Here's something most engineers don't realize: the first industrial hydraulic systems used plain water as their operating fluid. In the late 1800s, London's hydraulic power network pumped pressurized water through underground pipes to operate everything from elevators to theater curtains. Water was cheap, non-flammable, and readily available. So why did we switch to mineral oils?
The answer lies in three critical weaknesses: water's poor lubrication properties caused excessive wear, its freezing point limited cold-weather operation, and corrosion wreaked havoc on metal components. By the 1920s, mineral oil-based hydraulics began dominating, offering superior lubrication, wider temperature ranges, and rust protection.
Today's formulations take this evolution further. Products like HYDRAULIC OIL HLP 46 combine refined mineral base stocks with advanced EP-additive technology specifically designed for high-pressure industrial, construction, and mining applications—solving problems that water-based systems could never handle.
