Why You’re Probably Spending Too Much on Hydraulic Maintenance
Hydraulics can be dangerous; we know that it's why a big proportion of our site is dedicated to health and safety matters. We value the safety of our clients and staff above all else.
However, being safe and being paranoid about safety are very different things, and while it's important to ensure your hydraulic equipment is well maintained, it's possible to go too far. In fact, it's possible to cause more problems, and you'll likely be incurring costs.
So, here are a few pointers to keeping costs down while still maintaining everything to optimum safety.
Don't run equipment too hot
We know that, in general, overheating is bad. Whether we're talking about cars, trucks, or even people, when things get too hot, we know that something has gone wrong, and we need to investigate.
Running anything for too long when it's hot is a bad thing, especially in the world of hydraulic equipment. For example, when seals or hoses get hot, they can become damaged causing leaks. Likewise, the oil in the unit will lose viscosity and cease to serve it's purpose, i.e., lubrication.
If lubrication breaks down in heavy equipment, the results can be catastrophic, so it's important to ensure everything is kept within safe working temperatures. Check your user guide for help on this.
Don't use the wrong oil
Oil within a hydraulic system is like blood in the body. It's the most important aspect of any system, and it needs to be the right stuff for the right equipment. If the viscosity is wrong, it could affect the working temperature and cause all types of problems so don't be tempted to use the wrong oil, just because it's cheaper. Use the one that is recommended by the manufacturer or your supplier..
Also, don't change the oil too often. Check it and change it when it needs to be changed, not when you "think" it needs to be changed or because of some arbitrary time limit. If you have a rule to change the oil every six months, and you hardly use the machine during those six months, you're wasting money.
Don't change filters too often
Similar to oil, don't rely on a strict time limit on filters. They are pretty tough and can last a long time if used correctly. If you change them based on time slots or even on hours in use, you might be wasting money replacing good equipment. Check them and if they're full of dirt, change them.
Of course, if you change them too late, you risk damaging your equipment.
Talk to your supplier to find out the optimum time to replace filters.
Still not sure?
Good maintenance means just that. You should check equipment regularly and ensure the equipment is working optimally.
If you are in any doubt, call Worlifts on 0121 460 1113