Hydraulic power pack & Fluid Contamination

Recently we have been facing a couple of issues concerning the choice of oil and its contamination.

Sometimes the importance of choosing an appropriate fluid is underestimated.

A hydraulic pump is a simple device in the system with the most important functions to perform.

In hydraulics, the oil pressure defines how well the system will perform. It is the hydraulic pump which suctions the fluid from the reservoir and pumps it in the system. In short, the hydraulic pump works for converting mechanical/electrical energy into required hydraulic energy. 

The hydraulic fluid passes through the pump to obtain the required pressure. 

What if this hydraulic fluid is contaminated? 

Hydraulic fluid contamination is one of the most serious concern for pump failure. Corrosion, damaged filters, seal failures, etc… are common reasons for hydraulic fluid contamination. The hydraulic pump failure is directly related to the size and quantity of solid particle, system pressure and internal clearance of the components. 

Contaminants in the hydraulic pump will accelerate the component wear and shows different failure symptoms like noise, overheat, erratic operation of cylinders, and slow performance. If it becomes worse, finally the hydraulic pump will break down and the only solution then will be to replace the pump. Poor hydraulic pump performance can be a result of oil viscosity issues, leakage, inappropriate hose selection, etc.... In such instances, other than replacing the pump, it is suitable to troubleshoot and repair the cause of the pump failure.

What are the methods to prevent hydraulic pump failure? 

Similar to all other hydraulic components, inspection and maintenance of components and hydraulic oil will eliminate most of the pump issues. It is also important to keep the workplace clean. While disassembling or repairing a hydraulic pump, the first stage to consider is cleaning the machinery properly so that no external particle enter into it. This will help to clean the entire system before the actual operation begins.

We recommend using standard hydraulic oil ISO VG 46, since it has much less additives and is meant for hydraulic power packs. As better alternative, we recommend adopting Matrol-Bi, as we are doing, an ecolabel certified 100% biodegradable hydraulic fluid which has been extensively tested on our power units with excellent results, made in Italy by the bioplastic specialized giant Novamont and whose formulation has been specifically optimized for our power units.