Cermax Ceramic Hydraulic Oil AW46 SiC Technology | Cerma

Cermax AW46 can stop cavitation from getting worse and in early cases help restore normal operation, but it cannot reverse physical damage that has already occurred. Cavitation damage shows up as pitting erosion on pump vanes, gear faces, valve lands, and cylinder surfaces — actual metal has been removed by collapsing vapor bubbles. No fluid can replace metal that's gone. What Cermax can do: (1) reduce entrained air that causes cavitation in the first place, addressing the root cause; (2) lay a SiC ceramic layer on damaged surfaces that partially compensates for the wear; and (3) lower operating temperatures that accelerate cavitation progression. If cavitation is caught early (noise, pressure drop, reduced performance) and Cermax is installed before serious erosion, many pumps continue serving years of useful life. If cavitation has progressed to the point of pressure loss, overheating, or visible metal debris in the filter, plan for pump rebuild or replacement regardless of fluid choice. Also check: suction-line restrictions, clogged strainer, low reservoir level, or worn pump-shaft seals — these are the mechanical causes of cavitation that Cermax cannot fix.

These are two different products that work together. Cermax AW46 Hydraulic Oil (this product) is the hydraulic fluid itself — a full-viscosity ISO VG 46 anti-wear hydraulic oil with SiC ceramic technology built into the base formulation. It replaces your existing hydraulic fluid. Cerma Ceramic Hydraulic Treatment is a one-time concentrated ceramic additive that's added to your existing hydraulic oil to deliver a high-dose SiC bond to system components. The treatment is added once; its ceramic benefit survives subsequent fluid changes. Which should you use? For maximum initial SiC protection on established systems, many customers use both: add the Treatment first to create a deeper ceramic foundation, then use Cermax AW46 for all subsequent fluid service. The Treatment is typically the higher protection-per-dollar option for an existing system; Cermax AW46 is the right choice when you need a full fluid change regardless. For new hydraulic systems or critical high-value equipment, using both delivers the deepest protection.

Yes, for emergency top-offs. Cermax AW46 is fully compatible with standard AW46 / ISO VG 46 hydraulic oils from major brands (Mobil DTE 25, Shell Tellus S2, Chevron Rando HD, Valvoline AW46, Amsoil AW, Lucas, Pennzoil AW, etc.). Mixing won't damage anything. However, for full SiC ceramic benefit, a complete drain-and-fill is strongly recommended — not mixed top-off. Three reasons: (1) the SiC technology works best at full concentration; (2) ceramic bonding builds faster when the fluid is entirely Cermax; and (3) old hydraulic oil often carries accumulated contamination (water, particulates, oxidized compounds, varnish precursors) that dilutes the protective chemistry. Best practice: drain the reservoir during a scheduled maintenance window, replace the hydraulic filter, refill entirely with Cermax AW46, and cycle the system to purge air. Exception — don't mix with non-standard fluids: if your current system runs fire-resistant fluid (HFA/HFB/HFC/HFD), food-grade NSF H-1 oil, biodegradable ester-based hydraulic oil, or phosphate ester fluid, do NOT mix with Cermax — these chemistries are incompatible and can cause serious system problems.

Follow your equipment manufacturer's recommended hydraulic fluid change interval as the baseline. Typical intervals: mobile hydraulics (construction, agricultural) — 1,000–2,000 hours; industrial stationary hydraulics — 2,000–4,000 hours; severe-duty applications (high-temp, dusty environment, heavy contamination) — shorter intervals. Because Cermax AW46 typically runs at lower operating temperatures and resists oxidation better than conventional fluids, many operations find they can extend intervals. However, fluid condition is the correct trigger, not hours alone. The professional approach is periodic oil analysis (ISO 4406 particle count, water content via Karl Fischer, TAN/TBN acidity, elemental wear metal analysis) sent to a lab like Polaris or Blackstone every 250–500 hours of service. The analysis tells you when the fluid is actually degrading — not an arbitrary calendar date. For critical or high-value systems (industrial presses, hydraulic power units running 24/7), oil analysis pays for itself in extended change intervals and early failure detection. For simple mobile equipment, following manufacturer intervals with Cermax typically yields good service life and equipment protection.

ISO VG 46 is the ISO Viscosity Grade system — the number (46) represents the oil's kinematic viscosity in centistokes (cSt) at 40°C (104°F). Lower number = thinner; higher number = thicker. The most common hydraulic viscosity grades are ISO VG 32, 46, and 68. AW stands for Anti-Wear — the additive package (traditionally ZnDTP) that protects pump components under load. "AW46" = anti-wear hydraulic oil with ISO VG 46 viscosity. Which viscosity should you use? Always match your equipment manufacturer's specification — this is non-negotiable. As a general guide: ISO VG 32 is typically used in colder-climate mobile hydraulics, some aviation ground support, and systems that run cool; ISO VG 46 is the most common general-purpose grade for industrial and most mobile hydraulics in moderate climates (the global default); ISO VG 68 is for warmer-climate or higher-temperature applications, heavy industrial hydraulics, and systems with higher loads or pressures. Substituting a different viscosity than what's specified can cause pump cavitation (too thick = insufficient pump intake flow) or excessive internal leakage and reduced pressure (too thin = fluid bypasses pump clearances). Don't substitute AW46 for a system that calls for AW32 or AW68 without confirming with the equipment manufacturer.

Yes — Cermax AW46 is formulated to be compatible with all standard hydraulic elastomer materials: Buna-N / nitrile (NBR) — the most common hydraulic seal material; Viton / FKM — used in high-temperature applications; polyurethane (PU) — common in cylinder rod seals; hydrogenated nitrile (HNBR) — heavy-duty applications; and EPDM — some specialty applications. Cermax is also compatible with standard hydraulic hose liners (nitrile, synthetic rubber compounds used in SAE 100R1/R2/R17 and similar hoses). Hydraulic filters: Cermax works with all standard return-line, pressure, and suction filters. There is no special filtration concern — the SiC particles are nano-scale (far below the 10–25 micron filtration threshold of typical hydraulic filters) and remain suspended or bonded rather than clogging filter media. In fact, because Cermax runs cleaner with reduced oxidation byproducts, filters typically last as long as or longer than with conventional hydraulic oil. Exception: a small number of specialty systems use non-standard seal compounds (phosphate-ester-resistant EPDM, specific silicone formulations, or legacy leather/cork seals in very old equipment). If your system has unusual seal materials, verify compatibility with your equipment manufacturer before switching.

Standard AW hydraulic oils rely on Zinc Dialkyl Dithiophosphate (ZnDTP or ZDDP) — a proven chemistry that's been the industry workhorse for decades. Under pressure and heat, ZnDTP molecules react with metal surfaces to form a sacrificial phosphate/sulfide film that absorbs wear energy instead of the base metal. It works well — but the chemistry is consumed as it protects. Over time, the ZnDTP concentration drops, and once depleted, protection fails. This is why hydraulic oil change intervals exist: the fluid may still look fine visually, but the additive package is exhausted. Cermax's STM-3 SiC technology works through a different mechanism. Nano-Silicon Carbide particles physically bond to metal surfaces under the same friction/heat conditions that drive ZnDTP chemistry — but SiC becomes a permanent ceramic layer rather than a consumable film. Key advantages: (1) Mohs 9.5 hardness vs ZnDTP's soft chemical film; (2) does not deplete with use; (3) survives subsequent fluid changes; (4) works alongside traditional AW chemistry rather than replacing it, giving dual-layer protection. Practical result: Cermax combines the active chemistry of traditional ZnDTP-style AW protection with the permanence of ceramic surface bonding. Many industrial users describe Cermax as "the next evolution of AW hydraulic oil" rather than a replacement for ZnDTP chemistry.

No — Cermax AW46 is a standard industrial anti-wear hydraulic oil and is not suitable for any of these specialty categories. Each has specific regulatory requirements that Cermax does not meet: Food-grade (incidental contact) — requires NSF H-1 registration, which mandates specific base stocks and additive restrictions to be safe for incidental food contact (food processing plants, bottling lines, packaging equipment). Use a purpose-made NSF H-1 hydraulic oil instead. Biodegradable — environmentally-sensitive applications (marine near-shore, forestry in watersheds, agricultural spray operations) may require hydraulic fluid certified to ISO 15380 HEES (synthetic ester), HETG (vegetable oil), or similar biodegradability standards. Cermax is environmentally safe in the broad sense (PTFE-free, solvent-free) but is not certified biodegradable — it's a petroleum-based industrial hydraulic oil. Fire-resistant — applications near open flame, molten metal, or high-ignition environments (steel mills, mining, foundries, die-casting) require HFA, HFB, HFC, or HFD-type fire-resistant fluids that won't ignite when sprayed on hot surfaces. Cermax is a standard petroleum oil and will burn — do not use in fire-hazard applications. If your operation has any of these regulatory requirements, purchase a purpose-certified product from a supplier specializing in that category. For standard industrial and mobile hydraulics (construction, agriculture, machine tools, presses, log splitters, lifts, general equipment), Cermax AW46 is the appropriate choice.