What happens if a hydraulic filter is clogged?

Fluid contamination is the most common cause of failure in hydraulic systems, and the chances of contamination or other problems increase if you don’t have an effective plan for checking and changing your hydraulic filters. The best approach is to be proactive and to make sure you understand what’s happening inside your system.

What Happens When Hydraulic Filters Get Clogged?

Hydraulic filters protect your systems by catching contaminants and preventing their continued circulation. The buildup of material in the filters can eventually block the passage of fluids. Here are a few common scenarios:

• If the system has a bypass valve, fluid will continue to circulate but it will not be filtered. As a result, contaminants in the fluid may damage interior surfaces.
• If there is no bypass valve, pressure will continue to build and the filter may rupture or unload — contaminating the system and requiring repairs.
• If fluid cannot be diverted to a bypass valve and the filter doesn’t rupture or unload, the resulting buildup of pressure and fluid can damage other parts of the system.

When Is the Right Time to Change Hydraulic Filters?

The loss of time and money caused by clogged hydraulic fluid filters might encourage you to change the filters more frequently than necessary as a precaution. However, that approach means you’re spending more money on maintenance than you have to and keeping equipment offline more often than it needs to be.