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Pro tip: The 10-year rule for hydraulic fluid is a myth that costs money
I keep seeing guys in the field replace hydraulic fluid on a strict 10-year schedule, no matter what. Last month, a building manager in Tampa wanted a full flush on a system from 2014. The fluid sample I pulled was clean, with no water or grit. Changing it early just wastes about 800 bucks in fluid and labor for no reason. When do you actually test versus just swap on the calendar?
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zara_sanchez13d ago
That calendar-based mindset drives me nuts. Saw a crew drain perfect fluid from a backup generator last year just because the manual said to. Testing first always makes more sense than blindly following a schedule.
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ramirez.vera13d agoMost Upvoted
Our plant had a similar policy with hydraulic fluid changes every six months. The lab tests kept coming back clean, but maintenance insisted on following the schedule. It felt like throwing away good money, but I guess they worry more about a surprise failure than the cost of the fluid.
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gavin_kim13d agoTop Commenter
Ever try showing @ramirez.vera the test results to push back?
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