Many industry leaders use hydraulic fluid additives in their equipment. Doing so can change the machinery’s performance, allowing users to lengthen its useful life span. Here’s a helpful overview of what people should know before choosing these products.
Consider the desired outcomes
Choosing the right hydraulic fluid additive requires people to think about what benefits they want to see by using one. For example, some additives reduce oxidation-related degradation. Otherwise, hydraulic equipment is at an increased risk of sludge buildup that can negatively impact how well the machinery works.
People may also choose additives to prevent foaming. It happens due to excessive air bubbles on the fluid’s surface. This issue can increase oxidative effects and result in poor lubrication of the equipment. That’s a significant concern. The primary purpose of hydraulic fluid is to promote energy transmission through a system. However, it also acts as a lubricant.
If foaming becomes too problematic within a hydraulic system, the lubrication effects people expect to get could become reduced or non-existent. This is an example of why it’s sometimes necessary to use hydraulic fluid additives to keep everything working smoothly and avoid complications.
People can also purchase friction modifiers as additives. They enable the smooth movement of sliding or rolling parts of hydraulic equipment, such as the pumps. These hydraulic fluid additives also often reduce wear on the parts, helping them last longer.
Know how hydraulic fluid additives support machine maintenance
People must keep their hydraulic equipment well-maintained to increase the chances it’ll work as intended for its expected life span. Using suitable hydraulic fluid additives can factor into that aim.
As hydraulic oil ages and decomposes, its byproducts can form varnish. Although varnish starts as a sticky residue that attracts debris, it eventually hardens into a lacquer-like substance. Some experts estimate that varnish-related complications can cost as much as $135,000 per year, not including expenses associated with lost production time.
Previous methods to deal with varnish buildup included cleaning or replacing the servo valves as part of routine maintenance. Some decision-makers also opted to use electrostatic filters and precipitators, but those are costly and reduce the available floor space in an industrial setting.
However, hydraulic fluid additives offer another possibility. Many people don’t initially realize that these products are not separate items to purchase in addition to hydraulic fluid. Instead, brands sell hydraulic fluids containing certain percentages of the desired additives. For example, some people use DMSO as a hydraulic fluid additive to prevent corrosion. Manufacturers typically sell hydraulic fluid with additives already included in the right amounts. This makes things as straightforward as possible for consumers.
Returning to the varnish example, people can buy hydraulic fluid with additives that prevent varnish from accumulating on hydraulic components. Individuals who use their hydraulic equipment for high-temperature applications will find these anti-varnish additives particularly advantageous.
No additive will remove the need for other maintenance measures. However, selecting the right one could help keep a system functioning smoothly.
Investigate eco-friendly options
As people become more concerned about the future of the planet and what they can do to influence it, they often feel compelled to look for environmentally friendly alternatives to the products they currently use. For example, some companies are working on bio-based hydrocarbons and other biodegradable transformer oils. Similar progress has occurred with hydraulic fluid additives.
In one instance, researchers aimed to make a hydraulic fluid with a water fraction of at least 90%. A later stage of that project involved looking for plant-based additives to complement the novel liquid. Some of the questions the team wanted to answer related to the stability of the plant-based additives once introduced to the fluid and how well the fluid-additive combination would work for hydraulic equipment under normal operating conditions.
Solutions also already exist on the market for water-dilutable and biodegradable hydraulic fluid with additives to inhibit oxidation and corrosion. People should consider how eco-friendly practices align with their overall business aims and functionality goals for their hydraulic equipment. Eco-friendly versions of hydraulic fluid and additives may not be the best solutions in every case. However, they’re worth considering, especially since more companies are making them and increasing the number of available options.
Hydraulic fluid additives can help meet performance goals
Hydraulic equipment is essential for people in numerous industries. Because it’s so vital to various operations, many individuals would understandably do anything they could to make it work better and reduce the likelihood of problems. If hydraulic equipment breaks down frequently or does not last as long as expected, those issues can severely impact a company’s bottom line.
Hydraulic fluid additives are specially formulated options that allow people to consider the results they want and then find appropriate solutions to add to their machinery. People should think of them as valuable options for improving machine performance and targeting many of the negative outcomes that can harm equipment if left unaddressed.
It’s also smart for them to keep an eye on the market to see which new options emerge. As scientists and engineers work together to develop innovative products, all users of hydraulic systems could benefit from their efforts.
