Contamination of Hydraulic Pumps and Failure Prevention
                     Contamination of Hydraulic Pumps and Failure Prevention 
A Air Hydraulic Pump is a basic equipment in the system that performs the most significant 
duties. The oil pressure in hydraulics dictates how well the system will work and what output 
will be provided. The hydraulic pump is responsible for pressurising the fluid in the reservoir 
and pumping it to other machine parts. In a nutshell, the hydraulic pump converts mechanical 
and electrical energy into hydraulic energy. As previously stated, the hydraulic fluid flows 
through the pump to achieve the desired pressure. What if the hydraulic fluid is 
contaminated? What effect do these pollutants have on hydraulic pump performance? What 
strategies are there for avoiding hydraulic pump failures? This article goes through all of 
these details. 
Contamination of hydraulic fluid is one of the most significant causes of pump 
failure.  
Foreign particles captured in the hydraulic fluid, such as dust, rust, water, air, and so on, will 
harm the pump and have a negative influence on system performance. Hydraulic fluid 
contamination is caused by corrosion, defective filters, seal failures, and outdated hydraulic 
fluid, among other things. The size and number of solid particles, system pressure, and 
component internal clearance all influence the severity of hydraulic pump failure. Pump 
failure can also be caused by aeration, cavitation, fluid viscosity difficulties, high heat, 
implosion, and over pressurization. 
Built-in contaminants, ingresses contaminants, water/moisture contaminants, and internally 
or externally produced pollutants are the four types of hydraulic pump contaminants. Built-in 
impurities are particles such as burrs, chips, fabric fibres, and dirt that remain after the 
machining process is completed. Ingresses pollutants include dirt, debris, water, and other 
impurities that enter the pump from the outside through oil, worn or damaged filters and 
seals, open ports, and other means. Hydraulic oil contaminated with water or moisture is a 
major pollutant that causes corrosion, and such contaminants can penetrate systems that 
operate in humid settings. Cavitation, aeration, abrasion, and component failure are caused by 
impurities created either internally or externally. 
Contaminants in the hydraulic pump increase component wear, resulting in a variety of 
failure symptoms such as noise, overheating, unpredictable cylinder action, and sluggish 
performance. If the problem worsens, the hydraulic pump will eventually fail, and the only 
option will be to replace the pump. When a pump ceases to operate at its greatest efficiency, 
it is not recommended to replace it right away. Oil viscosity difficulties, leakage, improper 
hose selection, and other factors can all contribute to poor hydraulic pump performance. In 
such cases, troubleshooting and repairing the cause of the pump failure is preferable to 
replacing the pump. 
Let's take a look at how particle pollutants might harm your pump.  
Small particles, such as airborne dust in hydraulic oil, will collect between the hydraulic 
system's moving elements and cause friction. This leads to increased component wear, 
corrosion, and other issues. Because of the surface to surface contact, when the contamination 
is big particles, there will be fluid leakage and low performance. Large pollutants can 
potentially obstruct the fluid channel, limiting pressure and flow. 
What measures are there to avoid hydraulic pump failure?  
Inspection and maintenance of components and hydraulic oil, as with all other hydraulic 
components, will eliminate the majority of pump troubles. It's also crucial to keep the 
workplace tidy. When disassembling or fixing a hydraulic pump, the first step is to 
thoroughly clean the machinery to ensure that no foreign particles enter the system. It is 
recommended that the pump and filters be flushed after final installation to avoid hydraulic 
pump failures caused by built-in impurities. This will aid in the cleaning of the entire system 
prior to the actual procedure. 
Foreign particle infiltration can be limited by changing worn filters, tightening fittings, and 
carefully executing maintenance and repair operations when considering ingressed pollutants 
and water/moisture contaminants.