Preventing Leakage From Your Hydraulic Systems!

Leakages in hydraulic systems are an irritating, costly issue which hydraulic operators have had to live with for many years. In general, thanks to the increased quality of features like hydraulic cartridge valves, the problem of hydraulic leakage has become less severe and certainly less costly than in the past. Or, at least, so it appears.

Why Is Leakage Such A Major Problem In Hydraulic Systems?

The sheer amount of hydraulic fluid that leaks from a solution still has many manufacturers perplexed, as leak-free fittings have been available for many years. One of the major culprits in terms of hydraulic leakage has to be the seals on a range of hydraulic equipment. Cylinders and rams are all major contributors to the amount of leakage.

These components require a thin film of lubricant between the seal and rod surface. Without it, seals tend to undergo premature wear which causes them to leak. If the lubricant is too thick, this also causes leakage as the excess lubricant has to go somewhere else.

Leaking hydraulic fluid is dangerous to a system for many reasons, including:

• It causes your hydraulic system’s operating costs to increase.
• Can require hydraulic fluid refills on a regular basis, causing your system to be shut down for certain periods of time.
• Can cause lasting damage to a range of components, reducing system effectiveness and increasing likelihood of a failure.
• Leakages, particularly on larger scale systems, can cause dangerous working environments for a range of users and operators.

How Can You Prevent Hydraulic Leakage?

The most obvious solution when it comes to preventing high levels of leakage is, simply, to choose the right products and making sure that they are installed correctly. This can be a great way to start your system off on the best possible foot, but to ensure that your entire hydraulic system holds leakages in place requires ongoing measures.

You need to implement a leakage reduction strategy to ensure that as little hydraulic fluid escapes your system as possible. All major component manufactures will offer SAR and ISO standards for reduced leakage, such as hydraulic cartridge valves. However, finding enough components to create an entire leak-free system can be practically impossible. Every hydraulic specialist agrees that creating a leak-free solution can be a trial-and-error strategy.

Reducing The Potential For Hydraulic Leakage

Hydraulic Leakage only occurs at connections and joins (unless there is something desperately wrong with your system), so one great idea is to try and limit the number of connections within your hydraulic system. Integrating multiple components into a single assembly can be a great idea for reducing waste fluid and leakages.

Maintaining A Zero Hydraulic Leakage Policy

All operators and on-site technicians need to be aware of the correct procedures when it comes to dealing with hydraulic leakages. This involves more than just wiping a component down when it leaks. Periodic inspections are one of the most effective methods, as they allow hydraulic specialists to prevent leakages before they occur.

Prevent Leakage, With The Best Hydraulic Products From Flowfit Online

Here at Flowfit Online, we are proud to offer a diverse range of hydraulic components, including hydraulic cartridge valves, to reduce the risk of potential hydraulic leakages and ensure that your entire system remains as cost-effective, safe and reliable as possible.

For more information on any of our products, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today on 01584 876 033. Alternatively, you can email any concerns or questions to the Flowfit team directly at sales@flowfitonline.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.