Hydraulicspneumatics 2331 Hp Hydoil Resize
Hydraulicspneumatics 2331 Hp Hydoil Resize
Hydraulicspneumatics 2331 Hp Hydoil Resize
Hydraulicspneumatics 2331 Hp Hydoil Resize
Hydraulicspneumatics 2331 Hp Hydoil Resize

3 Things to Consider When Choosing a Hydraulic Oil

Sept. 27, 2016
When it comes to hydraulic fluid, it's not possible to make one, definitive recommendation that covers all types of hydraulic equipment in all applications. But in response to the common question: "What type of oil should I use in my hydraulic machine?", there are 3 important factors to consider.

When it comes to hydraulic fluid, it's not possible to make one, definitive recommendation that covers all types of hydraulic equipment in all applications. But in response to the common question: "What type of oil should I use in my hydraulic machine?", here are 3 important factors to consider:

Multigrade versus monograde

The operating temperature range of the machine is the factor that determines whether a multigrade or monograde oil is required. If the machine is required to operate in freezing temperatures in winter and tropical conditions in summer, then multigrade oil will likely be required to maintain oil viscosity within optimum limits across this wide operating temperature range.

If the machine has a narrow operating temperature range, and it's possible to maintain optimum fluid viscosity using monograde oil, I wouldn't chose a multigrade. Multigrade hydraulic oils are more expensive. And if a monograde oil is used, there is no possibility of loss of viscosity as a result of VI improver shear down.

Detergent versus non-detergent

Detergent oils have the ability to emulsify water, and disperse and suspend other contaminants such as varnish and sludge. This keeps components free from deposits but means that contaminants are not precipitated out - they must be filtered out. These are desirable properties in mobile hydraulic machines which, unlike their industrial counterparts, have limited opportunity for the settling and precipitation of contaminants at the reservoir, due to its smaller volume.

When using an oil with detersive/dispersive additives, it's even more important to closely monitor water content via oil analysis. Water accelerates aging of the oil, reduces lubricity and filterability, reduces seal life and leads to corrosion and cavitation. And emulsified water can be turned into steam at highly loaded parts of the system. These problems can be largely avoided by maintaining water content below 100 ppm.

Anti-wear versus no anti-wear

The purpose of anti-wear additives is to maintain lubrication under boundary conditions (loss of full-film lubrication). The most common anti-wear additive used in engine and hydraulic oil is Zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP). The presence of ZDDP is not always seen as a positive, due to the fact that it can chemically break down in the presence of water, and attack some yellow metals. However, an anti-wear additive is essential for any oil used in high-pressure, high-performance hydraulic systems.

Fill 'er up

In summary, choosing the right hydraulic oil for an application is not a quick or simple exercise. And it's worth taking the time to get this right. Because using the WRONG hydraulic oil can turn out to be a very costly mistake. And to discover six other costly mistakes you want to be sure to avoid with your hydraulic equipment, get "Six Costly Mistakes Most Hydraulics Users Make... And How You Can Avoid Them!" available for FREE download here.

About the Author

Brendan Casey Blog | Author

Brendan Casey is a war-weary and battle-scarred veteran of the hydraulics industry. He's the author of The Hydraulic Troubleshooting Handbook, Insider Secrets to Hydraulics, Preventing Hydraulic Failures, The Definitive Guide to Hydraulic Troubleshooting, The Hydraulic Breakdown Prevention Blueprint and co-author of Hydraulics Made Easy and Advanced Hydraulic Control. And when he's not writing about hydraulics or teaching it, Brendan is flat-out helping consulting clients from a diverse range of industries solve their hydraulic problems. To contact him visit his company's Website:
www.HydraulicSupermarket.com

Continue Reading

One Simple Way To Remove Water From Hydraulic Oil

June 22, 2015
If you've worked with hydraulic equipment for any length of time, it's likely that you've come across a hydraulic system with cloudy oil. Oil becomes cloudy when it's contaminated...

Fluid Power eBook, Edition 2, Chapter 1: Accumulator Circuits - Part 1

Nov. 21, 2011
Hydraulic accumulators make it possible to store useable volumes of non-compressible fluid under pressure.

Sponsored Recommendations

7 Key Considerations for Selecting a Medical Pump

Feb. 6, 2024
Newcomers to medical device design may think pressure and flow rate are sufficient parameters whenselecting a pump. While this may be true in some industrial applications, medical...

How Variable Volume Pumps Work

Feb. 6, 2024
Variable volume pumps, also known as precision dispense pumps, are a positive displacement pump that operates by retracting a piston to aspirate a fluid and then extending the...

What is a Check Valve and How Does it Work?

Feb. 6, 2024
Acheck valve, a non-return or one-way valve, is a mechanical device that allows a gas or liquid to flow freely in one direction while preventing reverse flow in the opposite ...

The Difference Between Calibrated Orifices and Holes

Feb. 6, 2024
Engineers tasked with managing fluid flow talk about both holes and calibrated orifices, but they are two distinct entities. A hole can be any opening, but a calibrated orifice...