The Essentials Of Keeping Your Hydraulic Fluid Clean

Keeping your hydraulic fluid clean is essential to keeping your machines at optimum performance. Here are some tips from Hitachi.

Filter hydraulic fluid even if it’s new

New fluid isn’t necessarily clean fluid. In most cases, the hydraulic system of your machine cleans the fluid to a higher level once in use. But this could be risky if the cleanliness of the initial fluid is unknown. As a general rule, the best practice is to filter-caddy the fluid while topping off your machine.

Invest in a filter caddy

A filter caddy can remove excess contamination after a repair and reduce contamination levels on machines that are having trouble maintaining the right balance on contaminants in their hydraulic systems. A filter caddy can extend the life of fluid by keeping it clean and boosts the life of components. For practical purposes, the filter caddy should have the ability to read particle counts, humidity, and in some cases, viscosity of the fluid.

Conduct oil analysis

Oil analysis can detect changes in the physical properties of the fluid that diminish its protective properties. Fluid analysis can detect wear metals inside the machine that are being lost little by little from its components. Remember, an oil change alone is not a guarantee that machines will survive longer – it does not replace the need for oil analysis.

Avoid mixing different types of hydraulic fluids

By mixing types and brands of fluids, you create a new product with differing ratios of additives and even base oils. Machines are very sensitive to these changes and can have negative reactions.

Avoid intrusive repairs in the open

If the repair is necessary, always use a filter caddy machine afterward. Take a fluid sample after a repair to make sure the machine complies with particle-count specifications. Additionally, don’t leave hoses uncapped and always cover disassembled components properly.