Determination of Performance of the Soybean Oil in Farm Tractors as Hydraulic Fluid

Abstract

Vegetable oils include an environmentally compatible lubricant and alternative fuels. To base such a lubricant and hydraulic fluids on a vegetable oil creates a product environmentally friendly and nontoxic. They have a high viscosity index and flammable point. This study describes vegetable oil-based use possibilities as hydraulic fluids on farm tractors. Mineral and soybean oils were tested as hydraulic fluid as per OECD Standard Code II (for the Official Testing of Agricultural and Forestry Tractor Performance) or OECD-II tests standards in New Holland brand tractors, which are manufactured locally in Turkey considering the environmental concerns. Density, viscosity, acidity, iodine number, saponification, unsaponification matter, cold test, flash point, melting point, pour point, and water content of the soybean oil were determined before and after the testing according to the standards. Both types of oil produced similar performances indicating that soybean oil can substitute mineral oil in hydraulic systems of farm tractors. Soybean oil as used in hydraulic fluids was determinate between mineral oil and soybean oil. Standard deviation was 1.57 and correlation was 0.76. Maximum lift power was 14.25 Nm at 685 mm lifting height in soybean oil, whereas 14.49 Nm value was obtained by mineral oil in the same height. According to the results, soybean oil can be used as an alternative hydraulic fluid.