In this post we are going to share with you 7 common issues to look out for when it comes to maintaining hydraulic power units. Premature hydraulic system failure can be traced to one of the following deficiencies:
- Insufficient fluid level
Low fluid levels in a hydraulic reservoir may not stop it from operating, but it may result in increased contamination, increased temperatures and poor oil lubrication. - Air in the system
Air dissolved in the oil will cause oxidation of the oil and foam will often be evident in the reservoir. This may cause cavitation within the hydraulic system and poor oil lubrication performance. - Oil Contamination
Hydraulic filters must be monitored in an effective manner so not to either waste money by changing them too early or risk contaminating the system by changing them too late. Filters that are clogged will stop holding any dirt particles; this allows dirt to circulate in the system. This will then decrease the life of each component in the hydraulic unit – resulting in more expense than necessary. - Incorrect system design
Over/undersized components and filters installed at incorrect locations will cause endless problems. Also, incorrectly adjusted valves can create excessive heat and noise, leading to valve wear and oil breakdown. - Fluid leakage
Anywhere oil escapes from a system, air or other contamination can enter. This may lead to low fluid levels, air in the hydraulic system, and other issues will arise. - >Wrong fluid type or viscosity
The quality of the oil is vital to the operation of the hydraulic system as it not only transfers power, it also lubricates the entire system. The viscosity and therefore, effectiveness will depend upon whether the system is running at the correct parameters. Poor oil selection can result in premature degradation of oil properties and cause excessive wear of the system components. - Excessive temperatures
Excessively high temperatures may be at times difficult to detect in different parts of a hydraulic system. Often there is no method of recognising overheating, but this is the single most effective way of damaging hydraulic oil and the system components. Constant high temperatures lowers oil performance and reduces lubrication leading to premature wear.
