According to Noria Corporation, air contamination can lead to the following problems in hydraulic systems:
- Spongy hydraulics - Loss of hydraulic control can slow throughput, increase the percent defective rate and potentially cause injury or death.
- Gaseous cavitation - Some operators claim gaseous cavitation leads to wear, while others say it causes noisy operation.
- Oxidation - The more oil comes into boundary contact with air, the higher the rate of oxidation.
- Thermal degradation - Compressing an air bubble from ambient pressure to 3,000 psi increases the bubble's temperature to more than 2,000 degrees F, thermally degrading oil at the boundary contact between the air and bubble.
Signs of air entrainment and foaming should be taken seriously. If you have recurring problems, evaluate the lube specification and the tank design, and check for low levels and signs of a suction line leak.
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