Which fluid is right for you?

There are many factors that one will need to take into account when selecting which hydraulic fluid to use. The primary use of the fluid is to produce power, however there are other characteristics one might want out of the fluid as well. These characteristics might include how well the fluid transfers power, the environmental impact, fire resistance, how well of a lubricant it is, high temperature applications.

One of the first fluids to be use in hydraulics was mineral oil. Today mineral oil is use mainly as a base fluid for most hydraulic fluids because it’s a great lubricant and it has a high boiling point. Other specialized hydraulic fluids include fire resistance, high temperature applications, and biodegradable fluids. The biodegradable fluids use a vegetable oil as the base lubricants so that if a hose or fitting were to erupt it would not have a great environmental impact.

Great care must be taken to keep hydraulic fluid free from contaminant. The use of filters in the reservoir is the main component to accomplish this. These filters must be changed regularly or contaminants might get into the hydraulic circuit, which could cause other components to fail resulting in costly repairs and down time. Because these hydraulic oils are at extreme pressures caution and safety are of the utmost importance.