What are the symptoms of hydraulic contamination?
Hydraulics are integral to the performance of your machine and are responsible for lubrication, heat transfer and energy transmission. But what happens when you experience hydraulic contamination and what are the main symptoms of hydraulic contamination to look out for?
In this guide, we will walk you through some of the issues that are symptomatic of contaminated hydraulics, as well as the causes of contamination and how to reduce the risk.
If you’d like more expert advice on hydraulic replacement parts for your machinery, don’t hesitate to give us a call on tel: +44 1604 491 133, email us at sales@jaytrac.co.uk or leave an enquiry via our contact form.
Symptoms of hydraulic contamination
So, what are some of the symptoms of hydraulic contamination you should keep an eye out for?
Increased machinery noise and vibration
Increased noise and vibration can be a sign of hydraulic contamination. This is because contaminated oil is less effective at lubricating hydraulic components and so friction increases between the hydraulic components in your machine, causing vibration and lots of noise. This is noticeable if you’re familiar with how your machine normally sounds since you’ll be able to detect whether the noise is normal for your machine or not.
Your machine might typically be very noisy, and so loud noises might not always be a sign of contamination! However, it’s increased noise and vibration than what is typical for your specific machine that you need to look out for.
Change in hydraulic oil colour
The colour of your hydraulic oil is another potential sign of contamination. If your hydraulic oil appears foggy or has changed colour, it could be contaminated. Oil can also appear darker if the oil has burned or if there’s sludge present, which is a classic sign of bacterial contamination.
Reduced machinery performance
Reduced performance can mean a number of things, but it can be a symptom of hydraulic contamination. When oil is contaminated, it results in gaps opening up between pistons, spools and other parts. These gaps translate to slower movements with your parts and reduced precision. A reduction in performance might be noticeable through longer cycle times or slower operation.
We supply a range of replacement hydraulic parts for your heavy machinery, including piston pumps, barrels and pistons.
Oil odour
Odour can be another sign that something isn’t quite right, and this is often a clear sign of bacterial contamination.
High hydraulic fluid temperatures
High fluid temperatures can be symptomatic of hydraulic contamination. This is because hydraulic systems are supposed to help dissipate heat through the reservoir, but are unable to do so if the fluid is flowing poorly due to non-abrasive particle contamination, for example.
For guidance, a high fluid temperature would generally be above 180°F (82°C). It’s important to keep an eye on this because excessively high temperatures will damage your seals and also degrade the hydraulic fluid itself, making it less viscous and ineffective.
What are the different types of hydraulic contamination?
Not all hydraulic contamination has the same cause. There are three main types to look out for:
- Particulate contamination is caused by things like sand, dirt or corroded metal flakes within the hydraulic fluid. These bits of debris can lead to pump and motor failure and can cause cavities within the system because of the abrasive nature of the particles.
- Non-abrasive particle contamination includes shredded seal parts, for example, which can result in clogging, stuck valves and poor flow and pressure.
- Moisture contamination occurs when water gets into the hydraulic fluid. This can lead to corrosion and bacterial growth.
What causes hydraulic contamination?
Incorrect storage can have a big impact on your hydraulic fluid. Drastic temperature fluctuations and moisture presence within the storage container can lead to what is known as ‘’breathing’’, leading to microbial growth and sludge formation.
Normal, daily usage of your machine can result in hydraulic contamination in the long run too if proper maintenance isn’t carried out regularly. If hoses and other hydraulic fittings contain debris, these will make their way into the system and contaminate your machine. Even the maintenance and repair process can result in hydraulic contamination if debris or dust inadvertently make their way into ports or hoses via a dirty cloth or an unclean workshop table, for example.
Sometimes, hydraulic fluid is also contaminated during the manufacturing process itself.
Steps to reduce hydraulic contamination
Hydraulic contamination can be prevented, or the risk of its occurrence can be greatly reduced a number of ways.
- Use high quality filters that can filter out any debris particles that might already be present within your fluid from the manufacturing or production process. This will reduce the risk of transferring these contaminants into your machine when using new oil and hydraulic fluid that sometimes contains these particles.
- Have a procedure for storing and handling your hydraulic fluid. To prevent bacterial and moisture contamination, containers need to be properly sealed and should be kept at a constant temperature, away from sunlight or heat sources. This will prevent ‘’breathing’’ and keep your hydraulic fluid safe from bacterial contamination.
- Keep your machinery’s parts clean of debris and dirt. This is particularly important during maintenance, when ports might be left open and the chance of particulate contamination increases. Try to remember to keep ports closed during repairs or maintenance when it’s not strictly necessary for them to remain open.
- Always wipe down and clean the hydraulic hose before reattaching it, otherwise your maintenance work could do more harm than good!
- Make sure that any cloths or tools you use for cleaning and maintenance are free of dirt, dust or debris to ensure contaminants don’t inadvertently make their way into your machine.
At Jaytrac, we stock a wide range of replacement hydraulic parts for Caterpillar, Komatsu and Volvo heavy-duty machinery, including hydraulic cartridges, cylinders, seal kits and hydraulic motors. Did you know, we also supply hoses for machinery which are available by part number and in multiple configurations? For the full range of products available, contact our team today.
For more tips, check out our guide on keeping your machine’s hydraulics healthy.