STLE Extended Abstract

27Feb2013

Comparing Field Testing Shear to Laboratory Shear Testing for Hydraulic Fluids

Bart Schober, Elizabeth Schiferl, and Christina Oliveto

Multigraded hydraulic fluids are important as they enable equipment to operate in a wide range of
climates and duty cycles. They are also known to improve both fuel and work efficiencies. Multigraded
hydraulic fluids are prepared by using polymeric viscosity modifiers. There are many options for
viscosity modifying polymers in terms of backbone and side-chain chemistries, architectures, and
molecular weights. These all impact the fluid cost as well as properties such as viscosity index, low
temperature viscosity, high shear rate viscosity, and shear stability.

Shear stability is important because all polymer-containing fluids are susceptible to permanent loss of
viscosity during service. This loss in viscosity can lead to equipment wear, poorer reduced performance,
and a loss of efficiency. Shear stability of a fluid is often specified or judged relative to its bench test
shear results or specific pump stand test results. Little information is published comparing those lab
generated shear loss results to actual field test shearing.

An ISO-46, 150 VI hydraulic fluid was tested at a rock quarry in eight wheel loaders and two excavators.
The viscosity losses were monitored as a function of hours of operation for up to 7800 hours of use. The
same fluid was also tested in standard bench test methods: D5621 (sonic shear) and CEC L-45 (KRL)
shear. Finally, the fluid was also tested in pump test methods such as the 35VQ vane pump, the
Conestoga 104C vane pump, and the Komatsu high pressure piston pump.

The sonic and KRL bench test methods were found to correspond to very different times of actual use in
the wheel loaders (Table 1). Based on these results the sonic shear test method (commonly reported at
40 C) matched only the first 700 hours of shearing in the wheel loaders. KRL shearing, which is
commonly reported at 100 C, matches the field service losses at about 3600 hours. Therefore KRL is the
better bench test for predicting the shear loss expected over the service life of a fluid, which is typically
into thousands of hours of use.

Similarly the 35CQ and 104C vane pump tests represented less-than-full-use of the fluid in the field.
These pump test methods correspond to about 1600 hours of actual use. The Komatsu 500 hour high
pressure piston pump test, on the other hand, corresponds to about 5500 hours of use in these
conditions.

This work is admittedly specific to not only the equipment used and the severity of service at this
location, but also to this specific fluid. However, this is a commercial fluid in actual application. More
testing with other fluids and under other conditions will be required to draw more universal conclusions.
This work would indicate that the KRL is much better than the standard sonic shear test method at
predicating the viscosity of a fluid toward the end of its service life. This is important as the use of the
most predictive bench test will help OEMs and customers better judge the lubrication, efficiency, and
protection of the fluid.

The 50 hour 35VQ and the 100 hour 104C also fail to adequately predict the viscosity of this fluid at the
end of its service life. These tests may need to be extended or increased in severity in order to fully
judge the end-of-life quality of hydraulic fluids.

Table 1

Test Equivalent Service Equivalent Service

Test
Conditions Time (40 C) Time (100C)

Sonic shear 40 min 700 hours 1,600 hours

KRL shear 20 hours 2,200 hours 3,600 hours

35VQ 50hours 1,600 hours ND

104C 100 hours 1,500 hours 1,600 hours

Komatsu 500 hours 5,800 hours 5,500 hours

This presentation will also discuss the results from the excavator shear loss, which was significantly
more severe than the loss in the loaders.

The conclusions suggested are specific to the equipment used, the severity of service in a particular end-
use environment, and lubricant selection. Additional bench testing with other lubricants, different
equipment and under alternate conditions could expand the data set and possibly provide more
universal conclusions.