That’s why oil care is important…
70-80% of hydraulic failures are caused by contaminated oil! But what does that mean specifically?
Oil is the most important component in hydraulic and lubricating oil systems; nothing works without oil! And with contaminated oil, things don’t work for long; downtimes are sometimes associated with very high costs!
It is therefore important to know what influences there are and what effects they have on the oil itself and on the system components in contact.
Here is an example: For fresh oil, DIN 51524 requires compliance with the purity class (ISO 4406) 21/19/16 as a minimum.
Well-known manufacturers of proportional valves, on the other hand, require a purity of min. 16/14/12 or 20/17/14 depending on the manufacturer and operating pressure. Therefore, even when filling with fresh oil, a proportional valve can be damaged or malfunction (e.g.: prop. pressure control valve, prop. flow control valve, etc.).
There are various sources of contamination of the operating fluid: assembly of the system, errors when filling with fresh oil, environmental influences, refilling processes, repairs and maintenance on the system, process-related wear, etc.
Contaminants can be particles, water, other lubricating oils and possibly process media.
The resulting consequences are, for example: reduction in the lubricating effect and the service life of the oil, resulting in increased wear on the system components. Unplanned machine downtimes due to defective components (valves, pumps, etc.), unstable production process. Increasing costs due to maintenance measures, machine downtimes and reduced quantity and quality in the manufacture of products.
There are numerous options and preventive measures to avoid contamination of the oil. The first thing you should do is carry out an oil analysis on suspicious machines and systems. This is the only way to get detailed information about the condition of the medium and then to take appropriate measures.
We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about oil cleanliness and off-line filtration. Please feel free to contact us: lars.benk@schuhmacher-tech.de or +497424/9495663
Lars Benk: Profile of a field-tested expert
Basic training: Tool mechanic, specializing in stamping and forming technology.
Further training: State-certified technician with a focus on mechanical engineering.
Additional qualification: Degree in technical business administration, combining technical know-how with business expertise.
Professional experience: More than a decade of active work in the field of hydraulics.
Specialization: Certified specialist in oil analysis (MLA II – Machine Lubrication Specialist), with a specific focus on the maintenance and optimization of machines through professional lubricant analysis. Certified specialist for hydraulic fluids – specialist knowledge for optimal hydraulic systems.
