Categories
Hydraulic oil
Oil viscosity is important. Hydraulic oil used for tail lifts has a high viscosity index. The viscosity index tells you how thick the oil is at different temperatures. The thickness of oil with a high viscosity index changes less with temperature fluctuations.
It is important to use oil with the right viscosity. Oil that is too thick will make the tail lift respond slowly. The tail lift will be starved for oil, because the pump has difficulty picking up the oil. Oil that is too thin causes wear, because the system ‘runs dry’.
Hydraulic oil has the following functions:
- Transmission of energy.
- Protection of metal surfaces the liquid comes into contact with.
- Dissipation of friction-generated heat.
- Carrying off contaminants.
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF)is not suitable for tail lifts
Because most garages always have ATF on hand (because it is used in gearboxes), this type of oil is also often used for the tail lift system. This oil has a viscosity of ISO VG 36-46, which means it is very thick and therefore unsuitable for tail lifts.
Our product range
The German tail lift brands, such as Bär Cargolift, Dautel, and Sörensen, use oil with a viscosity of ISO VG10. Ama and Anteo use ISO VG15 and ISO VG 22. Dhollandia and Zepro use ISO VG22. We have the following types in our product range:
Drum of oil VG10 5L HACO - 3590001H
Drum of oil VG22 5L HACO - 3590000H
Tail lift oil 1L HACO - 3590004H
Cleanliness test
When a damaged pump is returned with a warranty claim, one of the tests we perform is the cleanliness test. During this test we check the cleanliness of the oil by filling the pump with oil of the correct viscosity and flushing the pump thoroughly. The oil used for flushing is then filtered.
A microscope is used to see how many particles the filter has captured. We refer to these particles as ‘grit’. ‘Grit’ in the system can damage the pump!
Another option is to have the used hydraulic oil tested by an external laboratory. If you have questions about the use of hydraulic oil, please contact our tail lift technical specialists Robert Nijkamp and Ronald Hurulean. Tel: +31 (0)055 -533 05 10
How often you should change the oil depends on how the tail lift is used and its condition. The oil is usually changed during the major service. It is also important to change the oil whenever the pump is replaced.