Hydraulic question

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Jun 13, 2006
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I recently built a system with 11/4GPM Haldex barnes pump. It has 1" intake and 1/2" outlet port. The intake is connected to the oil tank with 1-1/4" hose. The tank strainer is 20GPM rated and has a relief valve in it. I have plenty of oil in the tank.

The problem is (I think) in the oil viscosity. When it is 10F or colder my pump cavitates and the oil become muddy-milky. The pump sounds differently and with sharp "chirping". After sometime (10-15 minutes) the oil becomes clear again and the pump sound gets normal.

First I would like to know if my thoughts about low temp viscosity are correct.

If yes, how I can fix it.
Should I heat up the oil in the tank before I actually start the pump?
How i should do that if "yes"?
I use "average" hydraulic liquid, can post the cat# and brand if it matters. It would be a backbreaking expence to buy "special" oil. And it must work at winter and summer time. We have rather cold winters here in MN, below -20F sometimes. My shop is not heated....
 
Ed, yes the pump is way below the oil level.
12345678910 - I can consider this as an option, but how much power it takes to heat up 10 gallons of oil in steel uninsulated tank? This toy is just 300W.
 
It definitely sounds like cavitatiton to me. Is the line coming out of your pump pulsing in time with the chirping noise? If so, I'm almost certain that your pump is cavitating.

With it going away when it warms up, id say a heater of some kind would fix you right up
 
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