Water contamination
The hydraulic oil present in oil-hydraulic plants is subject to water pollution
The main damages, caused by water pollution in hydraulic oil are:
- lubricant properties reduction
- formation od rust (with following increase in solid contaminants)
- reaction of the oil’s additives with water
Water reduces clearly the bearings’ average life. (cfr. Jim Fitch, “Silent Assumptions of Bearing Reliability”).
In the side graphic you can see how the bearing’s average life is drastically reduced by the presence of water in the hydraulic oil.