Hydraulic hoses are critical components of several systems in fleet trucks. They are essential to the proper operation of steering, lifts, and auxiliary equipment. When a hose fails, it can cause unexpected downtime, costly emergency repairs, and even safety risks for your workers.
Understanding the causes of hydraulic hose failure and how to prevent them can help keep your fleet on the road longer and control maintenance costs.
Common Causes of Hydraulic Hose Failure in Heavy Truck Fleets
Catastrophic hydraulic hose failure rarely happens without warning. In most cases, these hoses fail over time due to stress, heat, age, and poor maintenance.
When hydraulic fluid begins to leak, system pressure drops, and components may overheat. Even small hose leaks can lead to significant hydraulic fluid loss and unplanned downtime for your fleet. Some of the most common causes include:
Abrasion and External Wear
Hoses often rub against abrasive surfaces, such as metal edges, brackets, and other equipment. This gradually wears away their protective outer layer. Securing hoses with guides and clamps, using abrasion-resistant sleeves at pinch points, and regularly inspecting high-friction areas can prevent failures.
Improper Hose Routing and Installation
Stress causes hoses to crack. This includes tight bends, twisting, and tension. When the hose is not routed properly or is installed incorrectly, it can cause leaks and fitting blowouts. Use trained technicians at a hydraulic hose replacement shop to install your hoses to prevent these issues.
Age, Heat, and Environmental Concerns
Hoses, like other rubber components, degrade over time due to heat, UV exposure, and age. When rubber dries out, it becomes brittle and easily cracks. Prevention tactics include storing spare hoses in temperature-controlled spaces, replacing hoses proactively, and using hoses rated for high-temperature fleet applications.
Contamination Inside the Hydraulic System
Dirt, moisture, and other contaminants can damage hoses, pumps, valves, and fittings from the inside out. Prevention includes sticking to regular filter replacement schedules and flushing the system during hose replacement.
Pressure Surges and Incorrect Hose Ratings
Hoses that are not properly rated for the system pressure or pressure surges may fail prematurely. This is one reason why you should always use trusted replacement parts, match hose pressure ratings to real-life operating conditions, and use professional fleet hydraulic hose repair services to handle these repairs.
Reducing Hydraulic Hose Failures in Your Fleet Trucks
With consistency, careful maintenance, and professional support, you can reduce the chances of your trucks going down due to a hydraulic hose failure. How do you protect hydraulic hoses? Some steps you can take include:
Implement a Hose Replacement Schedule
Scheduled inspections and planned replacement reduce breakdowns, downtime, and emergency repairs.
Standardize Hoses Across Your Fleet
When you use the same types of hoses across your fleet, it can:
- Simplify inventory
- Improve technician familiarity
- Reduce installation errors
Track Causes of Hose Failures
Documenting when and why hoses fail can help you identify fleet-wide concerns about routing, overheating, or hose ratings before they become a major headache.
Hydraulic Hose Repair for Your Fleet
When a hydraulic hose fails, you must decide where and how to handle the repair. Options may include DIY solutions, a mobile service, or towing to a professional hydraulic hose repair shop.
Understanding the strengths of each of these options can help you choose the right solution for emergencies, scheduled maintenance, and the long-term reliability of your fleet.
Pros and Cons of DIY Hydraulic Hose Repair
While a DIY repair is a quick fix for minor issues and could save you money, this approach often leads to shortened hose life and unplanned downtime. A DIY repair may fail catastrophically, increasing liability and safety risks. In addition, it could cost more in the long run because of repeated repairs.
Hydraulic Hose Repair Shop vs Mobile Service
Fleet owners often wonder when it is appropriate to call in a mobile service and when they should turn to a professional hydraulic hose shop. In general, mobile hydraulic hose services provide a fast response for roadside emergencies. However, they may have limited inventory and come with less controlled installation conditions, which could lead to future problems.
For planned maintenance and recurring issues, a professional hydraulic hose shop is a better option. They provide precision assembly and testing, maintain a larger hose inventory, and offer better long-term reliability.
When to Use a Hydraulic Hose Shop
Under some circumstances, fleet managers should consider working with a professional hydraulic hose shop even if it means towing the truck at a higher cost. This is because professional shops can provide services that are not available from your own mechanics or mobile services. This could include:
- Fitting custom hoses
- Identifying the cause of recurring issues
- Clearing system contamination
- Dealing with complex pressure or temperature conditions
A professional shop has the time, know-how, and capability to test hoses, crimp fittings to exact tolerances, and verify the system is working properly before releasing the truck back to you. They can help you identify problems and resolve them, preventing you from having to deal with the same concerns on every truck in your fleet.
Benefits of Professional Hydraulic Hose Services for Fleets
When you choose to work with a professional hydraulic hose shop for fleet maintenance and repair, you can expect help to prevent premature failures and emergency downtime. Your technician will provide benefits that include:
- Improved system reliability
- Reduced time off the road
- Safer operating conditions
- Consistent hose quality and wear across the fleet
- Expert insight and recommendations to improve hose wear
The right professional hose services can serve as a partner to you and your team, helping your truck operate properly and helping you feel confident you are on top of any issues that might develop.
Contact Us Today to Learn More
Hydraulic hose failures are preventable. By implementing preventative maintenance and choosing the right service provider, fleet operators can reduce costs and keep their trucks on the road.
At Point Spring & Driveshaft Co., our team provides support and resources to help you prevent breakdowns and address them when they occur. Contact us today to learn more about our truck repair and maintenance services.