SIX MISTAKES

Mistake #1 Changing the oil

There's only two conditions that necessitate a hydraulic oil change. If you're changing your oil based on an arbitrary number of hours in service or when it's contaminated with particles or water, you're pouring money down the drain.

Mistake #2 Changing the filters

Same goes for hydraulic filters. If you're changing them on hours, you're either changing them too early or too late. Too early and you're only wasting money on unnecessary filter changes. Too late and you're quietly reducing the service life of every component in the hydraulic system - costing you much more in the long run.

Mistake #3 Running too hot

Would you continue to operate an engine that was overheating? Didn't think so. And like an engine, the fastest way to destroy hydraulic components, seals, hoses and the oil itself, is high-temperature operation. But do you know the operating temperature above which you're doing irreversible damage to your hydraulic equipment? Not knowing this one number could cost you a small fortune.

Mistake #4 Using the wrong oil

The oil is THE most important component of any hydraulic system. And buying it on price alone is brain-dead stupid. But there's one property of hydraulic oil - above all others, that's crucial for optimum machine performance and service life. And despite what you might think, you won't always get this right by blindly following the machine manufacturer's recommendation. Get it wrong however, and you're the one who'll pay dearly.

Mistake #5 Wrong filter locations

Any filter is a good filter, right? Wrong! There's two hydraulic filter locations that can rapidly destroy the very components they were installed to protect. If these filters are fitted to your machine and you don't get rid of 'em-and fast, they'll end up doing serious damage to major components - and your bank account. Oh, and if you think the manufacturer of your hydraulic machine wouldn't have been dumb enough to install these filters in the first place - you might be in for shock.

Mistake #6 Believing hydraulic components are self-priming and self-lubricating

Would you start an engine with no oil in the crankcase? Of course not. And yet if you, or the mechanics who work for you, believe that because oil circulates through hydraulic components in operation, they don't require any special attention during installation - this amounts to the same thing. Oh sure, the component may work OK for a while, but the damage done at start-up dooms it to premature failure. Not commissioning hydraulic components correctly can cost you thousands of dollars in lost service life.