Using the wrong hydraulic oil can have an immediate impact on your equipment. It may not cause an explosion or anything too dramatic, but it will shorten the lifespan of critical components like piston pumps, internal gear pumps, valves, cylinders, and seals.

It is best to follow the equipment manufacturer’s recommendations to avoid this. However, choosing the right hydraulic oil can be quite complicated.

Viscosity

Choosing the correct hydraulic oil is crucial for equipment performance. It is a sealant, lubricant and coolant and must be compatible with system materials to prevent leakage and corrosion. Various hydraulic fluids are available, from fully synthetic to meet the demands of drastic temperature and pressure swings to conventional AW oils with additives that reduce wear.

Hydraulic oil viscosity is affected by temperature, and the ideal grade should be matched to equipment specifications to avoid overworking the hydraulic pump. Check your equipment’s manuals and manufacturer guidelines for recommendations. If you need to change the viscosity grade, use an approved thinning agent for hydraulic oil Charlotte NC to maintain the right consistency. The wrong viscosity will cause your system to lose efficiency.

Anti-wear

Anti-wear properties are crucial to the performance of your equipment. They prevent hydraulic pumps from wearing prematurely and help maintain pressure in the system.

The anti-wear properties of a hydraulic fluid affect how well it performs in different operating conditions. Choose a hydraulic fluid with excellent anti-wear properties if your equipment uses powerful pumps under high temperatures and pressures.

If your equipment is used in harsh environments where the temperature fluctuates, look for a hydraulic oil with a high viscosity index and effective additives. This hydraulic fluid will remain stable in cold temperatures and provide fast, cold-weather flow. It can also resist oxidation for longer than conventional hydraulic oils, extending the life of your equipment. It also improves filtration and water separation, preventing clogging and minimizing oil emulsification.

Oxidation

A hydraulic system must operate across a wide range of temperatures, and the oxidation properties of a fluid will affect its performance. High oxidation will cause additives to cook out, resulting in sticky valves, poor performance and reduced oil life.

All quality hydraulic oils are designed with oxidation-controlling additives to prevent these reactions from happening. This will allow the oil to perform longer and protect your equipment from costly maintenance.

Hydraulic oils should also resist foaming in damp working environments, shed water quickly and pass deductibility tests. All of these properties are important for a hydraulic fluid to function correctly. A lubrication reliability effort that includes selecting the right hydraulic fluid and using the proper maintenance practices will improve uptime, reduce wear rates and extend your lubricant and equipment life.

Air release

Choosing the right hydraulic fluid(Oil) is vital for the performance of your equipment. It should be compatible with the system’s materials to prevent corrosion and meet environmental regulations to avoid contamination.

Entrained air can shorten a lubricant’s life and cause various problems, such as unacceptable noise, poor component response due to the spongy behavior of aerated fluids, thermal degradation, cavitation damage, and severe oil degradation (varnish).

Choose a hydraulic oil with good air-release properties to prevent these issues. Suitable foam inhibitors will reduce the surface tension of air bubbles to break them up more quickly. For more information, consult the manufacturer’s guidelines or visit your local AutoCare for advice from a certified professional.

Environment

A hydraulic system’s power is transferred via a variety of fluid-powered components. The key property of these components is that they must be non-compressible to allow for the transfer of force.

Many manufacturers use specific additives to alter a hydraulic fluid’s properties to achieve this. For example, winter hydraulic oils are blended with anti-freeze additives to help them cope with icy conditions.

These additives also improve the performance of the hydraulic oil. Keeping your hydraulic fluid clean helps prevent contamination. Contaminants restrict oil flow to components, increasing energy consumption and decreasing equipment lifespan. This can lead to expensive repairs and replacements, so investing in a high-quality hydraulic fluid is important. Ideally, choose an eco-friendly option made from rapeseed and other vegetable oils.