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Old 01-10-2015, 12:40 PM   #1
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Winter operation of hydraulic slides.

I getting ready to go south for the winter with my Wildcat. I have 3 hydraulic slides that I have concern for using it during the extreme cold. We are packing up at below zero and need to open and close daily so the snow doesn't interfere the closing. Will the hydraulic oil get to heavy in the cold to put stress on the system? The oil weight in engines are adjusted to temps, is hydraulic the same?
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Old 01-10-2015, 01:22 PM   #2
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Heavy Equip. for (Cold) operation requires a period of time for (Op Temp) these systems are diff.than the RV type. RV type are a (On Demand) type,so No warm Oil. Most RV hyd systems use ((Power steering type fluid or Auto Transmission fluid). Most Hyd. Systems LIKE WARM weather!! Youroo!!
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Old 01-10-2015, 01:35 PM   #3
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If you can maybe put a heat lamp by the pump and reservoir to keep it a bit warmer
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Old 01-10-2015, 01:44 PM   #4
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Youroo, I drove heavy equipment in the winter at a shop and sawmill. In the morning the hydraulics would grunt the first 5 minutes. If it uses a power steering or tranny fluid I would think it would operate a little more freely.
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Old 01-10-2015, 01:50 PM   #5
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If you can maybe put a heat lamp by the pump and reservoir to keep it a bit warmer
I'll just borrow DW's hair blow drier.
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Old 01-10-2015, 02:10 PM   #6
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I'll just borrow DW's hair blow drier.
I tried this just once, I now own a heat gun and I have fewer bruises....
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Old 01-10-2015, 02:13 PM   #7
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ATF type fluid isn't immune to being thicker in cold weather, but not as severe as heavier oils. I'm sure performance will slow in the cold though.
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Old 01-10-2015, 02:36 PM   #8
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I tried this just once, I now own a heat gun and I have fewer bruises....
DW just said "a few bruises is better than unwrapping the power cord off my neck".
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Old 01-10-2015, 03:01 PM   #9
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Lippert produced a notice re: Hydraulic Fluid and Temperature guidelines

LIP Sheet 0291 Dated Jul 16/13

Maybe this will help you decide what is the best solution/direction

See below for attachment
Attached Files
File Type: pdf LIP Sheet 0291-Hydraulic-Fluid-Recommendation.pdf (80.9 KB, 204 views)
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Old 01-10-2015, 03:26 PM   #10
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It's the change in viscosity at lower temps that will cause slower operation. Since most of the Hyd systems use ATF fluid and when the it gets below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (Kinematic Viscosity Testing is done at at 40°C) it starts to get thick as it loses some of its ability to flow or viscosity.

You could use a synthetic transmission fluid as they behave much better and retain their given specs under cold weather conditions, but you would have to check with manufacture to see if it's compatible with the seals in the system.
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Old 01-11-2015, 02:30 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elind View Post
I getting ready to go south for the winter with my Wildcat. I have 3 hydraulic slides that I have concern for using it during the extreme cold. We are packing up at below zero and need to open and close daily so the snow doesn't interfere the closing. Will the hydraulic oil get to heavy in the cold to put stress on the system? The oil weight in engines are adjusted to temps, is hydraulic the same?

I have 4 hyd. slides and don't have any problem getting them in, but you could go up and clean the slides before closing to make sure no ice is there also that would bind up the slide going in. I think hyd. oil is less than 5wt. oil so no prob. The only problem i had with them is the factory didn't put in the req. amt. of 50 amp breakers and it put too much stress on the one that it failed in 6mos. so i put in 2 50a the wat it should have been done at the factory.
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Old 01-11-2015, 09:23 PM   #12
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I have 4 hyd. slides and don't have any problem getting them in, but you could go up and clean the slides before closing to make sure no ice is there also that would bind up the slide going in. I think hyd. oil is less than 5wt. oil so no prob. The only problem i had with them is the factory didn't put in the req. amt. of 50 amp breakers and it put too much stress on the one that it failed in 6mos. so i put in 2 50a the wat it should have been done at the factory.
I'm glad to hear that the oil is light enough to function the hydraulics in the cold.
I know about the snow on the sliders. Last fall I took out a chair to be replaced and let the slides open till I brought back the new chair. It snowed and froze before I returned. I had to run hot water over all three slides to get the snow and ice off so it would close.
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