Fluid Conditioning

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Microbes aren’t the most common contaminant in hydraulic oil, but they do become a problem when conditions are ripe for their proliferation.  Anaerobic bacteria of various forms are the most common to be found within hydraulic fluid, although it’s not unheard of to see fungi (molds and yeasts) in very […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor As the last article in the series on laboratory-based hydraulic oil analyses, we thought we’d provide a single article to recap the tests in one convenient location. For the past six months we’ve discussed just as many topics important to your predictive maintenance program. Each one of these parameters is […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Although a hydraulic machine could run off highly crude forms of hydrocarbons, without a complement of additives, the performance and longevity of your hydraulic machine would suffer. Welcome to Part Seven of the Hydraulic Oil Analysis series, where we dig deep into the various additives that are always or usually […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor This is part 6 in this series on hydraulic oil analysis, and if you’ve missed any of the previous issues, you can find them here — part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5. I’ve covered everything from viscosity to water saturation already, and we’re not done […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor In Part 4 of the hydraulic oil analysis series, we will tackle one of the most essential qualities of hydraulic oil you must test and understand. Particle contamination, for example, may take months or years to erode critical components to the point of failure, but water infiltrating your pumps, valves, […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Particle contamination is the proverbial lord of the contamination cartel. Particles get all the attention in this world, and rightfully so. Particle contamination-related failures likely outpace water, varnish and heat combined (yes, heat is a form of contamination). It would come as no surprise, then, that the primary driver of […]

Last month, we discussed how vital an oil analysis program is for the reliability of your hydraulically powered machinery. This article is the second in the series where I discuss the many important qualities a competent oil analysis lab can identify for you. Oil viscosity is a primary driver in the oil selection process and […]

This article is the first in our series on hydraulic oil analysis programs. Hydraulic oil is the lifeblood of your hydraulic system, circulating primarily as a power transmission medium but also acting to lubricate, cool, seal and help remove contamination. Without oil, your hydraulic system is just a comatose pneumatic system, lying lifeless with no […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Forever. It should last forever. Thanks for reading, and come back next week for more YouTube Shorts. I kid, of course, although there is always truth in comedy because you should treat your oil as your forever fluid. Of course, simply showering your hydraulic fluid with love will not guarantee […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Hydraulic systems are the workhorses of many industries, powering everything from heavy machinery to manufacturing equipment. The lifeblood of these machines is hydraulic oil, which transmits power, dissipates heat, carries away contamination and lubricates components. However, just like any other fluid-based system, hydraulic systems are susceptible to unique issues, including […]

Tiny particulates in lubricants that are invisible to the naked eye can have costly consequences in hydraulic systems. By Zach Sutton, Chevron Lubricants Industrial & Services Sector Specialist In the world of mechanical maintenance, machinery breakdowns are a reality. Mechanical wear occurs constantly, and moving parts erode in quality over time. According to a study from […]

By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor The evolution of hydraulic filters from basic, pleated cellulose or paper into today’s synthetic depth media material has been slow but sure. This is because there are only so many ways to trap microscopic particles while offering little resistance to even smaller oil molecules. But engineers are continuing the advance […]

Taking contamination monitoring to the next level, the Filtration Division of energy management company Eaton introduces the CCS 5 mobile contamination control system. Suitable for both pressurized online operation and unpressurized sampling of fluids, the CCS 5 system quickly and accurately determines the solid contamination particle size distribution, water saturation, and temperature of hydraulic fluids […]

By Shaun Skilton, Product Manager; Andrew Baldwin, Engineering Manager; and Marc Williams, IoT Market Sales Manager, Parker Hannifin Industry statistics show that a whopping 80% of hydraulic system failures are due to contamination. In many of these cases, undetected contaminants of various forms have clogged, blocked, or otherwise damaged fragile hydraulic system components. The result […]

Today’s hydraulic fluids are forced to operate in hotter environments. But the right formulation can help reliably moderate temperatures, creating significant operational benefits for end users. By Blayne McKenzie, Technology Development Manager, Industrial Products, The Lubrizol Corp. Mobile and stationary hydraulic systems have gone through major changes in recent years. Widespread efforts toward higher efficiency […]

You might be surprised to hear that oil and water do mix. Of course, they won’t mix when poured together in a glass and stirred with a spoon. But forces at play to destroy your hydraulic system find ways to allow much more water to saturate and emulsify with your innocent hydraulic oil. Heat, oxidation […]