5 Ways Your Hydraulic Cylinder Fluid Can Become Contaminated

It should be no surprise that contaminated hydraulic fluid can be damaging to hydraulic cylinders, so it’s important to understand the sources of most contamination. In this post, we will discuss five ways your hydraulic cylinder fluid can become contaminated.

During production. While reputable companies do everything they can to prevent contamination during production, including producing hydraulic fluids with higher than recommended ISO Cleanliness Codes, contamination can still occur. Because of this risk, you should always filter your hydraulic fluid before it’s introduced to your hydraulic cylinder.

During storage. Contamination can occur during storage as moisture is introduced to seals because of changes in temperatures even when the storage containers are properly sealed. In order to prevent this from happening, you should always store your hydraulic fluid containers in a temperature-controlled indoor environment.

During fluid transfer. When the hydraulic fluid is transferred it can become exposed to moisture, dust, and other contaminants. Because of this, it’s extremely important to transfer fluid into a system that has been flushed and in an environment that is clean.

During service. If you are not changing your hydraulic fluid often enough it will degrade and become contaminated over time. Hydraulic equipment components can also contaminate the fluid, which is why it’s important to have effective internal filters to catch contaminants before they become a problem.

During maintenance. Hydraulic fluid contamination can happen very easily during maintenance if you are not incredibly careful. You should always make sure to clean all components and use clean materials that will not create lint or other debris during the maintenance process. You should also keep any replacement parts or components packaged until you’re ready to install them.

At Best Metal Products, we are the leading manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders in Grand Rapids and beyond. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us today!