Often, users of hydraulic fluid will confuse a chemical analysis with a complete fluid analysis, which provides particle count of contaminants, amounts of water, and more. Oil samples that are sent off to a lab without specific instructions will return with valuable data but not all the data points you require. In most cases, the majority of labs … [Read more...]
How do you quantify hydraulic fluid cleanliness?
To quantify cleanliness in any fluid power system can’t be condensed into any problem with one solution scenario. Various types of contamination occur in fluid power systems: gaseous (e.g. air), liquid (e.g. water) and solid contaminants (e.g. rust). Solid contamination is subdivided into three groups: extremely hard, hard and soft particles. … [Read more...]
Portable dryer keeps water out of hydraulic oil
Most fluid-power users understand that particulate contamination in hydraulic oil can markedly degrade the performance and life of mobile and industrial machinery. Perhaps less recognized is that water contamination in the oil can similarly lead to component failure. Water, whether dissolved in the oil, present in an emulsion or as free water, … [Read more...]
Can fluid contamination cause components to fail?
Hydraulic system contamination left unchecked can result in operating failure, expensive equipment damage and major downtime. There are many sources for possible contamination, from both outside and inside the system. Often, hydraulic system contamination can be prevented before it starts if the system is designed correctly to minimize and prevent … [Read more...]
How did my hydraulic system get so dirty?
Hydraulic systems get their contamination from four primary sources—new oil, built-in, ingressed and induced. Contrary to popular belief, new hydraulic fluid is not clean. The manufacturing and handling process exposes the fluid to various forms of contamination, and although I wouldn’t call it filthy, it’s often times many ISO codes higher than … [Read more...]
When should you flush a new or rebuilt hydraulic system?
What causes contamination? Particulate contaminants circulating in fluid power systems cause surface degradation through general mechanical wear (abrasion, erosion, and surface fatigue). Dan Zoller, Group Product Manager Filter Systems, Schroeder Industries, explained that this wear causes increasing numbers of particles to be formed, the result … [Read more...]
How do you set a target fluid cleanliness level?
Solid contamination in hydraulic fluids is subdivided into three groups: extremely hard, hard and soft particles. Dan Zoller, Group Product Manager Filter Systems, Schroeder Industries, explains that extremely hard particles can cause substantial damage in fluid power systems if they are not removed as quickly as possible. Preventive measures can … [Read more...]
What is oil sampling?
Hydraulic fluid will have innate properties originating from its base stock, but will also contain additives to improve performance factors such as lubricity, corrosion protection, viscosity index and water saturation, to name a few. If a high quality hydraulic fluid came from the factory with excellent properties, how can we guarantee that oil … [Read more...]
OxiStop tank prevents contamination and cavitation
Any hydraulic system user must take contamination and cavitation prevention seriously, as these two activities can severely damage components and machinery. One such answer to these problems is HYDAC's OXiStop LID series, a tank solution for hydraulic systems with an integrated, hydraulically driven degassing and dewatering unit. It is designed … [Read more...]
The importance of fluid power contamination control
Contamination is widely recognized as the leading cause of premature failure in fluid-power systems. Thus, keeping contaminants in check helps ensure components and systems perform as intended and last a long time, with minimal unscheduled downtime. Heed the following advice for proper fluid power contamination control. Contamination comes in … [Read more...]
