Changing fluids on a splitter

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mywaynow

Minister of Fire
Dec 13, 2010
1,369
Northeast
How often should the Hydraulic fluid be changed in a splitter? Time in tank or amount of time used?
 
I don't change the fluid if its clear and uncontaminated. Contaminants come from sitting (moisture). If you run the splitter it will heat up and steam out the water. If you don't run the splitter often you'll get condensation that will actually freeze up into an iceberg in the tank and also damage other components. Its a tough call but I had such a headache from my splitter having old moisture filled fluid that I would err on the side of changing annually unless you're running commercial operations at which point maybe even sooner? I'm sure an expert will chime in...I'm only speaking from limited experience.
 
I would run it. No need for annual changes. Industrial equipment runs far more than a year.

Dirt is filtered if the system has a proper location and quality filter. Dirt is NOT visible to the naked eye. Lower visible limit is maybe 10 times as big as dirt should be in the system.

You only need to change it if the fluid is chemically damaged. Usually that means overheated and oxidized, or water contaminated. (Water can be removed from industrial equipment, but for such a small tank as a splitter, it is cheaper to change it. )

Dark or smelly is oxidized with heat. Grey or cloudy can be water. Provide proper cover and breather to avoid water. Keep the fluid up to temprature to drive out the moisture.

If it has a good filter, and fluid looks good, just change the filter every year and run it.
 
Hydro ain't cheap. Filters are.

Even with water contamination, there is no reason to change fluid. Just let the thing sit for a couple days and drain off the water from the bottom of the tank, and the hose/filter if they are lower than the tank.

Water also can be removed by draining into a clean container, allowed to sit and then "Racking" off the clean hydro on top with a siphon hose.

There is just no point to wasting good hydro.
 
Dingeryote said:
Hydro ain't cheap. Filters are.

+1 , just change the filter ,not the fluid.
 
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