Diesel fuel has a thin consistency, similar to that of water. The hydraulic fluid will become thin if the two are combined. The hydraulics will be messed up since the fluid will compress too much.
Is it possible for a diesel engine to run on hydraulic fluid?
If the temperature is close enough to D2, most diesel engines can run hydraulic oil all year. If it was particularly cold, you could mix it with 50 percent D1 or 5 percent gasoline, depending on the conditions.
What happens if diesel is introduced into a hydraulic system?
The word diesel effect refers to the combustion process of a diesel engine, as the name implies. It can, however, be seen in hydraulic systems. Pressure peaks, oil aging, residues, and seal destruction are all possible results. Because of cavitations, the diesel effect occurs.
Is it possible to flush a hydraulic system using diesel fuel?
I was recently asked about how to flush hydraulic systems when switching from one type of fluid to another. Using brake cleaner, diesel gasoline, or some form of acid cleaning was one of the suggestions.
Brake cleaner, on the other hand, contains a number of compounds, including acetone and tetrachloroethylene. Seals made of nitrile, neoprene, millable polyurethane, and silicone have been reported to be affected by these solvents. EPDM seals have a low resistance to petroleum oil and solvents, so they’re not advised for use with aromatic hydrocarbons or diesel oil.
The solvents in brake cleaner and diesel fuel might dry up or damage the O-rings and seals in your hydraulic system, depending on the type of O-rings and seals in your system. There’s also the question of compatibility with the new fluid type.
For these reasons, it’s critical to either understand how to flush properly or hire an experienced oil flushing service provider to assist you.
In his essay “Machine Lubrication” for Machinery Lubrication, he says: “Tom Odden covers the technique for fully cleaning a hydraulic system in Cleaning and Flushing Basics for Hydraulic Systems and Similar Machines. This is the sole option “a one-size-fits-all solution and a best-practices example Both the components and the system are cleaned mechanically and chemically.
What happens if you mix def with hydraulic fluid in a tank?
Accidents do occur.
Even the most seasoned professionals make blunders now and again. Consider the addition of DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) to engine, transmission, or hydraulic oils by accident. While this isn’t as common as DEF in diesel fuel, it has happened in our experience. If not addressed immediately, this error could cause substantial damage to your equipment.
DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) is a water-based urea solution used in contemporary Tier 4 Final diesel engines to minimize emissions. This liquid is added to exhaust gases to neutralize hazardous nitrogen oxides (NOx) before they reach the atmosphere. DEF fluids have been utilized in on-highway vehicle engines for a long time, and in off-road mining and construction equipment more recently.
What happens when oils are contaminated with DEF?
DEF is a water-based fluid that reacts badly with oils. When DEF is added to engine, transmission, or hydraulic oils, it can cause an emulsion or layer separation within the reservoir. This can result in inefficient oil flow as well as damage to the oil pump and other system components. Under pressure and high temperatures, water-based fluids tend to flash off into steam, which means they provide poor lubrication and cause systems to operate ‘rough.’ This might lead to deposits or excessive wear over time. DEF contamination will also increase corrosion rates, which will be most noticeable (and harmful) on soft metals like those found on gearbox clutch plates. Finally, the presence of water in any oil promotes oil oxidation, causing the oil to degrade more quickly than usual.
DEF contains a substance called urea in addition to water (DEF is approximately 67.5 percent purified water / 32.5 percent urea). This is a basic molecule that neutralizes acids (it’s similar to urine). Oils contaminated with a trace amount of urea would presumably become a little more basic, but not enough to cause noticeable degradation. If DEF was added over time, you might notice a change in acidity levels, but most problems are caused by one-time mishaps.
How can you detect DEF contamination using oil analysis?
The presence of high water levels in your oil sample findings is the most evident evidence that DEF has polluted an oil system. The Karl Fischer test (more sensitive/accurate) or the Crackle test (more basic) can both be used to confirm water pollution.
Unfortunately, neither test can determine if the water comes from DEF contamination or another source, such as humidity, damaged seals, excessive idling, or running an engine too cold. However, if the oil sample contains two separate layers (for example, free-standing water at the bottom), a refractometer may be used to confirm the water/urea mixture.
What should you do when oils are contaminated by DEF?
If you think that DEF fluid has polluted your engine, transmission, or hydraulic oil, you have several options:
- To get to the water layer, drain some oil from the bottom of the tank. This will eliminate part of the DEF (i.e. bleed and feed approach)
- Take a sample of oil and send it in for testing.
- This will aid in determining the severity of the issue.
- Examine when your next oil change is due and, if necessary, schedule one sooner.
- Examine and correct the causes of the problem.
- Additional training or altered work methods are both options.
Is it possible to burn hydraulic oil?
Because of their high ignition temperatures, hydraulic oils are not generally considered a severe fire threat. This, however, is a false sense of security, because hydraulic oil will burn just as hot as other hydrocarbons if sprayed.
What is the composition of hydraulic fluid?
Hydraulic fluid is made up of 99 percent base stock and roughly 1% additions. Mineral oil, often known as Group I base oil, is the most common base stock for modern hydraulic fluid. Other forms of base stock, such as propylene glycol or silicone oils, may be required for specific applications. New biodegradable hydraulic fluids have also been created, which might have a natural base like canola oil. Hydraulic fluids have distinct qualities because additives are “added” (as the name implies). Corrosion inhibitors, anti-erosion additives, friction reducers, and anti-foamants are examples of common additives. Additives can also alter the color of the fluid, which is why different brands have varying colors.
What’s the best way to sabotage a hydraulic system?
The end user must have a specific level of knowledge (and intervention) to ensure optimal maintenance and reliability of hydraulic equipment. Regrettably, this knowledge is frequently absent.
As a result, hydraulic machinery may be wrongly associated with unreliability and high operating costs. With that in mind, here are seven frequent blunders made by hydraulics users, one of which you are most likely making right now.
Only two conditions demand changing hydraulic oil: base oil degradation or additive package depletion. Because so many variables influence the rate at which oil degrades and additives deplete, changing hydraulic oil only on the basis of hours in service without regard for the oil’s actual condition is akin to shooting in the dark.
Given the current high cost of oil, discarding oil that does not require replacement is a huge waste of money. The greater the reservoir, the more costly this error becomes.
On the other hand, continuing to run with damaged base oil or depleted additives puts the service life of every component in the hydraulic system at risk. That’s exactly what you don’t want to happen.
As you can see, replacing hydraulic oil after so many hours in service is a lousy idea for all except the tiniest hydraulic systems. Oil analysis is the only technique to determine when the oil needs to be replaced.
Hydraulic filters are in a similar scenario. If you alter them based on the number of hours they’ve been used, you’re either changing them too early or too late. You’ll save money on unneeded filter changes if you change them before they’ve used up all of their dirt-holding capacity. If you wait until after the filter has gone on bypass to change them, the ensuing increase in particles in the oil gradually diminishes the service life of every component in the hydraulic system, costing a lot more in the long run.
When the filter’s dirt-holding capacity is depleted but before the bypass valve opens, it’s best to replace it. This necessitates a system to track flow restriction (pressure drop) across the filter element and notify you when the ideal changing point has been reached.
The most basic version of this device is a blockage indication. Although such an indicator is better than nothing, a differential pressure gauge or transducer that continuously measures pressure drop over the filter is a superior alternative.
Few equipment owners or operators would keep an overheating engine running. Unfortunately, when the hydraulic system becomes too hot, the same cannot be stated. High-temperature operation, like that of an engine, is the quickest way to ruin hydraulic components, seals, hoses, and the oil itself.
But when it comes to hydraulic systems, how hot is too hot? The viscosity and viscosity index (rate of change in viscosity with temperature) of the oil, as well as the type of hydraulic components in the system, all play a role.
The viscosity of the oil decreases as the temperature rises. When the temperature of the oil viscosity falls below the level required for adequate lubrication, a hydraulic system is working too hot.
A vane pump, for example, requires a higher minimum viscosity than a piston pump. As a result, the hydraulic components utilized in a system have an impact on the system’s safe maximum operating temperature.
If you have a vane pump in your hydraulic system, the minimum viscosity you should aim for is 25 centistokes (cSt or mm2/s). This relates to a maximum permitted operating temperature of 35 C (95 F) for ISO VG22 oil and 65 C (149 F) for ISO VG68 oil for mineral oils having a viscosity index of roughly 100.
Apart from the lubrication issue, which cannot be exaggerated, operation temperatures exceeding 82 degrees Celsius (179 degrees Fahrenheit) destroy most seal and hose materials and hasten oil degradation. However, a hydraulic system can run too hot well below this temperature for the reasons stated earlier.
Any hydraulic system’s most critical component is oil. Hydraulic oil serves as a lubricant as well as a mechanism of power transmission. Because of this dual function, viscosity is the most significant attribute of an oil. It has an impact on the machine’s performance as well as its service life.
In addition to what I wrote about Mistake 3, the viscosity of the oil dictates the safe maximum and lowest oil temperatures in a hydraulic system. The temperature operating window is another name for this (TOW).
If you choose oil with a viscosity that is too high for the climate in which the machine must function, the oil will not flow smoothly or provide appropriate lubrication during cold starts. On the hottest days, if you use oil with a viscosity that is too low for the climate, it will not retain the needed minimum viscosity, and therefore proper lubrication.
That isn’t the end of the story. There is a tighter viscosity band where power losses are minimized within the permitted extremes of viscosity required for adequate lubrication. Fluid friction loses more power when the operational viscosity of the oil is higher than ideal. Mechanical friction and internal leaks lose more power when the operating viscosity is lower than optimal.
Using the improper viscosity oil causes lubrication damage and early failure of important components, as well as increased power consumption (diesel or electric), which is something you don’t want.
You won’t always get the proper viscosity by naively following the oil recommendation of the machine maker. Only checking that your machine’s actual temperature operating window is within the permissible TOW, and ideally within the optimum TOW for the oil you’re using, can give you peace of mind.
Isn’t it true that any filter is a good filter? Wrong! Two hydraulic filter locations cause more harm than good, and can quickly destroy the components they were intended to protect.
The pump inlet, as well as the piston pump and motor case drain lines, are all places where filters should be avoided. It wouldn’t surprise me if you were shaking your head in disapproval at this point. After all, this defies common wisdom, which states that a strainer must be installed on the pump input to protect it from “junk.”
To begin with, the pump gets its oil from a dedicated reservoir rather than a trash can. Second, if you think rubbish getting into the hydraulic tank is typical or acceptable, you’re probably wasting your time reading this essay.
If getting the most life out of your pump is your top priorityand it should befar it’s more important for the oil to freely and completely fill the pumping chambers during each intake cycle than it is to protect the pump from nuts, bolts, and 9/16 combination wrenches, which pose no threat in a properly designed reservoir with the pump inlet penetration at least four inches off the bottom.
According to studies, a restricted intake might shorten a gear pump’s service life by 56%. The situation is made worse by the fact that vane and piston pumps are less able to endure the vacuum-induced stresses created by a restricted intake. Hydraulic pumps aren’t made to “suck.”
Filters installed on the drain lines of piston pumps and motors cause a distinct set of issues, but the end outcome is the same as suction strainers. They can shorten the life of these pricey components and cause catastrophic breakdowns.
If these filters are installed in any of your hydraulic devices and you don’t remove them, there’s a considerable risk they’ll fail prematurely.
If you’re still not sure or don’t want to risk throwing away a filter that the machine maker believed was a good idea to install in the first place, contact the pump or motor manufacturer. Please write to me, care of Lift and Access, if you locate a hydraulic pump or motor manufacturer who advocates the use of suction strainers and/or conventional depth filters on case drain lines.
You wouldn’t start an engine without oil in the crankcase on purpose. However, I’ve seen something similar happen to a lot of expensive hydraulic components.
Hydraulic components might be severely damaged if the proper procedures are not followed during initial startup. They may work for a while in some situations, but the damage done at starting dooms them to premature failure.
The frequency of these types of failures that end up as warranty claims by hydraulic equipment owners is astounding. It’s aggravating for everyone involved because they’re completely avoidable.
Knowing what to do and remembering to do it are the two components of achieving this properly. It’s one thing if you don’t know what to do. If, on the other hand, you know yet fail to act, well, that’s soul-destroying. When you forget to open the intake isolation valve before starting the engine, you can’t pat yourself on the back for filling the pump housing with clean oil.
Using a startup procedure and checklist can easily prevent this type of error. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a big fan of relying on memory these days, at least not for crucial things.
So, even after 20 years of working on hydraulic equipment, I would never try to commission or re-commission a hydraulic system without a piece of paper to remind me of what I need to do and in what order. This basic procedure removes all chances of making a mistake.
If you own, operate, repair, or maintain hydraulic equipment and aren’t “clued up on hydraulics,” as I hope this essay has demonstrated, a lot of money can slip through your fingers.
How do you clean the hydraulic system of a tractor?
Manual cleaning and flushing are critical components of hydraulic reservoir maintenance. Hydraulic reservoirs should be cleaned on a regular basis as part of preventive maintenance to avoid operating difficulties and maintain a long equipment lifecycle.
For superb performance and a long product life, follow the steps below to flush water out of a hydraulic system and clean your hydraulic reservoir.
Drain the System
Check the system carefully and drain it until it is empty while the fluid is still at operating temperature. Keep an eye out for any fluid collection or issues with the accumulators, cylinders, or filters as it empties.
Use desiccant air to drain water out of your hydraulic system if the fluid is murky. For the first time, replace the reservoir’s filters.
Flush With Low-Viscocity Fluid
Fill the hydraulic reservoir with a fluid that has a lower viscosity than the one you’re used to. Depending on the reservoir, hydraulic cleaning solvent may be utilized.
After that, flush the reservoir vigorously to remove any old particles that may have clung to the inside. Drain the reservoir as soon as possible and change the filters once again.
Bleed and Pump the Vent
Fill the reservoir three-quarters full while the pressure pump or bypass is open, then operate the pump for 15 seconds before shutting it off. Repeat the practice of turning on the pump for 15 seconds and then shutting it off for 45 seconds three times more.
Test the Pump
Before letting it rest again, run the pump for one minute with the pressure pump open. Repeat the process a few times more, never allowing it to run for longer than five minutes. Before allowing the system to rest for at least another five minutes, lift the relief valve to ensure it has flushed.
Start the Pump
One at a time, switch the actuators on and off, checking to see if the fluid has returned to the reservoir. After activating each actuator, turn off the system and let it sit for a while. Continue to monitor the fluid level and fill it to 50%.
Refill and Test the Reservoir
Fill the reservoir to 75% capacity and run it for five minutes at a time, letting air out of the system after each run. Before replacing the filters, let the system run for 30 minutes.
Examine the reservoir for signs of cross-contamination and, if necessary, replace the filters.
Test for System Stability
After cleaning your hydraulic reservoir, run it for no more than six hours the first time. This duration of time is sufficient to verify system stability while not putting the system at danger of harm. Replace the filters one last time and ensure stability with a fluid sample.
You’ll be able to educate others how to clean a hydraulic system after you’ve done it a couple of times.
