Hydraulic systems rely on the principles of fluid dynamics to efficiently transfer energy between fluid power and mechanical motion. As a result, the hydraulic fluid itself is central to the smooth operation of the system. Hydraulic fluid has other important functions as well, like preventing overheating and contamination, lubricating the components and sealing the hydraulic system. Even a small leak in your hydraulic system can damage performance and lead to bigger issues over time.
So what causes hydraulic fluid to leak, and how can you prevent leaks in your hydraulic system?
Hydraulic leaks are caused by a variety of factors like faulty seals, loose connections, internal cracks, misalignments and contamination. Most issues can be prevented with regular visual inspection and maintenance of the system.
Hydraulic fluid plays a crucial role in hydraulic systems, so it’s easy to cause problems when there is a leak.
What Causes Hydraulic Fluid Leaks?
There are several different reasons why your hydraulic fluid may be leaking. The causes of a hydraulic system leak vary depending on whether it is an external or internal leak.
External leaks are often caused by holes or cuts in the hoses. Another cause is an external seal that is loose and allowing fluid to pass around it and leak out of the system. Connections might be loose because regular wear and tear has corroded the seal itself, or because the connections have been improperly attached and are not tight enough.
Internal leaks are more difficult to find and fix. When there is an internal leak in a hydraulic system, it usually means fluid is flowing from areas of high pressure to low pressure that are supposed to be kept separate. These leaks might happen because a component has a crack, chip or fracture. Leaks might also be caused by an issue with alignment or tolerance between different parts that are supposed to form a seal.
These gaps and misalignments form over time due to stress, heat, pressure and general aging of hydraulic parts. Internal leaks might also be caused by contamination. Dirt, chemicals or other particles can enter the fluid. These particles disrupt the regular flow of hydraulic fluid, lower the viscosity and compound other internal problems.
Tips to Prevent Hydraulic Fluid Leaks
There are a few different ways to prevent leaks and identify problems early. One easy way to catch leaks is to keep an eye out for visual evidence like puddles, streams and steady drips of fluid on the outside of machines. If you notice that your hydraulic system is using more fluid than usual and needs to be constantly topped off, it is another good indicator that there is a leak somewhere in the system. If you believe there’s an issue, fully cleaning the exterior of the hydraulic system can aid in tracking down the source of the leak.
Internal leaks often can’t be directly identified, so operators should also be aware of the secondary problems caused by internal leaks. Internal fluid leaks create issues like losing pressure, slower and irregular performance, overheating and strange noises.
If these problems become apparent it’s necessary to have a technician fully inspect the hydraulic system. A trained professional is usually required to find and correct the issue or faulty component that is creating internal leaks.
Perhaps the best way to prevent leaks is to keep hydraulic systems well-maintained and perform regular checks to make sure parts have not extended past their recommended service life. Although this type of regular maintenance may seem like an expensive nuisance, it can prevent a bigger and more costly hydraulic leak later on.
Questions or concerns about the performance of your hydraulic equipment?
Servo Kinetics in Ann Arbor offers the industrial hydraulic repair services your equipment needs. If you have questions about the performance of your hydraulic motor, pump or rebuild we can help. Speak with one of our engineers for some troubleshooting tips or visit us for a reliability centered maintenance check. Our hydraulic repair services are dependable and trusted due to our extensive experience and commitment to customer care.