Hydraulic oil for log splitter

Submitted: Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 19:58

ThreadID: 85496 Views:16677 Replies:2 FollowUps:10

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Mudripper

Hi all, just wondering what hydraulic oil you guys would recommend for a 30 tonne log splitter. The manual gives all kinds of numbers eg 10W AW32, ASLE H-150, ISO 32. None of those numbers I am familiar with.

I was looking at what Super Cheap have in stock and they sell Shell Tellus 46 hydraulic oil in a 20 lt drum. Is this any good, and is it the right viscosity?

Thanks,

Tim.

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Reply By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 20:34

Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 20:34

probally a bit to heavy, you can run standard ATF in it and that would be fine, is it empty or just needs topping up ???

AnswerID: 450612

Follow Up By: Mudripper - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 21:09

Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 21:09

Hi Joe,

Thanks for your reply. I'm wanting to change the oil very soon, and just need to find the right oil. ATF would be good, but more expensive per 20 lt (the tank on the splitter is 12lt).

Cheers,

Tim.

FollowupID: 723093

Follow Up By: Member - Corrugate75 - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 08:09

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 08:09

Don't skimp on oil. Oil is always cheaper than parts!
We run several largs Ag tractors and one of them has a 146L Hydraulic tank! The first number is the "weight" (viscosity) of the oil, ie 10W 30 or 20W 40.
Cheers

FollowupID: 723224

Reply By: Dion - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 20:38

Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 20:38

Shell Tellus 46 is fine, and so is Shell Tellus 68. The Shell Tellus 46 is what we use for our hydraulic systems at work, (or the Castrol equivelants, HySpin 46 or 68).
When I was on our older Oberon class submarines, our hydraulic oil was the same SAE 40 grade oil, mineral detergent that was used in our diesel engines. It reduced the number of differing types of oil that had to be carried.
At the end of the day, for a hydraulic block splitter, you can use any of the dedicated hydraulic oils commercially available.
I have a 26 tonne hydraulic block splitter and it has had engine oil added to the storage tank, with no measurable change in performance of the splitter.
Cheers,
Dion.

AnswerID: 450613

Follow Up By: Mudripper - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 21:12

Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 21:12

Thanks for that Dion. I've actually used 10W-30 to top it up here and there.

BTW, does the ram (cylinder) on your splitter get hot? Mine gets fairly hot and am wondering if this is normal.

Cheers,

Tim.

FollowupID: 723094

Follow Up By: Gobumpy - Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 22:22

Thursday, Apr 07, 2011 at 22:22

Hey Tim

I would run the 46 oil a good all round weight. Yes the Cylinder will get hot but no hotter than the pump or tank

Scott

FollowupID: 723109

Follow Up By: Dion - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 07:14

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 07:14

Tim,
I can't say I've noticed it getting hot, I'll pay attention to that tomorrow.
Cheers,
Dion.

FollowupID: 723114

Follow Up By: Who was that again? (Vic) - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 07:55

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 07:55

Tellus 46 should be OK for hydraulic rams if you were operating smaller hydraulic motors, perhaps Tellus 22 but it is light for the operation you are talking of

FollowupID: 723116

Follow Up By: Mudripper - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 11:18

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 11:18

OK thanks guys, much appreciated.

Cheers and beers,

Tim.

FollowupID: 723135

Follow Up By: Bushtrek - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 16:27

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 16:27

The viscosity equivalents

SAE 10W = ISO 32= Shell Tellus 32 or Castrol Hyspin AWS (orAWH) 32
SAE 20 = ISO 46 = Shell Tellus 46 or Castrol Hyspin AWS (orAWH) 46
SAE 30 = ISO 68 =Shell Tellus 68 or Castrol Hyspin AWS (orAWH) 68

Now ATF is SAE 10W and ISO 32 viscosity.
The ISO viscosity is measured at 40C and the number eg 32 is the viscosity of the fluid at 40C in centistokes (a unit of viscosity measurement).

So ATF either Dexron, or Ford is the same viscosity for practical purposes at 40C.

Cheers

FollowupID: 723161

Follow Up By: Mudripper - Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 20:35

Friday, Apr 08, 2011 at 20:35

Thanks Bushtrek

FollowupID: 723196

Follow Up By: Member -Toonfish - Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 13:32

Saturday, Apr 09, 2011 at 13:32

we sll iso 32 grade only for theses little units 46 is too hgh and 20 definetly to low
.
whiile i use and recomend fuchs for most applications there are pleanty out there suited to your spec but use the iso 32 standard hydraulic oil.

good luck