For construction contractors, fluid performance depends on storage, handling and control. Viva Energy delivers on all three, from lubricant systems to integrated hydrocarbon solutions.
Fuel and lubricant failures rarely start with a breakdown. They begin earlier, with mislabelled tanks, contaminated drums or the wrong hose on the right day. Contractors across Australia are paying closer attention, not just to what fuels their plant and lubricates their fleet, but to how it is stored, handled and controlled.
“In the construction industry, particulate contamination is one of the main issues causing premature wear and component failures,” says Silvana Farrugia, technical specialist at Viva Energy.
Farrugia’s role is focused on prevention, not repair. She works with contractors who want to understand the full chain of control, from fluid selection to its condition at the point of use, because a lubricant’s formulation is only half the story. If the storage environment is uncontrolled or the transfer process flawed, even advanced oil can fail to deliver.
Viva Energy Australia, the local Shell Lubricant Macro Distributor, supplies a vast network of contractors, fleet operators and plant managers across the country. Increasingly, clients are not just asking for lubricant; they are asking for the systems that support it.
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Lubricants under pressure
Lubricants are often treated as consumables, their importance obscured by bigger line items. But that view is shifting, particularly as high-spec machines enter fleets and emissions targets tighten.
Inadequate lubrication can trigger wear, shorten rebuild intervals and increase the risk of catastrophic failure. The risk compounds with every transfer, every mix-up, every lapse in storage discipline.
“Lubricant storage has evolved significantly,” says Renee Reilly, head of lubricant sales and marketing at Viva Energy. “Colour-coded tanks and tagging systems help minimise confusion and risk.”
Reilly advocates for clearly labelled infrastructure, purpose-designed storage rooms and simple, enforceable protocols – things that, once in place, quickly become second nature on high-output construction sites where multiple fluids are in use. It is not about adding layers of complexity. It is about removing ambiguity.
“Installing satellite storage rooms and contamination control tools, such as desiccant breathers on hydraulic fluid tanks, helps maintain cleaner environments and protect lubricant integrity,” says Reilly.
These interventions are inexpensive compared to the cost of downtime, and they are increasingly being seen as a strategic investment in the long-term reliability of construction fleets.
It is not just lubricants under scrutiny. The same principles apply to how fuels and hydrocarbons are stored and delivered on site.
Infrastructure that thinks ahead
For contractors, hydrocarbon handling tends to fall into two categories: what must be done to remain compliant and what can be done to lift performance. Viva Energy’s hydrocarbon solutions team operates in both spaces, helping businesses streamline storage, refuelling and dispensing while staying aligned with environmental and safety obligations.
“Our expertise ensures your business receives the best advice, service and equipment for managing your hydrocarbon needs,” says Matt Gill, hydrocarbon solutions manager at Viva Energy.
The range spans tanks, hoses, pumps, spill kits, fuel management systems and condition monitoring tools. But the real value lies in the application.
While a generic tank may meet basic requirements, a fit-for-purpose system can eliminate errors, reduce emissions, improve uptime and create a safer working environment. That was the case for one customer operation facing prolonged equipment downtime due to refuelling delays.
Instead of moving heavy vehicles away from the work zone for access to fixed fuel infrastructure, Viva Energy helped design a mobile “splash-and-dash” station – a relocatable setup that stayed close to activity areas and reduced machine travel. The solution included automated tank gauging and integrated fuel management to improve visibility, control and turnaround times.
“This facility was designed to move with the work and remain close to where equipment was operating,” says Gill. “The result was a noticeable improvement in daily output.”
It delivered several efficiencies: more than 2,000 hours of recovered travel time, a 2.19 per cent reduction in diesel use and less reliance on fixed refuelling infrastructure.
The lesson? Smart storage is not just about containment. It is about proximity, accessibility and precision, and what those things ultimately enable across the lifecycle of a project.
Digital access, physical certainty
Recognising that fluid handling equipment is often needed at short notice, or as part of a broader procurement cycle, Viva Energy developed an online platform to streamline access. It gives customers 24/7 visibility over a selected range of lubricants, tanks, pumps, filtration units and contamination control tools.
Unlike typical online ordering, this is not a static catalogue. It is supported by Viva Energy’s national technical helpdesk and account management team, who can advise on compatibility, performance goals and ways to reduce risk on site.
The result is a smoother bridge between procurement and application, and the confidence that every item selected will serve an operational purpose.
One chain, multiple checkpoints
Hydrocarbon handling rarely fails all at once. The cracks appear slowly: a worn gasket, a rusting drum, a spill no one cleans up. By the time the problem is visible, the damage is already done.
Construction businesses that build discipline into their storage and handling practices are the ones reducing risk, not with overengineered systems, but with clarity, consistency and control.
They install desiccant breathers, use tagging systems and separate storage zones. They treat lubricants and fuels with the same care they apply to the machines those fluids support, because when the work ramps up, the last thing anyone needs is downtime caused by a preventable detail.
As Viva Energy’s experience shows, the difference is measurable. When fluids are stored correctly and dispensed cleanly, machines last longer, service intervals stretch further and site productivity becomes easier to maintain.
It is grease, grit and good sense. It may not be what wins the tender, but it is often what saves the job.
To speak with Viva Energy’s technical team about lubricants, fuel handling and on-site storage solutions, email technicalhelpdesk@vivaenergy.com.au or call 1300 134 205. Explore the online range at shoplubricants.vivaenergy.com.au