29.08.2011
Who needs hydraulic oil?
A reader from Afghanistan has written stating that engine oil is being used in place of hydraulic oil and asking is it OK?
We have already responded with a preliminary view but thought that the more technical of you might wish to offer your own advice through our comment section.
Here is the original message:
“I’m working in Afghanistan as a crane foreman and today it was brought to my attention that motor oil is being used in my 80ton Terex crane for the hydraulic system. Can motor oil work in hydraulic systems for crane functions?”
Over to you
Motor oil can be used and likely wont cause any problems anytime soon BUT there are detergents and antifoam additives that may cause havoc with your pump and some seals. You may cause wear and tear that you dont see ! This will cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to some very expensive components. This may be a good thing for some people like pump manufacturers and mechanics but really bad for the owners of the equipment.
Sometimes when a job has to get done you will use almost anything and worry about the effects later !!
It is always best to consult the manual or the manufacturer before adding motor oil.
Shawn Cochran
We often use automatic transmission fluid in hydraulic systems in the extreme cold in North America.
Tmayes
yes in some machines it is possible for you to use engine oil instead of hydraulic oil but id always check with the manufacturer.