Maintaining the optimal reliability of any hydraulic system requires a certain level of knowledge on your part. Due to it not being used often, it likely isn’t given much attention until the time that it stops working. Below are the common mistakes usually made with a truck’s hydraulic system. It is also possible that you are probably making one of these mistakes right now.
1. Oil Changes
There are only two conditions that require a hydraulic oil change. These are:
- Degradation of the base oil.
- Using up the additive package completely.
It must also be said that there are so many factors that determine the oil’s rate of degradation. Also, additives will eventually run out, so changing hydraulic oil without any checking the actual condition of the oil is very complicated.
Currently, oil is costly so dumping it even though it isn’t needed is the last thing you want to do. Also, if you have a reservoir with a larger, it will be more expensive if you always commit this blunder.
If you keep on using it while the base oil is not enough or additives depleted, the service life of every part in the hydraulic system will be compromised.
2. Filter Changes
A similar situation happens to hydraulic filters. If you change them on a routine or every hour, you’re either replacing them too early or too late.
If you change before all their dirt-holding capacity is maximised, you’re spending more money on unnecessary filter changes. On the other hand, if you change them after the filter isn’t functioning correctly, there will be an increase in contamination in the oil. It reduces the service life of the other parts in the hydraulic system, and you will have to spend more in the long run.
The solution is to replace filters when the dirt-holding capacity is used up, but before the bypass valve opens. It needs a mechanism to control the flow restriction ( or pressure drop) across the filter element and to inform you when this point is reached.
3. Very High Temperatures
In machinery maintenance, the significance of making informed choices extends beyond the obvious. Consider how truck owners instinctively avoid pushing an engine to the brink of overheating. A similar, yet often overlooked, principle applies to the subtler aspects of machinery care, like maintaining hydraulic systems.
Excessive heat in such systems can subtly compromise elements, akin to how seals and hoses might suffer, leading to a decline in hydraulic oil quality. This situation varies with factors like oil viscosity and machinery elements in play. When oil heats up, its consistency diminishes, sometimes slipping below the necessary level for smooth operation.
Therefore, understanding the relationship between temperature and hydraulic oil viscosity is essential. The selection of hydraulic components should consider their quality and compatibility with the system’s operational temperature range.
Using components from reliable providers ensures that they can withstand the specific temperature demands of the hydraulic system, thereby reducing the risk of premature failure and maintaining optimal system performance. For instance, selecting the right hose provider, such as The Hose Shop, is a prime example of choosing quality components for hydraulic systems.
4. Using the Wrong Oil
The oil is an essential component of any hydraulic system. Not only is hydraulic oil a lubricant, but it’s also how power is transferred throughout the hydraulic system.
When it is running above the recommended temperatures, its viscosity is a factor to operate the hydraulic systems safely. It is more commonly known as the Temperature Operating Window (TOW).
If you use oil with a viscosity that exceeds the ambient temperatures that the system is operating, it won’t flow properly or lubricate the system during a cold start. On the other hand, if your oil has a lower viscosity for the environment, it won’t be able to maintain the required minimum viscosity. Also, it won’t provide enough lubrication, especially during the summer months.
However, that’s not the end of it! You can increase efficiency by maintaining the required levels of viscosity to keep the system lubricated.
If the operating oil viscosity is higher than usual, more power is lost to fluid friction. If operating viscosity is lower than recommended, more energy is lost to mechanical friction and internal leakage.
5. Installing Filter on Wrong Locations
Two hydraulic filter locations do more harm than good and can rapidly destroy the very components they were designed to protect. These to-be-avoided filter locations are the:
-
Pump inlet
Firstly, the pump gets its oil from a dedicated reservoir, not a random compartment. Secondly, it’s a big mistake to believe that it’s normal or acceptable for debris to get into the hydraulic tank.
If getting maximum pump life is your main concern, it’s far more critical for the oil to freely flow and fill the pumping chambers with every intake cycle. It may even be more important than protecting the pump from nuts, bolts, and 9/16″ combination spanners. They pose no risk in an adequately designed reservoir where the pump inlet penetration is a least 4″ off the bottom.
6. Hydraulic Parts are Not Self-Lubricating and Self-Priming
Everyone in their right minds wouldn’t start an engine when the oil in the sump is empty. However, this situation still happens, and it is more problematic for expensive hydraulic components.
The truth is, if the right measures aren’t followed during initial start-up, hydraulic components can be severely damaged. In some cases, they may work without a hitch for a while, but the harm done can manifest later on.
There are two things that you should do to get it right:
- Know what to do.
- Remember to do it.
7. Not Knowing Enough About Hydraulics Systems
If your truck comes with an onboard hydraulic system and you don’t know much about hydraulics, you’ll likely spend a lot of money. Also, keep your knowledge about the care and maintenance of hydraulic systems up-to-date. There is much information available online that is readily available.
Moreover, it is highly recommended that you seek equipment consulting services to ensure proper maintenance and functioning of your truck’s hydraulic system. These services can provide valuable insights and expertise to help you avoid costly repairs and replacements. Stay informed and knowledgeable about your hydraulic system to keep it running smoothly and efficiently.
Now that you know a bit about your truck hydraulics, you’ll be more prepared whenever an issue arises while you’re travelling. But there are times that you’d help from experts because the problem is too difficult to solve. In these situations, Ryco 24.7 servicing Sydney can help you get back on the road! So, visit our website now or call (02) 9605-5433 if you want to know more.
Originally posted 2021-04-04 10:52:41.
Salman is a prolific environmental writer, and has authored more than 500 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management, sustainability and conservation all over the world.
Salman can be reached on salman@cleantechloops.com
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