Hydraulic equipment can be costly, so you want to make sure to avoid mistakes that could cost you money and time. Hydraulic systems are made up of important components that all need to work together, including the pump, hydraulic piston, control valves, and actuators.
Choosing the Wrong Oil: If the viscosity of the oil is too high, then it won’t flow properly and the system can overheat. If it’s too low, there won’t be enough lubrication. Remember the viscosity will change with the temperature, so you will need to choose the right one based on that. Wear and corrosion will happen. When you are changing the oil, keep some things in mind. The two conditions that require a hydraulic oil change include the degradation of the base oil and the depletion of the additive. If you are changing just based on hours of service instead of reference to the condition of the oil, you can compromise the life of the components in the system. The best way to know when the oil should be changed is with an oil analysis.
System Overheating: The fastest way to ruin an engine is by having it overheat. Don’t let the equipment overheat, and choosing the right oil for the system’s operating temperature is important. In order to know the best operating temperature, refer to the user manual and make sure technicians know the maximum operating temperatures.
Changing Filters at the Wrong Time: Just like you want to change the oil when it requires it, you also want to do the same for the filters. Change filters when their capacity is used up and before the bypass valve opens. It’s best to monitor the pressure and make a change before there is a drop across the filter.
Using the Wrong Filter Locations: There are two different filter locations that will do more harm than good and will destroy the components that they are there to protect. The filter locations that should be avoided include the drain lines from the housings of the hydraulic piston pump and the pump inlet. If getting the maximum pump life is an important concern, then it’s more important for oil to freely fill the chambers during every intake. A restricted intake can lower the service life of the pump by about half.
Thinking Components are Self-Lubricating and Self-Priming: If the right steps aren’t followed during the setup of the equipment, then the components can be damaged. In some cases, the equipment could work for a while but it could lead to premature failure. There are two parts to this. You need to know what to do and remember to do it.
Not Getting the Right Education: It’s important to get education on your hydraulic system in order to properly operate it and maintain it. This can save you a lot of money.
