Hydraulic Fluid Contaminant Sensitivity Test

The prediction of a hydraulic fluid's ability to minimize wear of a pump has been based on standard tests that relate film strength, load carrying capacity and the actual weight loss of pump components.

The anti-wear properties of fluids used in mobile equipment hydraulic systems are characteristically evaluated by these standard tests under relatively low contaminant level conditions. This paper presents a laboratory test method which evaluates hydraulic fluids based on their ability to minimize wear in the presence of entrained contaminant levels representative of actual severe service conditions. Test results are presented which show the necessity of introducing the contaminant variable in order to properly assess the relative wear-preventive characteristics of different fluids. Correlation with results obtained from actual service conditions is also established.