How Long Should Hydraulic Hose Last?
By Jack Weeks GPM Hydraulic Consulting, Inc. How long should the hoses in a hydraulic machine last? Well, the short answer is that it depends. Some people are surprised to find that hose material has a shelf life and that it can be affected by factors such as temperature, humidity and ultraviolet light exposure of the area where it is stored. This differs by hose type and manufacturer of course, but that is not what our customers usually mean when they ask about hose life. When a hose is replaced on a hydraulic machine, we would like to know about how long we can reasonably expect this hose to stay in service. Unfortunately, hose life can be very hard to predict. There are simply too many variables between machines to make any sort of blanket statement. But if you find yourself changing the same hose over and over again while the other hoses on the machine seem to be immortal, it is definitely time for some further investigation to determine what deteriorating factors are affecting tha
