Do you need to maintain your Hydraulic Systems?

07 January 2020 by Mike Retford

Having started a career as an end user of hydraulic systems in a Steel Mill I, quickly realised the importance of maintaining hydraulic systems. Cleanliness of the system fluids was an important area to concentrate on initially. Filters were changed on a regular basis and oil cleanliness was monitored monthly. Breakdowns on hydraulic systems were controlled and then we moved onto preventative maintenance with shell & tube cooler overhauls and system seal changes. Predictive maintenance continued with Thermal Imaging of hydraulic systems and pump effeiciency measurement. Leaks from hydraulic pipes and hoses were looked for during continuous plant inspections and marked down for immmediate repair or repair during the next down shift.

The plant had over 80 working hydraulic systems so breakdown of one could shut a whole production line down, costing many thousands of pounds per hour. A predictive and preventative maintenance routine drastically reduced hydraulic system breakdowns and reduced the cost of replacement oil.

The answer from me to the title question is yes. Maintenance of hydraulic systems can drastically reduce breakdowns; saving money, reducing product defects and saving money through reduced oil usage.

 At Torishima Fluid Power we firmly believe in the benefits of maintaining hydraulic systems.

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