Hydraulic equipment usually does not go from running perfectly to completely dead without giving you some kind of warning.
It starts making a little more noise. Running a little hotter. Moving a little slower. Maybe a cylinder starts drifting or a hose begins to sweat.
The problem is the machine is still running, so everybody keeps running it.
I get it. Work has to get done.
But there is a big difference between a machine that is running and one that is running right.
Those little changes are usually the machine telling you something is wearing out, getting contaminated or about to let go.
Catching it early might mean a hose, a seal or a small repair.
Ignoring it might mean a full shutdown and a much bigger bill.
What is the warning sign you see people ignore the most?