3 Lessons Learned from Switching Hydraulic Oils

suctionstrainerclogged-resizeOne of our members recounted a story about a switch in hydraulic oils which had a less than ideal outcome. The machines involved are mining-size hydraulic excavators.

These diggers were delivered to the end-user filled with the machine OEM’s own branded ISO VG46 hydraulic oil. This oil features a zinc-free, anti-wear additive package and has a viscosity index (VI) of … Read more

How Much Hydraulic Oil Consumption is Acceptable?

how to heat hydraulic oil safelyWhat is an acceptable level of oil loss for a hydraulic machine:
a). Zero
b). 2%
c). 5% or more?

In a perfect world, the right answer would of course be zero. But in reality, the true answer is 5% or more–of tank oil volume per year. And the reason I can say this with confidence is because total hydraulic … Read more

Hydraulic System Cavitation and Many of Its Causes

photo credit eaton vickersCavitation is the term used to describe the formation of gas cavities within a liquid. In a hydraulic system, this is normally taken to mean formation of vapor bubbles within the oil. But it can also mean dissolved air coming out of solution in the oil.

Cavitation erosion occurs when gas cavities in the oil collapse (implode) under pressure, in … Read more