CF ChatterFix
Preventive Maintenance

Hydraulic Oil Sample & Filter Change

Hydraulic contamination is the leading cause of valve and pump failure on a molding machine. Particles score servo valve spools, which produces erratic injection profiles long before anything actually breaks.

Interval Quarterly
Est. Duration 2.0 hrs
Steps 4
Applies To Plastics & Injection Molding, Automotive & Metal Fabrication

The Procedure

The steps ChatterFix schedules for this PM. Every step is a checkable item on the work order — a technician can speak their way through it without touching a keyboard.

  1. Draw an oil sample for particle count and water content
  2. Replace pressure and return filters
  3. Inspect hoses and fittings for weeping
  4. Record oil temperature at steady state

Why This PM Exists

Hydraulic contamination is the leading cause of valve and pump failure on a molding machine. Particles score servo valve spools, which produces erratic injection profiles long before anything actually breaks.

What Skipping It Looks Like

Inconsistent shot-to-shot behaviour blamed on the controller, followed by servo valve and pump replacement that the filter change would have prevented.

Setting the interval

Sample quarterly and trend particle count. Change filters on differential pressure rather than on the calendar where the machine supports it.

Equipment This Covers

Common Questions

How often should this PM run?
Quarterly. Sample quarterly and trend particle count. Change filters on differential pressure rather than on the calendar where the machine supports it.
How long does it take?
Budget about 2.0 hours for a technician working to the standard procedure. ChatterFix uses that estimate for capacity planning, then learns your plant's actual time from completed work orders.
What happens if we skip it?
Inconsistent shot-to-shot behaviour blamed on the controller, followed by servo valve and pump replacement that the filter change would have prevented.
Can I use this checklist in ChatterFix?
Yes — this exact procedure ships in the Plastics & Injection Molding and Automotive & Metal Fabrication industry pack. Pick your industry at signup and it is scheduled on the right assets automatically, with no configuration.

Related Procedures

Stop Retyping Your PM Library

This procedure — and every other PM for your industry — is already built into ChatterFix. Pick your industry and it lands on the right equipment, on the right interval, in about three minutes.