The viscosity of anti-wear hydraulic oil is the core factor affecting the operating efficiency of hydraulic equipment. Its size is directly related to the smoothness of power transmission and component coordination within the system. When the viscosity is high, the flow resistance of the oil will increase significantly, especially in the startup phase of the equipment. The oil pump needs to overcome greater viscous resistance to promote the circulation of the oil, which will not only prolong the startup time, but also cause a surge in instantaneous power consumption. In the long run, it will increase the no-load energy consumption of the equipment and indirectly reduce the operating efficiency.
Viscosity is closely related to the pressure loss of the hydraulic system. When the oil with high viscosity flows through pipes, valves and other components, the resistance along the way and the local resistance will increase, resulting in increased pressure loss during the transmission process. This means that the pressure output by the hydraulic pump cannot fully act on the actuator, which may cause problems such as slowing down the extension and retraction speed of the oil cylinder and reducing the speed of the hydraulic motor, making the actual working efficiency of the equipment lower than the design standard, especially in complex piping systems, this effect will be more obvious.
The lubrication state of the component will also change due to changes in viscosity. Appropriate viscosity can form a stable oil film on the surface of the component, reducing the friction and wear between the moving pairs such as the piston and the cylinder, the gear and the housing. If the viscosity is too low, the oil film is easy to break, resulting in dry friction caused by direct metal contact, aggravating component loss and increasing operating resistance; when the viscosity is too high, the oil film is too thick, which will increase the viscous friction between moving parts, and will also cause energy waste and affect the response speed of the equipment.
The effect of oil viscosity on the heat dissipation efficiency of the system cannot be ignored. During the operation of hydraulic equipment, the flow of oil plays the dual role of transmitting power and taking away heat. Excessive viscosity will reduce the circulation speed of the oil, making it difficult to quickly transfer heat to the radiator, resulting in an increase in the system oil temperature; and the increase in oil temperature will in turn reduce the viscosity of the oil, forming a vicious cycle, which may not only cause the oxidation and deterioration of the oil, but also further affect the efficiency of the equipment due to abnormal viscosity.
The leakage of hydraulic equipment is closely related to the viscosity of the oil. When the viscosity is too low, the sealing performance of the oil decreases, and it is easy to leak from the piston gap and the joint seal, causing volume loss and reducing the output power of the hydraulic system. Especially for old equipment, the wear of seals leads to increased gaps, and the leakage problem of low-viscosity oil will be more prominent, requiring frequent oil replenishment, which will affect the movement accuracy of the actuators and indirectly reduce work efficiency.
The adaptability requirements for viscosity under different working conditions are significantly different. In low-speed and heavy-load working scenarios, slightly higher viscosity helps maintain the strength of the oil film and reduce component wear; while at high speed and light load, too high viscosity will increase viscous resistance and increase energy loss. If the oil viscosity does not match the working conditions, the equipment will not be able to exert its best power performance, and the operating efficiency will be reduced due to additional energy consumption. Long-term use may also shorten the service life of the equipment.
The viscosity stability of anti-wear hydraulic oil is the key to ensuring lasting efficiency. High-quality anti-wear hydraulic oil will adjust the viscosity index through additives so that its viscosity fluctuates less when the temperature changes. If the oil viscosity changes dramatically with temperature, the high viscosity will cause difficulty in starting at low temperatures, and the low viscosity will cause leakage and wear at high temperatures, which will make the equipment always inefficient under different working conditions, increasing maintenance costs and energy consumption.
