Hydraulic oil for winter

Initially it'll be cold, after working the oil for a bit it'll flow at its normal consistency.

When I was doing rearload trash, cold mornings were a #####. We'd cycle the blade some 10 Or more times at the first stop. I'm sure the residents loved that.

 

What I use is snow plow hydraulic oil in mine.
Works great.
It tends to be pricey but I am a fisher snow plow dealer so I get a better rate to buy it......

 

We used to thin the older trucks with some ATF, but spec the new Pete's a little different which has cut cold weather problem quite a bit.

Now we use AW 46 straight year round with few issues. Our tanks are split tanks with 30 hyd, 90 fuel the right side. The fuel helps keep some heat in the oil. We also have weed burner exhaust and the tank is on the right side front so the tank and suction line is near the exhaust.

 

I have a heated hydraulic tank, the engine coolant runs thru the tank and has a thermostat valve to keep the oil at a constant temp without cooking the oil. It also has shut off valves that I close in the warmer months.

On my self contained electric/hydraulic unit I run straight type III ATF, Miller says it is their recommended oil in colder climates. We also have used straight ATF on our tow trucks in the winter without any seal or pump issues.

 

Yes I was, O/O in Wayne, Mi, 1982 to 1990 when we lost all the Ford traffic to E&L, then followed the work to Easy Living.

 

Rgr that, I didn't know they had any O/O ...You ever pull out of Mahwah?

 

I don't recall, I do recall a 7 car load Wayne to Boston then Ayer, Mass to Providence, loaded out of there to Pittsburg, paid like a slot machine, 8K gross for the week in '84 dollars, those were the days.
NuCar in Wayne, Providence and Jacksonville were the only O/O terminals if memory serves.

 

Out of Port Newark, NJ the NuCar o/o's flew under the Arco banner.

 

Using the wrong oil:
The oil is the most important component of any hydraulic system. Not only is hydraulic oil a lubricant, it is also the means by which power is transferred throughout the hydraulic system. It’s this dual role which makes viscosity the most important property of the oil, because it affects both machine performance and service life.

 

My truck came with the exhaust pointed straight back blowing on the tank and towards the 5th wheel. In dusty environments I didn't want any debris blowing towards the front of the trailer. I put an elbow on my exhaust pipe directing it out and under the battery box on the drivers side to keep it from blowing back on the tank and control side. It exits without blowing heat on the batteries. I may turn the elbow towards the tank during the cold months and see if this helps speed things up any. In warmer months the diesel fumes while operating the tractor controls would be too much to take in my opinion.