The aircraft industry is a far leap ahead of us in the understanding of the destructive powers of water in a hydraulic system. The etching and subsequent scuffing of the surfaces in the system are the beginning of the end. Actual particulate contamination is dealt with by filtering the oil on the way to the tank, on the way to the work or a combination of both. The acidified water is not removed by these systems of filters. This water must be removed. There are several filters that are built to do this job. The ones that I have experience with are more in the way of low pressure return filters or filters that can be placed on a “system dialysis” machine. [filter cart]

If you are not now doing something to specifically remove this acidified water you need to reconsider your SOP. Call your pump manufacturer or visit with a knowledgeable oil salesman about the benefits of water removal. It will increase the service life of your machine components and improve your bottom line. To do nothing about this problem is folly. Get profitable -  get proactive.   

Bob, We all agree that water in your hydraulic oil is a no no. Can you explain then, why the Huncretes have water in the flush box? Sure way of getting water in your hydraulic system.

After a long days pumping, the pump goes in the shed and thermal effects ensure that water is sucked through the rod seals during the cooling down period and bingo, water in the oil system.

As most Huncrete owners will have experienced.

You should not have water in the waterbox overnight....maybe up to the bottom of the rod , just under the sealing and scraper . And change sealing and scraperrings every 800 hour....

Water is for cooling...

Simply draining settled water from the hydraulic tank helps alot. However this does'nt seem to be a common practice of many operators, possibly this was overlooked in their training or because they simply dont care. This is something that should be done every Monday morning before starting your pump? I have seen 2 & 3 year old pumps (&older) that still have the factory zip-tie on the hose attached to the drain valve! These guys are'nt ones that drain the moisture/water from their air tanks as often as they should be either(if at all). Which leads to my second point... Pumps that have an air pressurized hydraulic tank should have a secondary in-line air dryer before the pressurized air goes into the hyd. tank. I have seen pumps like these with the air supply plumbed directly to the air tank with NO air dryer at all? This has to increase the water/moisture content in the hydraulic oil also?

Maybe its all in the way we were raised I guess? I had it pounded into my head pretty early.."This machine pays your pay-check..." I think an operator is just as much a part of the service dept. as the guy with the filter wrench in his back pocket. There's guys out there runn'n pumps that dont even realize that their hyd.res. is pressurized. Sometimes igonance is Not bliss!  

I use to put earplugs in the drainhose on collegues pumps , and watch on monday afternone....Most of them are still there ! And some are still there after years...

Every Mondaymorning I drain the hydraulictank or when it has been standing for a while...

It WILL pay back the money even if You drain 0.25 liter oil every week....And if You are pumping when it is cold outside , the boom moves much smoother....IF you have drain Your oil !

A little trick I've used for years is draining the hydraulic tank at least once a week depending on usage of about a gallon, putting that in my sprayer add a little diesel and kill two birds with one stone. I don't think it would hurt to add fresh hydraulic oil every now and again.

Good plan ;~)

BOOMINLOU,...We are on the same page that is the habbit I have gotten myself into as well!!

BOOMINLOU,...We are on the same page that is the habbit I have gotten myself into as well!!

I think its the main reason many get drained at all. But when you do it any other time besides first thing in the morning its pointless. And these days using hyd.oil+diesel in the sprayer is becoming less common. Besides being expensive its an "enviro" hazard. Here in NW alot/most companies supply non-petro or bio safe form oil and is somtimes less $$$. This is why the zip-ties (and ear-plugs) are in the spout hose for years?

Vasa, I knew a mechanic that did tricks like yours to keep tabs on things. He had 2 or 3 dummy dip-sticks (cap only) and used them to see who's check'n their oil or NOT. He tried this on me, I noticed the next morning but did'nt tell him. I checked my oil with the stick out of the truck next to me for almost 2 weeks. Finally he asked me "How's your motor oil?" When I told him "just fine thanks" I let him scold me a bit until he got mad & started yelling... then I told him what I'd done and exactly when he put in his dummy stick in.

Once we watched a dummy stick in a truck for 3 months!!! checking the oil our selves at nite of course. Dummies!!  

Is condensation a factor to consider? I dont know about other climates but here is very wet to say the least and I have seen as much as a "cup" of water come out of hyd.oil. tanks that have sat for long periods.

Condensation is a big issue here.

Big issue here to....cold warm cold warm cold warm cold.....

Beleavit or not , I have a friend in the north part of Sweden He run the waterbox dry in the wintertime... Less problem with condensation and water that freeze ! And he dont see some abnormal abrasion of the cylinders and the mudcup wears little faster...

But he has looong drives and very cold ( but on his new pump he runs with water in the waterbox)

We have had in years past oilers fill the hydraulic tank with water by mistake.Labeling tanks might be a good idea.

Vasa: It isn't cold before the truck has frozen to the ground over the night. Like it did here http://www.statoil.com/snohvit :D -40C and storm from Siberia is fun, when you're not there...

Running oil in your water-box in the winter is a good plan. [good cups & cyl's]

Bisley: I once filled a 52's outriggers fuel tank with water . Well only about 3 gallons,as I caught myself just after I turned the hose on.We all do dumb stunts!! Me first though,I don't like competition !