High-quality oil is necessary to keep cold-weather hydraulic applications in operation.

Most of us have watched one of the popular reality-TV shows involving fishing, mining, logging or trucking. Without fail, there seems to be some dramatic mechanical failure that keeps us in suspense during the commercial break. Failures involving hydraulic systems often happen in cold temperatures. Many of us can sympathize with the guy on the show; he’s shown lying under the equipment with no gloves on his hands, snow is falling and his jacket is covered in oil. The drama provides great entertainment, but also a great example of the significant time and money lost every year in hydraulic equipment operated in cold temperatures.

So why do these guys always end up facing hydraulic equipment failures in the middle of the winter? Most often it is due to poor maintenance, poor startup procedures and continued use of a cheap hydraulic fluid that gets too thick in cold temperatures.

Completing scheduled hydraulic system maintenance throughout the year can significantly reduce cold-temperature downtime. Unfortunately, tight schedules, remote job sites and the need to keep equipment running at all costs can mean that badly worn hoses, leaky seals and other maintenance items go unchanged for extended periods. The colder the ambient temperature gets the more likely a catastrophic failure of one of these weak points will occur, and poor-quality hydraulic oil may accelerate the failure.

Hydraulic oil must protect moving parts from excessive wear, keep the system clean and free from varnish and transmit energy to complete a number of different jobs such as moving mountains of dirt and cutting trees off at their bases. To do these jobs, it’s critical that the hydraulic oil stay within range for thickness regardless of the outside temperature. This is especially important during cold temperature starts, when damage and accelerated wear can occur quickly if the oil gets too thick.

Damage and wear can be caused by starving the inlet side of the hydraulic pump (pump cavitation). This can occur during cold weather when oil becomes so thick that the pump is unable to pull fluid from the reservoir fast enough for continuous lubrication supply. Instead, the pump pulls air, components become starved of lubricant and metal-to-metal contact occurs. Overly thick oil also contributes to pressure spikes that blow hoses, filters and other critical components.

To help prevent this condition, most equipment manufacturers include hydraulic oil viscosity recommendations in their operator manuals and will often recommend thinner oil for cold ambient temperatures. This is one way to help solve the problem, but we all know that synthetic lubricants provide a solution through higher viscosity index. High-viscosity-index synthetic hydraulic fluids remain much more fluid in cold temperatures while maintaining a protective layer of fluid in high temperatures. The higher the VI, the less the fluid’s viscosity will change due to temperature fluctuations.

The importance of this can be illustrated by comparing a cheap mineral oil with a high-VI synthetic hydraulic oil. Both oils have the same thickness of 32 cSt at 40°C (ISO 32). But, the synthetic hydraulic oil has a VI of 160 and the mineral-oil-based hydraulic fluid has a VI of 90. When both oils are cooled to 10°F, the low-VI mineral oil thickens much more than the high-VI synthetic oil. Even though the oils are classified as having the same ISO viscosity, the high-VI synthetic oil will flow much better at 10°F. This means better lubrication for the pump and less chance of a pressure spike, damaging cavitation or blowing neglected weak points in the system.

Bottom line: Fluids with a higher viscosity index provide better protection in cold temperatures than fluids with a lower viscosity index.

On the other end of the spectrum, hydraulic oils need to fight varnish and sludge buildup most often associated with high-temperature, high-pressure industrial environments. Not all hydraulic oils are designed to provide effective resistance to varnish and sludge in these environments, and varnish and sludge are directly responsible for sticking valves and other operational issues. As temperatures increase, hydraulic oils thin out. In excessive temperatures, some do not provide the required oil thickness to adequately protect against wear. Additionally, oils not formulated correctly for these extreme applications allow varnish to form after continual operation at high temperatures, and sensitive operationally controlled valves begin to malfunction. Just like motor oils, not all hydraulic oils are created equal, and that is especially evident in cold-temperature applications.

AMSOIL synthetic hydraulic oils can greatly reduce cold-weather problems. They also provide outstanding oxidation resistance for longer fluid life and significantly better resistance to harmful varnish that plagues many hydraulic systems operating in hot industrial environments. AMSOIL has the hydraulic products to keep customers running smoothly in both extreme cold and in hot industrial environments.

AMSOIL Synthetic Hydraulic Oil

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Did you know that your fleet qualifies for a Commerical Account? Commercial Accounts purchase at wholesale and recieve some discounts based on quantity purchased. Click here to recieve information about signing up as a Commercial Account. Examples of Commercial Accounts are delivery fleets, farms, fire departments, industrial shops etc.

ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN THE CITY, AMSOIL SYNTHETIC LUBRICANTS INCREASE FUEL ECONOMY IN DIESEL APPLICATIONS.
Last December, AMSOIL published the Diesel Fleet Fuel Economy Study, which demonstrated that AMSOIL synthetic drive train lubricants increase on-highway fuel economy in short and medium haul diesel trucking application 6.54 percent compared to conventional lubricants. The study attracted a great deal of attention.
Contact Mike at amsoildealermike@gmail.com or call 402-499-4301 so we can send you a copy of the information. You will learn how AMSOIL can save you money in your fleet. In my world, saving money is making money.


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AMSOIL SAVES YOU MONEY!!!!

AMSOIL Products Save Money

The uninformed have always assumed that AMSOIL synthetic lubricants were more expensive than conventional products. It is true that the initial cost is higher than most petroleum-based products, but an investment in AMSOIL synthetic lubricants is an investment in your business. AMSOIL saves businesses money by improving fuel economy, reducing maintenance costs and downtime, and extending drain intervals.

Reduced Maintenance

Because AMSOIL lubricants are superior to conventional products, equipment maintenance is needed less often.

The unsurpassed protection, cleaning and cooling properties of AMSOIL keep moving parts looking and working like new, reducing equipment malfunctions and failures.

Extended Drain Intervals

Extended drain intervals are key to improving bottom lines. Changing fluids less often means buying them less often. It also means equipment is in the shop less often, reducing maintenance needs and downtime and improving efficiency.

Less Downtime

Less maintenance and extended drains mean less downtime, and less downtime means equipment is working more often and getting more done. It also means less time spent working on equipment when there are other things to be done.

Longer-Lasting Equipment

AMSOIL products improve equipment's durability because they provide superior protection. Less wear, stress and strain on moving parts allows equipment to last longer, reducing replacement costs.

Better Fuel Economy

Fuel economy is becoming more important with each passing year. Gas and diesel prices keep rising, putting a major strain on businesses that rely on vehicles and heavy equipment in their daily operations. AMSOIL synthetic lubricants improve fuel economy by allowing moving parts to move more freely, using less energy and creating less friction than when conventional lubricants are used.

The use of AMSOIL synthetic motor oil, gear lubes and transmission fluids can have a profound impact on fuel economy. Industry tests demonstrate an average conservative decrease in fuel consumption by 2 to 5 percent by switching to synthetic lubricants. Many AMSOIL customers report even larger gains in fuel economy. Doesn't seem like much? Imagine a fleet of 100 class 8 vehicles running an average 120,000 miles per year at an average 6.5 mpg with diesel fuel at $2.25 a gallon. Using those numbers, the fleet spends $4,153,846.16 on fuel annually. A switch to AMSOIL products improves the fleet's mpg by 4 percent, reducing fuel costs to $3,994,082.84. That's a savings of $159,763.32, enough for 71,006 gallons of fuel.

Waste Oil Disposal

Extended drain intervals also prevent the disposal of additional waste oil. Disposing of used oil can be costly and barrels of used oil take up a great deal of space in the shop. A fleet of 60 vehicles using conventional oil and conventional oil change intervals produces 1,080 gallons of waste oil every year. By switching to AMSOIL, that same fleet would produce only 360 gallons of waste oil per year. Less waste oil means lower disposal costs, more shop space and a cleaner environment.

Money Saved

The most important aspect of these benefits is that they save businesses money. Better fuel economy, reduced maintenance, longer-lasting equipment, less money spent on oil and less waste oil all provide significant savings.

Call Mike, Your AMSOIL Dealer to learn more. 402-499-4301 amsoildealermike@gmail.comWe offer several account types to help you save money. Our Commercial Account is specifically designed for small and large fleets, manufacturing plants, farms etc. There are no minimum orders required, and with quantity purchases discounts are available. Of course we have dealerships available, and Preferred Customer Accounts for those wishing to purchase at wholesale, but don't want a dealership.