Whether due to inexperience with hydraulic systems or lack of knowledge regarding the benefits presented by synthetic hydraulic oils, many Dealers may be passing up opportunities for additional sales. Hydraulic systems are everywhere, presenting countless opportunities to market premium AMSOIL Synthetic Anti-Wear Hydraulic Oils or Synthetic Biodegradable Hydraulic Oil:
- Garbage trucks
- Mobile cranes
- Snow plows
- Forklifts
- Dump trucks
- Excavators
- Front-end loaders
- Mobile shears
- Backhoes
- Mobile well-drilling and core-sampling equipment
- Skidders
- Piling rigs
- Street sweepers
- Mobile hydraulic power units
- Bucket trucks
- Tow trucks
- Feller bunchers
- Scissor lifts
AMSOIL Biodegradable Hydraulic Oil is ideal for applications where high biodegradability and low aquatic toxicity are desired or where leaking, spills or ruptured hydraulic lines may present an environmental hazard:
- Companies mandated by regulation to use a biodegradable product
- Municipalities
- Agricultural applications
- Federal agencies
- Golf courses
- Companies advertising themselves as “green”
Hydraulic Systems Hydraulic systems can look complex and intimidating, but most are relatively straightforward, consisting of a sump, a pump, hoses, valves and either pistons or hydraulic motors. Sump – The hydraulic system’s sump is responsible for holding the oil, providing time for the transferring of heat, and a place for contaminants, including water, to settle.
Pump – The hydraulic system’s pump produces the fluid flow that creates pressure. In most cases, it is the most expensive part in the system. Hydraulic oils are subjected to pump tests to prove their ability to protect pumps under normal operating conditions. Hydraulic systems can have many different types of pumps, but the three most common are gear, vane and piston pumps. Gear pumps are often found on lower-pressure systems and are relatively simple and reliable. As positive displacement pumps, they pump a fixed amount of fluid for every revolution. Although variations exist, a good example is an automotive oil pump. Vane pumps are common on mobile equipment and can be variable or constant displacement. Piston pumps can be found on higher-pressure applications and are more complex and sensitive to contamination than vane or piston pumps.
Hoses – Hoses carry hydraulic pressure and flow to various components, and are perhaps the weakest link in any hydraulic system. Maintenance is often ignored until a problem develops. Hoses fail due to heat, cold, repeated flexing, physical damage and exposure to the elements. Because they are notorious for failing, hoses present a significant challenge to selling customers a premium synthetic hydraulic oil. Many customers do not want to pay a premium price if they believe they will eventually lose most of the oil through a hose failure.
Valves – Valves control the route of the hydraulic flow within the system, sending flow and pressure to components in order to operate them. Pulling a lever back may route fluid to one side of the hydraulic system, causing it to extend a piston, while pushing it forward may cause it to retract. Varnish presents a major problem with valves, causing them to stick or not allowing them to seal properly.
Pistons/Hydraulic Motors – Pistons and hydraulic motors convert the hydraulic flow and pressure into work. Pistons provide linear motion, allowing bulldozer blades to lift and backhoe buckets to tip, while motors convert hydraulic flow and pressure into rotational force, allowing drills to operate.
Common issues associated with pistons and hydraulic motors are internal or external leakage. External leakage results in loss of fluid and possible contamination issues, while internal leakage results in lost efficiency. For example, a bottle jack with its valve only partially closed requires furious pumping to lift an object off the ground and won’t be able to keep it there.
Hydraulic Oil
Zinc-containing hydraulic oil is a commonly-used hydraulic fluid, while other applications call for zinc-free hydraulic oil, motor oil or transmission fluid. Hydrostatic hydraulic oil is required when the fluid must also operate the hydrostatic transmission, biodegradable hydraulic oil is often required in environmentally sensitive areas and some applications require fire-resistant hydraulic oils.
Each type of hydraulic oil has unique characteristics, and it’s important to understand what’s required for specific applications. The equipment’s operator’s manual will usually recommend viscosities for the ambient temperatures the machine is operated in or could even recommend a specific oil brand. Dealers can use this information to recommend the appropriate AMSOIL synthetic hydraulic oil. When in doubt, contact AMSOIL Technical Services at 715-399-TECH.
Hydraulic Oil Problems Heat and contamination present serious challenges for hydraulic oils. If the system becomes too hot, the oil’s viscosity can thin to the point where the pump is damaged or seals are destroyed. Because conventional hydraulic oil is often less expensive than synthetic hydraulic oil, it is important to emphasize the benefi ts and cost savings AMSOIL synthetic hydraulic oils provide customers.
Heat Reduction – The synthetic construction of AMSOIL synthetic hydraulic oils can reduce heat in hydraulic systems, leading to better viscosity retention, less varnish build-up and oxidation, reduction in component wear (including hoses), longer seal life and better overall system performance.
Cold-Weather Performance – AMSOIL synthetic hydraulic oils have much better cold-temperature characteristics than many petroleum oils. This can be demonstrated to potential customers by comparing the viscosity index, Brookfi eld viscosity and pour point numbers of their conventional oil to the corresponding viscosity AMSOIL synthetic hydraulic oil. Because mobile equipment generally sits out in the elements while on a job site, conventional hydraulic oils can thicken in the cold and lead to damage such as excessive pump wear due to cavitation, blown hoses, broken shafts or extended warm-up times that waste fuel. Use of the proper AMSOIL synthetic hydraulic oil viscosity helps reduce or eliminate many of these issues.
All-Season Functionality – To eliminate some of the problems associated with temperature changes, many mobile equipment owners switch viscosities with the seasons. They may run an ISO VG 22 viscosity oil in the winter and switch to an ISO VG 32 or 46 oil in the summer. AMSOIL synthetic hydraulic oils are highviscosity- index formulations that can eliminate the need for seasonal changes. It’s very possible to run an ISO 32 or ISO 46 successfully yearround in all but the most extreme cold conditions.
Hose Life Preservation – Because many equipment operators consider blown hoses, leaky seals and loss of hydraulic fl uid an unavoidable problem, they may not initially be interested in investing in more expensive hydraulic fl uid they believe will just end up on the ground
. This is usually the most significant obstacle to overcome when trying to sell a premium hydraulic oil to an account.
To counter this mindset, fi rst determine why they lose hoses. If they mainly get snagged, chafed or damaged externally, they will continue to lose hoses until they physically remedy the situation. However, if the hoses and seals are blowing in cold weather or because of deterioration, AMSOIL synthetic hydraulic oils can help. Cold and heat wreak havoc on hoses and seals. Cold, thick fl uid can cause pressure spikes and extremely hot fl uid breaks down hoses and seals over time. The superior cooling and fl ow properties of AMSOIL synthetic hydraulic oils help preserve hose integrity.
AMSOIL Synthetic Anti-Wear Hydraulic Oils
AMSOIL Synthetic Anti-Wear Hydraulic Oils effectively inhibit oxidation to help prevent acid formation and viscosity increase, resist carbon and varnish deposits and inhibit rust and foam (providing smooth hydraulic operation). They contain a very effective zinc-based anti-wear/antioxidant additive which controls wear in high-speed, highpressure vane and gear pumps while meeting the lubrication requirements of axial piston pumps with bronze-on-steel metallurgy.
- Extended oil drain intervals
- Anti-wear protection
- Recommended for gear, vane and piston pumps
- Contain rust, oxidation and foam inhibitors
- Designed for a wide temperature range
- Hydrolytically stable and readily separate from water
AMSOIL Biodegradable Hydraulic Oil
AMSOIL Biodegradable Hydraulic Oil (BHO) is a premium-performance hydraulic oil that exhibits high biodegradability and low aquatic toxicity, along with superior oxidative stability, excellent low-temperature performance and outstanding results in laboratory and extended duration pump testing. It contains antioxidants that prolong oil life and foam inhibitors that help promote problem-free operation.