Investing in the Best Quality Hydraulic Fluids
Why should you consider buying only the best quality hydraulic fluids?
Many buyers asking this question are torn between buying an inexpensive hydraulic fluid for a couple of dollars per gallon or paying eight to ten times as much for the best performing hydraulic fluid on the market. The decision for educated buyers is quite clear.
Consider for a moment that the purchasing decision involves the choice between two automobiles – a Yugo or a Volvo. Yugo once imported automobiles into the United States from Yugoslavia and sold them for under $5,000. Volvo, on the other hand, sold for several times the price.
Anyone who has driven a Yugo would be hard pressed to deny reliability issues. The Yugo was not known for its durability in extreme operating conditions or its long life. Nor was it known for reliable winter performance or a stellar safety rating.
On the other hand, Volvo automobiles are known for their long life and durability and are considered among the safest vehicles in the world. Volvo vehicles are known to be appealing to intellectuals for these qualities. One can even find forty-year-old Volvo sedans and coupes still on the road at prestigious college campuses across the country. These cars have paid for themselves many times over and appear to be the choice of the studied intellectual.
While most of us do not fall into the category of the studied intellectual, we do want to make responsible and practical decisions, and the Yugo-Volvo analogy compares very favorably with the decision to purchase hydraulic oils. With the exception of one-pass fluid applications or poorly maintained, leaky hydraulic systems (shame on you!), AMSOIL synthetic hydraulic fluids will come out paying for themselves just like the intellectual’s Volvo.
AMSOIL Synthetic Hydraulic Fluids Excel in Product Performance:
- AMSOIL synthetic base stocks allow for cold temperature operation without the need for supplemental heating units.
- The low temperature fluidity of AMSOIL Hydraulic Fluid allows for less start-up pump wear and longer component life.
- AMSOIL Synthetic hydraulic fluids, due to their unique molecular structure, have no open hydrogen bonds which could become bound with water molecules. This effectively hampers damaging water formation. Lesser quality hydraulic fluids actually promote the formation of water.
- The molecular structure of AMSOIL Hydraulic Fluid reduces friction and lowers heat in systems, which also lowers oxidation rates and varnish build-up. This has direct impact on longer oil life, less intermittent failures, less down time, lower maintenance expenses, and lower fluid disposal costs.
- Hydraulic leaks that can result in fires are a major concern of safety experts. Traditional hydraulic oils have dangerously low flash, fire and auto-ignition points. More than one hydraulic fluid leak has caused a major fire. In fact, in many applications insurers specify fire-resistant hydraulic oils. AMSOIL Hydraulic Fluids offer much better flash and fire points. These features, much like the side impact air bags and crash cage in a Volvo, provide the operator with peace of mind.
Most people would certainly eliminate a vehicle for potential purchase if they had concerns about safety, performance and long-life, trouble-free operation. Hydraulic systems are the work horse of most industrial operations. Shouldn’t the impacts of increased life, safety and reliability, not to mention lower overall cost of ownership, be considered in purchasing decisions?
In the final analysis, it comes down to this: you get what you pay for and what you pay must be distinguished from what it really costs you (or could cost you) in the long term.
Cavitation = Bad News
Cavitation is a serious problem for hydraulic systems. It occurs when the absolute pressure in a pump intake line is reduced below the vapor pressure of the fluid.
AMSOIL has a Hydraulic Oil for Every Application
AMSOIL has a full family of products suitable for hydraulic applications. These products are full synthetic products that offer increased life, lower wear, temperature reductions and energy savings.
AW Series anti-wear hydraulic oils are available in a wide range of viscosity grades for all applications where anti-wear additives are required.
RC Series is a product line with a full range of viscosities and is utilized where R & type oils are recommended.
TBI is our biodegradable hydraulic oil and is suitable in environmentally sensitive applications such as the logging industry or in equipment near water.
RCE is an ISO-10 fluid that can be used in hydraulic applications requiring a light oil.
ATH is our ISO-46 tractor hydraulic fluid, an excellent value for use in mobile hydraulic systems. |
Hydraulic oil contains between 7 and 8 percent solubilized air. Air bubbles are formed when these pressure changes occur, and these can cause cavitation. As pressure increases, these bubbles or vacuum holes implode. These implosions release great energy, and the internal temperature can reach 1,100 deg. C. Cavitation should not be taken lightly. A cavitating pump can be totally destroyed in only a few hours, sometimes minutes.
Cavitation can be caused by the wrong pipe size on the inlet, cold operating temperatures and improper placement of the pump with respect to the reservoir (the pump should be placed as close to the reservoir as possible). Cavitation usually occurs when the pump suction is being restricted.
Think Clean for Longer Fluid Life
Just implementing small measures to improve oil cleanliness can have a dramatic impact on equipment life. For example, according to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), a 70 percent reduction in engine wear was obtained by filtering engine oil at 15 microns instead of 40 microns. In an industrial application, reducing particles larger than 10 micron from 1,000 per liter to 100 per liter can effectively increase the operating life of a machine to over five times the normal operating life span.
Water is another critical contaminant. It is a primary lubricant degrader. Its destructive force is augmented when it is combined with iron or copper in systems. Water causes breakdowns due to oxidation and precipitation of oil additives. In addition, an oil’s viscosity can be changed which can cause increase wear and protective failure. This can also lead to corrosion and fatigue. Even very small amounts of water can have a serious impact on an operating system.
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