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In addition, the majority of bulk tanks have a breather open to atmosphere that allows air in as oil is drawn out. Urbano recommends a minimum of a 4-micron air filter to ensure airborne contaminants will not be drawn into the tank.

Water can also do significant damage to hydraulics. "Most hydraulic systems are designed to shed water," notes John Sutherland, national accounts manager, Chevron Products Co. "So you have a layer of hydraulic oil and underneath that you could have a layer of water. Depending on where the pump suction is on the hydraulic system, you could suck that water into the system right at the beginning." This can produce sluggish performance of hydraulic functions, plus lead to rust, which in turn generates wear metals in the fluid.

Condensation is generally the culprit behind water contamination in stored fluid. A desiccant breather/filter can reduce the degree of both dirt and water ingress into the tank.

Bulk fluid condition should also be periodically analyzed. "Checking bulk fluid cleanliness periodically through lab oil analysis or on-site equipment is the best possible practice," says Navarro. "It helps the user to gauge delivery consistency and identify risky contamination. It also allows the user to test if the product he gets actually matches the signature of the product he expected."

Keep drums under wraps

Fluid stored in drums should be kept "under roof", if possible, to shield it from the environment.