What causes a hydraulic pump to run hotter than the oil?
Excessively high temperature in the oil causes the oil to thin out and to slip excessively in the pump. High slippage in the pump will cause it to run much hotter than the oil in the tank. In normal operation with a good pump, the pump case may run 20 to 30°F more than the tank oil temperature.
What to do when your hydraulic system is not working?
Check the tank oil level to be sure it covers the top of the strainer by at least 3˝ at minimum oil level, which is with all cylinders extended. If it does not, there is danger of a vortex forming above the strainer which may allow air to enter the system when the pump is running.
Can you run an engine with hydraulic oil in?
Hydraulic oil is about the same as 1950’s engine oil and would be OK to use in an emergency to get you home. If you used it for longer than a few days, you would start to form deposits William Blume’s answer is totally wrong! Normal hydraulic oil is based on the exact same base stocks as mineral engine oil!
What to do if hydraulic oil starts leaking?
Check to see that oil intake is well below surface of oil in reservoir. Check pump packing and line connections on intake side by pouring hydraulic oil over suspected leak. If noise stops]
Check the tank oil level to be sure it covers the top of the strainer by at least 3˝ at minimum oil level, which is with all cylinders extended. If it does not, there is danger of a vortex forming above the strainer which may allow air to enter the system when the pump is running.
Excessively high temperature in the oil causes the oil to thin out and to slip excessively in the pump. High slippage in the pump will cause it to run much hotter than the oil in the tank. In normal operation with a good pump, the pump case may run 20 to 30°F more than the tank oil temperature.
When is a hydraulic system operating too hot?
A hydraulic system is operating too hot when it reaches the temperature at which oil viscosity falls below the level needed for adequate lubrication. A vane pump requires a higher minimum viscosity than a piston pump, for example. That’s why the type of hydraulic components used in a system affects its safe maximum operating temperature.
What happens if you use the wrong oil in a hydraulic system?
So using oil of the wrong viscosity not only results in lubrication damage and premature failure of major components, it also increases power consumption (diesel or electric)—two things you don’t want. You won’t always get viscosity right by blindly following the machine manufacturer’s oil recommendation.