5 hydraulic equipment mistakes you might be making

When dealing with hydraulic equipment, there are many intricate pieces that impact the effectiveness of these machines.

There are many components of hydraulic equipment, and it is important that they all run smoothly. Here are five mistakes you may be making and how to correct them.

1. Changing the Oil

If the base oil is degrading or the additive package is depleting, it’s time for an oil change. Hydraulic machines vary greatly, so there is no set amount of time or usage that will tell you when you need to change the oil. It is important that you are aware of the machine’s condition and analyze the oil situation regularly.

The hydraulic oil is how power is transferred throughout the system, so it is crucial you use the right kind for your system.

2. Overheating the System

You would never continue to run a car or small machine that is overheated, but it’s not as easy to see when a hydraulic machine is overheated. The amount of heat your system can handle depends on the oil’s viscosity and the type of hydraulic components in the system. Oil’s viscosity decreases as the temperature increases, so as soon as the viscosity dips below the level required for adequate lubrication, the machine is too hot.

Operating the machine above 82° C can accelerate the oil’s degradation and damage the seal and hose compounds. It is possible for the hydraulic machine to overheat below this temperature as well, so always keep an eye on the viscosity index.

3. Changing the Filters

Like oil changes, a time schedule is not reliable when it comes to changing filters, because each machine can vary greatly. Changing filters too early means wasting money, and changing them too late can reduce the overall life of the machine, which will also cost more money.

It is important to change your filter before the bypass valve opens and as soon as the dirt-holding capacity is used up. Monitoring the pressure drop or restriction of flow is the best way to determine when a filter change is necessary.

4. Not Properly Priming and Lubricating

Many people believe hydraulic systems are self-lubricating and self-priming, but this is not the case. If a hydraulic system is not properly lubricated, it can become damaged. Even if the system works for a while, the damage can continually increase until it eventually does not work at all.

Fixing this problem is simple. It is important to know which parts of the system need to be primed and lubricated and continue to do so regularly. If you know the system needs to be primed but you don’t do it as often as you should, you can get the same result as if you didn’t do it at all.

5. Lack of Education in Hydraulics

It can be very easy to lose money while operating hydraulics due to the intricate nature of these machines. Staying knowledgeable about your particular hydraulics is the best way to save money and keep them running efficiently.