Is fluid contamination of hydraulic systems putting your most important machinery at risk?
Did you know that up to 90% of all failures in hydraulic systems are due to contaminants in the hydraulic fluid? Did you know that as little as 1 gram of dust can cause 1,000 litres of clean fluid to deteriorate to an only just acceptable level for a hydraulic system? It doesn’t take much to put your most important machinery at risk. And it’s not just the cost of repairs that’s at stake; it’s the unplanned down-time, the incalculable delays to your schedule.
And yet, despite how important filtration is to a healthy hydraulic system, it’s the most common area of neglect.
Any fluid is subject to contamination, with solid contamination being the main cause of unexpected component damages or breakdowns in hydraulic systems. The level of potential damage depends on several factors:
· particle size
· particle quantity
· particle material hardness & shape
· component tolerances
· working pressure & flow rates.
It goes without saying that the working environment generates all sorts and sizes of particles which, without proper prevention, planned maintenance and monitoring, could cause gradual or sudden damage to your machinery. But it’s not just external factors you need to consider…
Having a clean hydraulic circuit starts right from the beginning, with the initial filling of the system with oil. Most of the time, brand-new oil is not clean enough and it is imperative when filling a hydraulic system that the oil is passed through an off-line filter system first. You’ll find a range of suitable offline filter systems here.
Having clean oil in the system from the outset is not enough, though. The oil also needs to be filtered in-line, in the hydraulic circuit. In mobile and industrial applications, we often see hydraulic circuits that are not equipped with effective fluid filtration. Good filtration is vital in the hydraulic circuit to ensure a long working life and proper operation of the pumps, valves and motors.
Given that it can cost five times as much to remove contamination as to prevent it in the first place, it’s worth ensuring your agricultural machinery is fitted with the best filter for the job.
Of course, even with frequent servicing and maintenance, and choosing the best filters for each piece of equipment, contaminants remain a risk. That’s because even component wear and tear can lead to fluid contamination and increase the chances of machinery becoming inefficient or failing altogether.
Contamination monitoring – is it worth it?
Contamination control products are an excellent way of monitoring oil cleanliness levels. In-line versions are designed to be permanently installed into the system and can run continuous or occasional analysis, while portable versions are perfect for on-site analysis in the field. You’ll find a good range of measuring and contamination monitoring equipment here.
What prevents many farmers and contractors from investing is not just underestimating the risks or costs of oil contamination, but concern about the price of the monitoring equipment. Is it worth it? And the answer is “How important is the continuous availability and reliability of that piece of machinery to your business?” It’s about balancing risk versus cost. A combine harvester experiencing unexpected failure halfway across a field at the start of harvesting is going to cost an awful lot more in lost time and repair bills than the cost of a monitor, for instance. For less important machinery, a well-designed maintenance schedule and investing in the best filters to keep hydraulic systems clean may be a more financially prudent approach.
And you don’t need to make those decisions alone. Trust your dealer. Dig out the OEM instruction manual. And call your Kramp account manager or product specialist for impartial, reliable advice on all areas of filtration – we’re here to help.
