Biodegradable hydraulic fluid

[daveinnh]

I serve on our local water & sewer board. Every 5-6 weeks, our two water operators skim off ~ 1/4" of organics that accumulate atop the below-grade sand filter beds in our water treatment plant. A smaller Deere tractor is used to remove the organics by driving up the ramps to a stockpile outside.

Our water operator is recommending that we replace the Deere tractor with a tractor that has biodegradable hydraulic since a hose break would be a big mess. I agree. After speaking to a [AFFILIATE=1, nofollow=true, newwindow=true, title="Kubota"]Kubota[/AFFILIATE] dealer, the [AFFILIATE=1, nofollow=true, newwindow=true, title="Kubota"]Kubota[/AFFILIATE] corporation will only allow their synthetic hydraulic fluid in a HST transmission to comply with their warranty conditions.

Does anyone in a sensitive water, or associated food processing, industry had a good experience with an alternative biodegradable hydraulic fluid?

Do any major tractor brands offer a similar product under warranty?

Thanks,

daveinnh

 

[oldnslo]

I suspect that you will have to do some research to see if any bidegradeable fluid also meets a tractor manufacturers specs. Unless rules have changed using fluids that meet OEM should not void warranty.

My very limited experience with biodegradeable is that pump and motor operating conditions are reduced. Example: pump or motor rated for 5,000 PSI may only operate at 3,500 - 4,000.

If hose break and falling loader is concern you could install hose break valves sometimes called velocity fuse at the cylinders. These valves are designed to prevent free-fall of equipment in event of hose break. They would have to hard plumbed directly to each cylinder.

Another option along with hose break valve might to look at putting containment tubes or hoses around the existing lines. This will turn a potential spray into a controlled drip or drain point. Doing that should not affect any warranty concerns

Good luck on your search

 

[Langanobob]

How old are the existing hoses? Very unlikely that they are going to break, especially under such light duty service. If they are old, just replace them.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Replace all hoses every three weeks. Or, you could do like the good ole EPA does. When you have a spill, take out bad dirt, replace with good dirt. Then you just pile the bad dirt off to the side. Keep it covered with a feel good tarp that gives everyone tingly feelings. Then when you finally get a dump truck load, haul it to a disposal site. Then, at the disposal site, your dump truck will be in line with chemical tankers. They run them bad chemicals out on the ground. Tankers in and out of that place day and night. They run it out on ground and keep it plowed and turn it into fertilizer. So, indirectly, you eventually get to eat it.
Or, you might get the county to take it for road base. They are approved to use such dirt.

 

[5030]

In reality, most all AW hydraulic fluid is water soluble to a certain extent but then most governmental entities are **** anyway.

 

[Tinhack]

You might want to look into Glycerol. It's a byproduct of soap manufacturing. While its thick and feels oily, it's actually an alcohol by chemistry and mixes readily with water. The drawback is that it's hygroscopic, meaning glycerol will actually absorb water vapor from the air. As such, you may have to change it twice a year in an open/breathable system or modify the system to be closed (No tank vent). There's another drawback though. Glycerol/Glycerin will not mix with oil so a conversion would mean a total removal and washdown of all oil in a system. And last but not least, Glycerol is about $20-30+ per gallon in smaller/retail volumes depending on source. Soy derived is the cheapest.

You'll have to do your own research on the effects of it on rubber seals, but I know it's sometimes used in jacks and most all liquid filled gauges (as a vibration dampener).

 

[dodge man]

You might look at the Amsoil website. The make what you are looking for but I have no idea what all those spec numbers mean.

 

[pokey1416]

I was part of a dam removal and river restoration team several years ago. The GC regularly does river work and all the CAT equipment used bio hydraulic oil. I remember him saying it was expensive, I can find out what they use if you want..

 

[etpm]

There are several brands and types of biodegradable hydraulic fluids. From what I have read they perform as well or better than petroleum based fluids. I live near the Salish Sea, which used to be called Puget Sound. All the equipment used in or near the water here that could potentially spill hydraulic fluids must use the vegetable biodegradable stuff. I used to make parts for a pile driving company and they used the vegetable oil based stuff over 30 years ago. They said it worked as well as the petroleum-based stuff. Just look online and you will find many brands and sellers.
Eric

 

[davedj1]

Trade tractor to a gear shift tractor and fill hydraulic reservoir with vegetable oil, or plain water for that matter if you're not in a climate that freezes. Add in some RV antifreeze for protection?