Most hydraulic systems can effectively function with a variety of fluids, including multigrade engine oil, automatic transmission fluid, and conventional anti-wear hydraulic oil. However, determining the most suitable fluid for a specific application is not straightforward. Several factors need consideration when selecting or changing hydraulic fluid.
Firstly, viscosity stands out as the most critical factor. Regardless of other oil properties, if the viscosity grade doesn’t match the hydraulic system’s operating temperature range, it won’t maximize component life. Selecting the correct viscosity grade involves assessing variables like starting viscosity at minimum ambient temperature, maximum expected operating temperature, and the permissible and optimum viscosity range for the system’s components.
For instance, in environments with extreme temperature variations, multigrade oil might be necessary to maintain viscosity within acceptable limits across a wide temperature range. This ensures optimal system efficiency, reducing power consumption and subsequently fuel usage in mobile hydraulic equipment.
However, using multigrade fluids requires caution. The viscosity index improvers they contain can adversely affect the air separation properties of the oil, particularly problematic in systems with small reservoirs like mobile hydraulic systems. Additionally, if a multigrade engine oil is utilized in hydraulic systems, it’s advised to increase the minimum permissible viscosity values provided by component manufacturers to compensate for potential viscosity loss due to shear down of viscosity index improvers over time.
Alternatively, if a hydraulic system operates within a narrow temperature range, sticking to a monograde fluid simplifies matters, avoiding the complexities of multigrade oils.
Another consideration is whether to use Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida detergent-containing hydraulic fluids. These detergents emulsify water and suspend contaminants like varnish and sludge, which can be beneficial in mobile hydraulic systems with limited opportunities for contaminants to settle. However, emulsified water can accelerate oil aging and cause various issues like reduced lubricity, filterability, seal life, and corrosion.
Finally, the decision regarding anti-wear additives is crucial. Zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZnDTP) is a common anti-wear additive, but its presence can have drawbacks like chemical breakdown, metal attacks, and reduced filterability. Despite environmental concerns due to zinc being a heavy metal, stabilized ZnDTP chemistry has largely addressed these issues, making it essential for high-pressure hydraulic systems. Maintaining a ZnDTP concentration of at least 900-PPM is recommended for mobile applications by some Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
When it comes to Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida hydraulic fluid, offering a single, definitive recommendation that suits all hydraulic equipment and applications is impractical. However, in addressing the common inquiry of “Which oil is best for my hydraulic machine?”, three key factors emerge:
1. Multigrade versus Monograde:
The operational temperature range of the Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida machine dictates whether multigrade or monograde oil is necessary. Machines exposed to wide temperature variations, such as freezing winters and tropical summers, typically require multigrade oil to sustain optimal viscosity throughout these extremes. Conversely, if a machine operates within a narrow temperature band and can maintain ideal viscosity using monograde oil, opting for a multigrade variant might be unnecessary. It’s worth noting that multigrade hydraulic oils often come with a higher price tag, and selecting monograde eliminates the risk of viscosity loss due to shear down of viscosity index improvers.
2. Detergent versus Non-detergent:
Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida Detergent oils possess the capability to emulsify water and suspend contaminants like varnish and sludge, thus preventing deposits on components. However, it’s crucial to recognize that such contaminants aren’t precipitated out but instead must be filtered. These properties are particularly advantageous in mobile hydraulic machines, where the smaller reservoir volume limits the settling and precipitation of contaminants. When employing oils with detersive/dispersive additives, diligent monitoring of water content through oil analysis becomes even more critical. Excessive water content accelerates oil aging, diminishes lubricity and filterability, shortens seal life, and promotes corrosion and cavitation. Maintaining water content below 100 ppm significantly mitigates these issues.
3. Anti-wear versus No Anti-wear:
Anti-wear additives are designed to sustain lubrication under boundary conditions, preventing the loss of full-film lubrication. Zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) is the most common anti-wear additive found in engine and hydraulic oils. While the presence of ZDDP isn’t universally viewed as advantageous due to its susceptibility to breakdown in water and its potential to corrode certain metals, it remains indispensable for oils used in high-pressure, high-performance Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida hydraulic systems.
If you’ve had any experience with Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida hydraulic equipment, encountering a hydraulic system with cloudy oil is quite probable. Cloudiness in oil arises when it’s tainted with water surpassing its saturation point. This saturation level, typically ranging from 200 to 300 ppm at 68°F (20°C) for mineral hydraulic oil, denotes the maximum amount of water that can be dissolved in the oil’s molecular structure. It’s important to note that cloudy hydraulic oil indicates a water content of at least 200 to 300 ppm. Recently, I assessed a hydraulic system with cloudy oil, discovering a water content exceeding 1% (10,000 ppm).
The presence of water in hydraulic oil yields several adverse effects:
1. Depletion of certain additives and formation of corrosive by-products, which attack certain metals.
2. Reduction in lubricating film-strength, rendering critical surfaces susceptible to wear and corrosion.
3. Diminished filterability leading to filter clogging.
4. Heightened air entrainment capacity.
5. Increased likelihood of cavitation occurrence.
Various methods exist for eliminating free (unstable suspension) and emulsified (stable suspension) water:
1. Polymeric filters: These resemble standard particulate filters but feature a media infused with a super-absorbent polymer. Water triggers polymer swelling, effectively trapping water within the media. Polymeric filters excel in removing small water volumes and/or maintaining water contamination within predefined limits.
2. Vacuum distillation: This method employs heat and vacuum in tandem. At 25 inches Hg, water boils at 133°F (56°C), allowing water removal at a temperature safe for oil and its additives.
3. Headspace dehumidification: Here, air from the reservoir headspace is circulated and dehumidified. Water in the oil migrates to the dry air in the headspace, eventually removed by the dehumidifier.
Preventing water ingress is more cost-effective than removing it from the oil. A significant entry point for water is through the reservoir headspace. Many hydraulic system reservoirs feature breather caps permitting moisture and particles to enter as oil volume fluctuates due to thermal expansion, contraction, or cylinder actuation.
Replacing the standard breather cap with a Car Lift Repair Tampa Florida hygroscopic breather eradicates moisture and particle ingress through the reservoir’s vent. These breathers combine a woven-polyester media capable of filtering particles as small as 3 microns with silica gel desiccant, effectively removing water vapor from incoming air. Consequently, relative humidity levels within the reservoir headspace are maintained at levels minimizing condensation, thus reducing water contamination in the oil.