Viscosity
One of the most important properties of any hydraulic uid is its viscosity. Viscosity is internal resistance to ow. A liquid such as gasoline that has a low viscosity ows easily, while a liquid such as tar that has a high viscosity ows slowly. Viscosity increases as temperature decreases. A satisfactory liquid for a given hydraulic system must have enough body to give a good seal at pumps, valves, and pistons, but it must not be so thick that it offers resistance to ow, leading to power loss and higher operating temperatures. These factors add to the load and to excessive wear of parts. A uid that is too thin also leads to rapid wear of moving parts or of parts that have heavy loads. The instruments used to measure the viscosity of a liquid are known as viscometers or viscosimeters. Several types of viscosimeters are in use today. The Saybolt viscometer measures the time required, in seconds, for 60 milliliters of the tested uid at 100 °F to pass through a standard ori ce. The time measured is used to express the uid’s viscosity, in Saybolt universal seconds or Saybolt furol seconds. [Figure 12-1]