How to change hydraulic oil in a forklift?

Hydraulic oil is a critical component of all forklifts, a unit’s hydraulic systems are responsible for both its lifting and steering capabilities.

Carefully monitoring the condition of and changing a forklifts hydraulic fluid when necessary is a key part of responsible forklift ownership, in this post we examine:

What is forklift hydraulic oil and why is it important

How often oil changes should be completed

A brief step by step guide on how to complete an oil change

Hydraulic oil is a critical component of all forklifts, a unit’s hydraulic systems are responsible for both its lifting and steering capabilities.

Carefully monitoring the condition of and changing a forklifts hydraulic fluid when necessary is a key part of responsible forklift ownership, in this post we examine:

What is forklift hydraulic oil and why is it important

How often oil changes should be completed

A brief step by step guide on how to complete an oil change

How often should forklift hydraulic oil be changed?

Most forklift manufacturers recommend hydraulic oil be replaced every 1,000 hours of forklift operation.

We recommend you consult your forklift manual to confirm the manufacturer recommended replacement interval.

To monitor oil levels properly we also recommend operator check hydraulic oil levels daily as part of their pre-start checklists, this enables them to top up or change the oil before they begin operations and cause any damage by running the hydraulic systems with insufficient oil levels.

Who can complete a hydraulic oil change?

Changing a forklifts hydraulic oil is relatively simple and can often be completed by an in-house mechanic if available.

If no mechanic is available, we recommend the oil change is completed by a professionally certified forklift technician such as mobile service technicians.

Our highly trained and experienced service technicians are experts on all forklift makes and models and will be able to safely and efficiently complete hydraulic oil changes as part of general forklift servicing and maintenance ensuring your forklifts hydraulic systems are running in optimal condition at all times.

Steps to perform a forklift hydraulic oil change

1. Ensure your forklift is parked on level ground
2. Ensure the tynes are completely lowered to the ground
3. Ensure the park brake is fully applied and turn off the ignition
4. Open the hood and find the units hydraulic oil reservoir in the engine bay
5. Double check the capacity of your forklifts hydraulic oil reservoir via the manual or with the manufacturer
6. Place a container with a large enough capacity to hold the full contents of the oil reservoir under the drain plug at the bottom of reservoir
7. Remove the drain plug and drain all the old hydraulic oil
8. Whilst the tank is empty inspect its condition and for any foreign matter or fungus build-up. Clean the tank if necessary.
9. Do not forget to re-install the drain plug
10. Remove the vented cap and add oil to the fill tube. Pump hydraulic oil into the reservoir
11. Constantly check the gauge as you are filling so as not to overfill. Once the fluid level reaches the max line stop pumping
12. Slowly remove the pump nozzle and clean up any spills or residual oil
13. Install a new vented cap, tighten, and close the lid
14. Close the engine bay
15. Start-up the forklift and test that all hydraulic functions are working correctly