Sometimes it’s difficult or impossible to get the same hydraulic oil used by the factory. Keep reading to see which acceptable substitutions we recommend for McElroy machinery.
McElroy has traditionally used the same oil brand and viscosity across all its hydraulically operated equipment. The oil brand doesn’t matter so much as the fluid specifications do. The following statement on fluid specifications can be found in the operator’s manual for your equipment.
“The use of proper hydraulic fluid is mandatory to achieve maximum performance and machine life. Use a clean, high quality, anti-wear hydraulic fluid with a viscosity index (VI) of 135 minimum. It should have a maximum viscosity of 500 cSt (2000 SSU) at startup (ambient temperature) and a minimum viscosity of 13 cSt (65 SSU) at the maximum fluid temperature (generally 80°F above ambient). Using hydraulic fluids that do not meet these criteria may cause poor operation and/or damage to the hydraulic components.”
Match the oil viscosity to your operating conditions and temperatures based on the chart below (also found in the manual).