That expensive hydraulic oil I ignored is actually worth the money...

I ran a job down in Baton Rouge last spring and my foreman insisted we switch to a synthetic hydraulic oil for the boom truck. I thought it was just a way for the supplier to upsell us on fancy stuff we didn't need. Cost like $90 for a 5-gallon bucket compared to the usual $45 stuff. After about 3 months of heavy use on a bridge repair, I noticed the pump wasn't whining as much and the oil stayed clean way longer. We usually had to swap filters every 6 weeks but we got almost 10 weeks out of that batch. My foreman just laughed and said I told you so. Has anyone else had good luck with a brand that's pricey but actually holds up in the heat?

2 comments

2 Comments

margaret_kelly551mo ago

My own stubbornness cost me about $200 on a job last year because I tried to save $15 on hose fittings for a concrete pump and they blew out during a pour. Had to pay for a cleanup crew and lost half a day while my guys stood around. So I get the whole "learn the hard way" thing with expensive supplies. That synthetic oil you mentioned sounds like something I should have switched to years ago for my own equipment, especially during those Louisiana summers where the heat just cooks everything. I used a brand called Mobil DTE 10 Excel once after a mechanic recommended it for my skid steer and it definitely cut down on the varnish buildup I was getting with the cheaper stuff. Sometimes paying more upfront saves you a whole lot of headache and downtime later.

sullivan.finley1mo ago

Jump in with @margaret_kelly55 on that - the Mobil DTE 10 Excel is a solid synthetic but DTE 20 is actually the one that fights varnish better in hot climates like Baton Rouge, just a heads up from personal experience.