What Factors Affect the Service Life of Hydraulic Hose?

There are 3 main factors that affect the service life of hydraulic hoses and hydraulic hose assemblies. Those main factors include hose: size, temperature, pressure.

Size: Hydraulic hoses differ in size depending on the anticipated flowrate needs of a system. It’s important to be aware of the limitations of the hoses employed to avoid exceeding their operating capacities. Excessive velocity will damage the inner surfaces of the hose’s tube and other system components may be damaged from the tube debris. Excessive flowrate will also raise the temperature of the hydraulic fluid due to friction.

Temperature: Most hydraulic hoses have a temperature range. Higher temperatures can lead to the hose becoming hard, brittle and cracked, while lower temperatures result in the hose becoming cracked without losing its softness or flexibility. The cooler the hose fluids can be usefully used at well below the rated maximum, the longer the hose will be able to not experience material degradation. Care must be taken to properly route and shield hoses away from external heat sources such as engine manifolds which can quickly reduce the life of the hose and often lead to fires.

Pressure: In addition to having set operating temperatures ranges, hydraulic hose assemblies have maximum rated working pressures. If the system pressure exceeds beyond this point, the hose may suffer permanent damage and/or fail. For this reason, it is recommended to use hoses rated for a few hundred psi over the system’s maximum working pressure to avoid surpassing the hose’s rating.

With the right care a properly installed hydraulic hose that's fit for purpose should last for at least five years. We sell a variety of hose protection that can help you ensure that your hose lasts that long too.

Be sure to inspect hydraulic hoses before use! Damaged or failing hydraulic hoses can cause major damage, including death. Hydraulic hoses are not something to be taken lightly!