heating hydro oil

[AtLast]

I was curious if any of you use an oi heater on your hydro fluid in the winter. I know to use differant weight oil...but was wondering if heating it with a dip stick heater or the like was feisable or had been tried.

[Minnesota_boy]

When it gets that cold, *I* need the heater!    And don't be calling me a dipstick!  :D

I've run my Woodmizer at -20F and while it is slower, it still works fine.  I won't even try it any colder, because I can't carry enough clothes to keep warm and still carry a board.  Just seems to be a limit on my muscles.  ;D

[bull]

I run an LT 40 super and I have a heating Pad in the box w/ the Hydralic motors, makes a big difference... its plugged in as soon as the freezing weather hits. Without it I can kill the Battery on a cold day....  

[VA-Sawyer]

If you are using ATF for your fluid then heating would probably help some. I switched to the Wide temp range fluid that WoodMizer sells.  Temp no longer seems to affect the hydraulic speed anymore. It's not the cheapest fluid, but I think it was money well spent.

RIck
VA-Sawyer

[ADfields]

VA-Sawyer
Is that stuff clear like thick water?   I like what Shell calls arctic oil and it's clear and good stuff.
Andy  

[Fla._Deadheader]

  O K , never thought I would be interested in this discussion, until before Christmas. We use the clear Hydraulic oil, tractor oil, whatever ???

  If we change to 10 weight motor oil, can we do our best to drain what's already in the system and then add the motor oil ???

  Would it be OK to use trans fluid and will that mix with the hyd. oil ???

  Should we move further south ???  : :  

  Where the heck it that guy from Costa Rica??? :D :D :D

 BTW, it was in the 80's today  : : ;D

[VA-Sawyer]

It is fairly clear with a little yellow-gold. First thing I think of when I see the jug...... it's a one gallon urine sample !!  I'm not sure the Artic fluid will provide enough wear protection in the summer here. Still it might be the better choice for those folks sawing in  -20 F.  

FD, it was 75 F here today. Was sawing in a short sleeve shirt and worked up a little sweat.  Enough to make the sawdust stick to my skin.  ;D   Trying to figure out why I bought the 9 degree blades for sawing frozen logs.  

Rick
VA-Sawyer

[ADfields]

Harold I would just go with 30 or 10-30or40 weight motor oil that far south.   The best guy to ask is Mark for this stuff but I think that is what he will say.   As to mixing I don't see it hearting things just not flushing the system like you say.   This Arctic fluid is water clear and not recommended for use over 85 degrees I think it is.   W/M's oil must have a middle of the road blend trying to fit hot summers and also cold winters.
Andy

[AtLast]

BULL,
you wrap the motors with the pad or you put the pad on the hydro tank. PICTURS we need PICTURES...opps..I NEED PICTURES...

[Mark M]

I don't know how much oil you are talking but a good choice would be 5W30 or 0W30 synthetic like Mobil One or some of the Petro Canada Products (eh). Down where your at Harold 10W30 would be pretty good as Andy indicated. 5W20 is also a pretty good choice in a colder climate. We have some customers that use it year round in their mining equipment. 10WT can be a little thin in warm climates if the system runs hot. I personally like a multivisc 30WT oil for warm temps because it provides better lubrication and protection and it performs well at low temps.

One thing about hydraulic systems is you can use just about anything as the hydraulic system is pretty easy on oil. It don't get very hot and there isn't combustion by-products entering the system. If you used a synthetic you would probably never need to change it as long as it remains clean or you can filter it. Cat recommends an API CH-4, CG-4, CF-4 or CF engine oil if you don't use Cat oils. Most hydraulic systems have pretty much the same requirement for oil as long as there isn't friction material in the system such as clutch material or brakes. These require special oils with friction modificators. Here is a list of recommended oil viscosities for hydraulic systems.

SAE 0W20  -40F to 104F or -40C to 40C
SAE 0W30  -40F to 104F or -40C to 40C
SAE 5W30  -22F to 104F or -30C to 40C
SAE 5W40  -22F to 104F or -30C to 40C

SAE 10W  -4F to 104F or -20C to 40C
SAE 30W  50F to 122F or 10C to 50C

SAE 10W-30  -4F to 104F or -20C to 40C
SAE 15W-40  5F to 122C or -15C to 50C

CAT MTO -13F to 104F or -25C to 40C

If you want some pretty good info on oils and machine fluids in general go to this site and download the Machine Fluids Recommendations Guide.
Fluids Guide[/u]

Dat 5W30 would be good for you MN_Boy cause it will go down to -22 giving you a 2 degree margin. Bad thing though is you'll have to stop when it gets to 104 ;)

For heating a magnetic heater would work well if your tank is iron or steel.

Good Luck

Mark

[Minnesota_boy]

I thought that I wanted some of that 0W20 because it would work at -40, but then I remembered that *I* don't work at -40.  :D

[Mark M]

Ron maybe if you use 15W40 it will warm up a little ;)

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Never thought to add, our hydraulic pump is a piston type, and only runs on "Demand". Don'T have enough battery power to run it long enough to get warm, let alone, hot ;D ;D Today, the hydraulics were so slow, ya had to line 'em up with a plumb-bob, to see if they was movin. (29°). By 2 PM, they were runnin fine ??? ???