Not all hydraulic oils are made the same. Our hydraulic systems, hoses, valves, and cylinders are manufactured with Buna-N Seals. Although this is the most widely used seals for hydrocarbon fluids they can still be adversely effected by additives added into some non-approved blends of oils.
We build our precision hydraulic components with very tight tolerances, that allows for gradual wear of the seals and components over time and does not greatly adversely affect operation and performance, allowing for years of use before seal or component replacement is necessary.
The oil viscosity (thickness) has been selected to allow operation between -10F and 200F.
In a cold climate, too viscous an oil will become (like Molasses) and cause pump cavitation, which is where the pump, unable to suck fluid, sucks and pumps air though out the hydraulic system. As this happens, the lack of lubricity causes pump failure.
In a warm climate, too thin an oil will allow blowby of the oil around the seals causing the cylinders to creep as the oil flows between the seals and the mating surfaces.
Some EP additives that may be included in non-approved hydraulic fluids are there for cleaning or coating of metal parts like in floor jack or power steering oils.
Buna-N will also be adversely effected by: - DO NOT USE -
- Aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene)
- Halogen derivatives (carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene)
- Ketones (MEK, acetone)
- Phosphate ester hydraulic fluids (Skydrol®, Pydraul®)
- Strong acids
- Extreme pressure (EP) lubes at elevated temperatures
These chemicals and compounds will attack the Buna-N seal material causing the seals to swell sometimes by over 50% then crack and cause system wide failure to all components in the system.
When this happens the cylinder piston and rods will be seized inside the cylinders expanding the cylinder barrels, pump seals will fail causing no pump flow, valving o-rings will crumble and stop up the valving, and the inner tubes on the hoses will crack causing oil leakage thru the hoses.
In some cases only a few teaspoons of the wrong hydraulic fluid will destroy your system in less than 30 hours after introduction into the system. Call the PipeWelders Sales Dept with any questions on hydraulic fluid selections.
PipeWelders Marine, Inc.
