White Paper: Independent Hydraulic Efficiency Data Using VBASE® SPE® Base Oils

VBASE Oil Company has released a new technical white paper detailing third-party hydraulic efficiency measurements conducted by the Fluid Power Institute at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). The study evaluates a formulated hydraulic fluid based on VBASE® Secondary Polyol Ester® (SPE®) base oils against a commercially available mineral-oil reference fluid under controlled laboratory conditions. Using a closed-loop hydraulic dynamometer test stand, MSOE measured torque loss, flow loss, and overall system efficiency across a range of speeds and pressures.

The data show consistent reductions in both mechanical (torque) and volumetric (flow) losses when using the VBASE-formulated fluid. At certain operating points — particularly low-speed, high-pressure conditions — torque loss reduction approached 25 percent. Flow loss improvements were also observed across the full duty cycle, typically in the 10–20 percent range. These findings align with the expected behavior of formulations using SPE® base oils, whose high viscosity index, and strong film formation characteristics support improved lubrication in mixed elastohydrodynamic and boundary regimes.

The paper also discusses thermo-physical properties relevant to hydraulic system design, including the higher volumetric heat capacity of SPE® base oils compared to mineral oils. This characteristic has favorable implications for improving system heat management. Practitioners, formulators, and OEM engineers will find the full results and methodology in the published white paper, now available here.

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If you would like to explore how VBASE base oils can improve your hydraulic fluid formulations, our team is ready to connect.