Squealing hydraulics when cold

[MikePA]

I actually already purchased ten gallons of New Holland hydraulic oil, thinking it would be the best brand for my tractor. If I shouldn't be using it, I imagine my dealer will take it back if I explain the problem.

NH also makes a fluid for cold weather. It's listed in the back of your Operator's Manual. Hopefully, your dealer will allow you to exchange the 10 gallons you bought for it. I can't recall if it's synthetic.

 

[jinmajm284]

Here's something to read on a cold winter morning:

Hydraulic oil is available in varying viscosity ranges (thicknesses or pour point) to provide the optimum effects in a specific temperature environment. A fluid that flows easily has a low viscosity, if it has a difficulty to flow then the viscosity is high. Imagine the effect of the viscosity of oil in a system that is transported from a cold environment on one job to a hot environment on the next job. By running low viscosity oil in a hot environment, you will experience excessive internal leakage, erratic response, excessive wear of moving parts, and the pump efficiency will decrease. By using high viscosity oil in a cold environment, you would experience a high resistance to flow, an increase in power consumption due to friction, sluggish or slow operation of actuators, and possible aeration of the oil. Many of you who work in these extreme temperature ranges may have experienced one of these symptoms.
Allowing the hydraulic oil to reach extreme temperatures (over 200ｰ F) affects the ability of the additives to perform their purpose. This is known as "oil breakdown." When this occurs, you run a high probability of corrosion, silting and oxidation of components. This, of course, generates even more contamination particles leading to accelerated component fatigue. Once hydraulic oil breaks down, it can not be used and must be replaced. This oil would have a burnt smell and discolored appearance. When the fluid is too thick, there can be cavitation at the inlet port, resulting in high pump wear and sluggish system response. Operators reported that it was common to experience slow start-ups on cold mornings that required 15 to 30 minutes of slow speed control valve shifting to warm the fluid and maintain suction pressures above the minimum limit.

Hopes this helps a little

PJ

 

[IH3444]

AMSOIL - Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic/Transmission Oil, SAE 5W-30

 

[sheepman]

My DX40 does the same thing when it's cold. I have 2 questions:
1. Does this cause damage to the pump or other components?
2. If I switched to a cold weather oil, would that be too thin for summer use?

I don't like the idea of changing hyd oil with the seasons, especially since I don't put many hours on the tractor anyway. I would be content to put up with the squeal if it isn't causing any damage.

Any suggestions???

 

[MikePA]

1. Does this cause damage to the pump or other components?

As long as you let things warm up, no.

2. If I switched to a cold weather oil, would that be too thin for summer use?

The '5W-30' in the link IH3444 posted means it's a multi vis, multi season oil.

 

[blueriver]

Good advice from all you know about the cold weather. Personally ... at FORTY below ... I'd squeal too!! Not really my squealer would not even want to squeal

 

[IH3444]

I bought a 30 gallon drum of the Amsoil, to install in a TC48 gear drive, specifically to address the issue of cold weather hydraulic issues such as these. I was operating my International backhoe in cold weather once when the hoe just stopped working. Of course I was a bit frantic as to what was wrong. After warm up in the spring, all was normal. The pressure relief had been "poped open" by the cold oil. Boy O boy was I "relieved"! I was checking the valve body, pulling covers looking for leaks, topping off the sump, etc. It was only the cold weather......

One more point is that I checked out the NH Ambrose oils. I contacted the producer, and after some serious asking, they finally relented and let me have their spec numbers. It's a good quality middle of the road oil. Nothing spectactular.....just regular good oil. A high quality synthetic will cost you more.....but the quality will be much higher.

 

[sheepman]

Thanks, MikePA, that's what I thought. I always let it warm up before I put it to work.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Good advice from all you know about the cold weather. Personally ... at FORTY below ... I'd squeal too!! Not really my squealer would not even want to squeal

Its happening at 40 degrees and below, not 40 below- altho Im sure it would! 40 is not all that cold. Im not sure if you all are talking a straight hyd oil or universal hyd and trans oil. The latter has extreme pressure additives needed by the gears. The full function of the oil will need to be considered when making substitutions. At any rate +40F is too high a T to expect the system to malfunction in any way using the manufacturer speced oil. The problem should be found rather than allowed for.
larry

 

[dqdave1]

Have you inspected all lines for kinks or bends that would reduce flow?