The importance of using the right hydraulic fluid in your equipment

The reliability of a construction company’s equipment has a great influence on profitability. This is why companies like Taggart Construction Limited depend on lubrication products to enhance the reliability of their equipment.

Taggart Construction was founded in 1948 by Harold Taggart. The Ottawa-based company got its start building homes, but is now involved in various projects including the construction of bridges, roads, sewage treatment plants, sewers and watermains, retaining walls, box culverts, solid waste management facilities, stormwater management systems and water treatment plants. Currently, the company employs 200 people and is part of Taggart Group of Companies.

Tony Labadie, equipment manager for Taggart Construction, takes care of the company’s equipment and trucks, which include varying sizes of excavators, dozers and track loaders. As with many construction companies, Taggart Construction’s equipment must operate in a wide range of conditions. These conditions can create a variety of challenges. That is where a reliable hydraulic fluid comes in. 

Petro-Canada Fuels – Taggart Construction’s lubricant and fuel supplier – says that their main goal is to find the best solution to fit their customers’ lubrication needs.

Cold weather performance
“Last year was especially cold,” explains Labadie. “We had lots of problems with cylinders leaking, so we spoke to Petro-Canada Fuels and went to HYDREX XV just for cold weather starts. Since the switch to HYDREX XV, I haven’t seen a single leak. Our hydraulic equipment sounds a lot better when it starts in cold weather. Downtime is my biggest fear. When we’re down, we’re not making any money. Using a quality hydraulic fluid helps eliminate possible downtime. With cold weather, the possibility of blowing seals increases, which would create downtime. That’s where HYDREX XV has helped.”

HYDREX XV is a long-life, anti-wear hydraulic fluid designed for use year-round in heavy-duty hydraulic systems. It delivers increased productivity in all seasons and reduced costs through product consolidation. 

“I actually plan to turn our entire fleet over to HYDREX XV,” says Labadie. “Currently, about 30 percent of the fleet switched over, and every time I get a piece of equipment in I always switch.” 

Non-toxic, biodegradable and recyclable
Labadie also has environmental concerns to take into consideration.

“When we work around water, we need to be especially careful, so we switch to a non-toxic hydraulic fluid. Basically it’s more of a precaution than anything else.”

ENVIRON AW hydraulic fluids are non-toxic, inherently biodegradable and recyclable. They are suited for hydraulic applications in environmentally-sensitive areas, and are designed for use in both mobile and stationary heavy-duty hydraulic systems. 

“Just over a year ago, we had a job working in a river,” says Labadie. “We weren’t asked to use a product designed for environmentally-sensitive areas, but thought it was a good idea to eliminate any possibility or chance for the unforeseen. So we drained our regular hydraulic fluid and switched to a non-toxic fluid. It’s been great.” 

“We never had a leak; the switch to ENVIRON was totally precautionary. It bought us peace of mind. We haven’t drained the ENVIRON since our job in the river; we’ve been so busy that it’s been difficult to switch. It functions well, so there is no need for an immediate drain.” 

What sets HYDREX XV and ENVIRON AW apart is that they are free of most of the impurities found in competitive oils, Petro-Canada says. Both products start with the patented HT purity process, which produces 99.9 percent pure base oils – the purest in the world. By removing the impurities that can hinder oil performance, both products retain their “fresh oil” properties longer. Petro-Canada then blends these crystal-clear base oils with the finest specialty additives to deliver exceptional hydraulic performance. 

“All of our fluids are from Petro-Canada Lubricants,” says Labadie, “and Petro-Canada service is great too. If I need something, or a question answered in a hurry, the response is exceptional.”