish completely removed?
No, that is unlikely. Varnish chemistry varies from system to system. Soft varnish in coolers and sludge in reservoirs often clean up quickly and completely. Hard, polymerized, or contaminated deposits can be stubborn. Low-flow or low-temperature zones are rarely fully cleaned, but a good cleaner softens the varnish so it can be removed manually with less effort.
