The Environment
and
Hydraulic Fluids
With states and municipalities increasingly recommending environmentally friendly hydraulic fluids, fleet managers are discovering the many benefits of synthetics.
A May 2000 MSW Management article entitled Going Green: Biodegradable Products for Your Hydraulic System, in which AMSOIL Industrial Lubricants Manager Mike Dormady is quoted, discusses the rising interest in synthetic and biodegradable hydraulic fluids in waste-collection vehicles. This rising interest is due to stricter environmental regulations, but fleet managers are discovering that synthetics offer much more than just environmental benefits. They are also discovering the supreme performance benefits and extended drain capabilities.
One hurdle that must be cleared when it comes to installing biodegradable or synthetic hydraulic fluid involves meeting equipment manufacturers’ specifications. Many manufacturers specify petroleum-based fluids, so synthetic and biodegradable oil manufacturers have had to demonstrate their product’s compatibility and benefits before getting approval to install them. AMSOIL performs numerous evaluations and tests to show fleet managers just how well AMSOIL fluids will work in their equipment. “(It’s) something you have to show them,” says Dormady.
Since AMSOIL hydraulic fluids offer users extended drain capabilities, less waste oil is disposed of, making AMSOIL an environmentally-friendly lubricant. Biodegradable soybean-based hydraulic fluids also offer environmental benefits, but don’t come close to AMSOIL, or even petroleum products, when it comes to performance. In fact, some vegetable-based fluid will only last 15 minutes before oxidizing and going rancid. Dennis Jeter, sales representative for a producer of vegetable and synthetic oils, had this to say about biodegradable soybean-based hydraulic fluid: “Part of the problem has been short life and cost. Although I think they’re making some gains on the quality and performance of the product, I think we’re a ways away from having just totally what we need that will compete against what’s out there.”
 Jay and Kip McEwan, each owner of an Alberta trucking company attest to the quality of AMSOIL hydraulic fluid. They’ve had experience with every major type of oil in severe conditions, finally switching to AMSOIL Thermally Stable Biodegradable TBI Hydraulic Fluid four years ago.
After switching to AMSOIL TBI, Jay McEqan, president of McLoja Enterprises Ltd. In Cherhill, AB, thought he had discovered the perfect environmentally-friendly vegetable-based fluid, but had this to say regarding his experience with it: “We run in temperatures down to –45 deg. C (-49 deg. F). The vegetable-based oil was only good to about –28 deg. C (-18 deg. F), and then it turns into margarine. It doesn’t flow through the hydraulics on our equipment, and it has a tendency to wear out pumps and cylinders.”
After this experience, Jay quickly switched back to AMSOIL TBI, which he prefers to anything else he’s tried. “Minus 35 deg. C (-31 deg. F) basically is as cold as we could go with the petroleum-based because it’s too heavy. And then you were changing out the oils to run winter and summer, whereas with the synthetic oil, we run it year-round.” In fact, McEwan has run the same fluid in one piece of equipment for 5000 hours without a change, saying, “We’re showing a little bit of wear and tear on the oil, but it’s not degraded enough to cause us any concerns.”
Jay’s brother Kip McEwan, president of J & K Trucking Enterprises Ltd. In Barrhead, AB, also appreciates the quality he gets out of AMSOIL TBI, saying, “The life of my cylinders and pumps has increased by three and four times. We put a lot of hours on the machine. If it were a regular type of oil, I would be repairing the pump or cylinders every 24 months.
As much as the McEwans appreciate the supreme performance of AMSOIL TBI, their main motivation behind the switch from petroleum oil had to do with environmental considerations. Canadian and provincial regulations, in addition to favorable public opinion, fueled the McEwans to use AMSOIL Biodegradable TBI. In the case of a blown hose or spill, the McEwans avoid cleanup costs and public outcry.
Vegetable-based fluids cost two to three times the price of petroleums, making it hard for fleet managers to justify buying them. Although AMSOIL fluids also cost more than petroleums, people are realizing the long term savings. “For years the cost of synthetics has kind of deterred people from switching from a mineral oil, but now what we’re seeing is that people are actually looking at the bottom line: overall cost, longer life, less wear, better oxidation capabilities.” Says Dormady, who also contends that superior performance and longer drains, not environmental concerns, are driving people to synthetics.
Most hydraulic fluid manufacturers recommend completely draining oil fluid before adding a new brand. AMSOIL hydraulic fluid, however, is compatible with petroleum oils and the seals and components used for them. However, for maximum performance, it is best to completely drain the oil fluid before installing AMSOIL hydraulic fluid. “You run into performance debilitators. You’re putting a superior product in a system, an dif you have a product in there that can’t perform as well, you’re going to diminish the effectiveness of the new product,” says Dormady.
In comparison to the United States, European nations have much stricter environmental laws governing the use of oils and lubricants. More legislation requiring the use of “greener” lubricants will likely arrive in the U.S. as well, and AMSOIL will be ready with products that not only contribute to a cleaner environment, but also give the user the best overall protection and performance available.
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