Hydraulic Jack | The Ultimate FAQ Guide

Hydraulic jacks are a very important accessory in this modern world.

The market for Hydraulic Jacks is worth more than $5 billion and will increase a lot more in upcoming years.

STE produces various kinds of Hydraulic jacks, which are not only of the highest standards but also have the lowest prices than the market.

In this article, you will learn about STE hydraulic jacks’ different aspects, such as how to use them, their prices, lifespan, quality levels, max loading capacities, max heights, and a lot more.

Now, let us start learning about STE Hydraulic Jacks in detail;

What Are Hydraulic Jacks?

A hydraulic jack is simply a lifting device that is used to lift heavy objects by applying force via a hydraulic cylinder.

A vehicle Hydraulic Jack can be used for many applications, such as;

• Lifting a vehicle for changing its tires
• Lifting a vehicle for working underneath it
• Lifting heavy loads other than automobiles
• More.

Hydraulic jacks come in various lengths and load-carrying capacities for lifting all kinds of vehicles.

Hydraulic jacks come in different shapes, such as bottle and trolley shapes for various environments, such as use on roads, use in garages, e.t.c.

What Are The Advantages Of Hydraulic Jacks?

There are many benefits of Hydraulic Jacks, which are given below;

• Hydraulic Jacks are easy to use
• Hydraulic Jacks need less space
• Hydraulic Jacks are light in weight
• Unlike Scissors Jacks, Hydraulic Jacks do not get easily corroded and stop working
• Lifting a heavy object with a Hydraulic Jack need less work than lifting with a Scissors Jack
• More.

So, Hydraulic Jacks may be pricier than Scissors jacks, but they do make the work very easy and have a long lifespan.

How Do You Use Hydraulic Jacks?

STE manufactures three kinds of Hydraulic Jacks, which are;

• Hydraulic Bottle Jacks
• Hydraulic Trolley Jacks
• Hydraulic Electric Jacks

You can use any of the above Hydraulic Jack by following the steps below;

• Park and Secure Car
• Inspect Hydraulic Jack
• Position and use Hydraulic Jack
• Use Jack Stands if necessary
• Lower Hydraulic Jack
• Store Hydraulic Jack

a) Park and Secure Car

If possible, park the vehicle on solid ground, such as concrete, e.t.c. Plus, it is necessary to park a car in an even place to avoid Hydraulic jack misbalancing. If the ground is soft or uneven, use some hard and even plate to place under a car jack during lifting to avoid any accident.

When parked, check the handbrake is on. Also, check the wheels which are on the opposite side from the hydraulic jack, such as chock the front wheels if the hydraulic jack is lifting the back wheels, e.t.c. Handbraking and choking of wheels are done to avoid rolling of car.

b) Inspect Hydraulic Jack

Now, get the Hydraulic Jack out of its storing place and check for max load capacity, and if ok, inspect for signs of damage, especially oil leakage. After inspection, ensure that the release valve is closed tightly by turning it clockwise. Also, wipe any dust off the saddle ( the upside of the jack which attaches with the car ) to guarantee non-slippery, firm attachment with the vehicle.

Before placing the Hydraulic jack under the car, operate it without load.

First, insert the handle down in the attachment point ( which is close to the barrel ). Now give the Hydraulic jack a few pumps by moving the handle up and down slowly. When the cylinder is lifted, open the release value and lower it.

If Hydraulic Jack works properly, you can lift any load with it.

c) Position and use Hydraulic Jack

Vehicle Lifting points are the places where all the weight of the vehicle can be lifted without any damage or deformation to the frame. For most cars, lift points are positioned on the rocker panel just behind the front wheels and at the beginning of the back wheels.

After inspection;

• Locate the desired side lifting point and place the car hydraulic jack exactly under it.
• Pump the hydraulic jack, and when the saddle is just about to touch the lift points, adjust the hydraulic jack position if needed.
• Finally, pump more to lift the car for needed height.

If you just want to change the car tire, then change it and lower the cylinder by directly jumping to step ( e ). But if you’re going to work underneath the car, then Hydraulic jacks alone are not recommended, and it is best to use Jack stands for maintaining a long period of lifting.

d) Use Jack Stands if necessary.

For placing jack stands:

• Position them exactly under the lift points.
• If your jack stands have an adjustable height, increase the height until it meets the car.
• Secure them in place ( either by a pin or their built-in mechanism ). If your jack stands have an additional safety pin, also use it for extra safety.
• Now, slowly open the release value of the Hydraulic jack by turning it anti-clockwise and shifting all the load on jack stands.

When done working, lift the vehicle again with Hydraulic Jack by following the above guidelines, but a little higher than jack stands ( about 1 inch or 2.5 cm ). and when a load is shifted on hydraulic jacks, slide the jack stands straight and slowly from the side. Do not get under the vehicle when jack stands are being removed. Also, never lower the height of the jack stand until it is out from under the car.

e) Lower Hydraulic Jack

Finally, for lowering the vehicle on the ground, open the release value by slowly turning it anti-clockwise with the notched side of the handle. All the fluid will be lowered immediately, moving the hydraulic jack cylinder and with it the car down.

f) Store Hydraulic Jack

When done, store Hydraulic Jack in a dust-proof and moisture-free place to avoid any damage to it.

Similarly, Scissors Jacks are also easy to use. Follow the same above steps as for Hydraulic jacks. The only difference is a Scissor Jack is lifted by putting the handle into the loop and turning it clockwise. For lowering, simply turn the handle anti-clockwise, and the scissor jack will be down. Unlike Hydraulic Jacks, there is no release valve, cylinders e.t.c in the Scissor Jacks, so operating a Scissor Jack is more work-demanding than working with a Hydraulic Jack.

In Electric Jacks, an automated system lifts and lowers the jack with just the press of buttons. There is neither a need for pumping with a handle nor closing and

opening the release valve during operation because the automatic system will do all the work.

Is A Hydraulic Jack Safe To Use?

Yes, Hydraulic Jacks are safe to use if you use them correctly. But if you become careless, then a severe accident may happen.

So, follow the below safety guidelines to avoid any disaster;

• Use only high-quality jacks.
• Use within mentioned load capacities.
• Always inspect for oil leakage, rust, wear, e.t.c, before every use.
• You can start a car on hydraulic jacks if their condition is like new.
• Elevate a vehicle only from specified lifting points and no other place.
• If possible, always work with someone else who can help you in an emergency.
• Always place on a hard floor to avoid sinking and dropping the car unexpectedly.
• Always perform a test working without load before every use to ensure fit working.
• Always use on a leveled surface to avoid misbalancing and car falling off from jacks.
• Always use wheel chocks to prevent a car from moving and dropping off the jacks.
• When getting all four sides of the car down, place chocks under wheels as soon as the first tire touches the ground.
• After placing a car on jack stands, ensure all jacks are at the same level and give your vehicle a few lights pushes to check stability.
• Do not leave a car on hydraulic jacks for a long period because even a small leakage may cause the jack to fail and cause an accident. But you can leave the car on jack stands for weeks.
• If you are going to work underneath the vehicle, always place the jack stands and lower hydraulic jacks slowly. Before lowering the hydraulic jack completely, ensure that jack stands are steady and lift all the load perfectly.
• If you are going to lift all four sides of a car, first lift one side and then the other. For example, if you are going to lift the front side first, place chocks on the backside wheels, and elevate the front side and then elevate the backside.

How Long Does A Hydraulic Jack Last?

The lifespan of a Hydraulic Jack depends on many factors, such as

• Usage
• Quality
• Maintenance

a) Usage

The lifespan of a hydraulic jack greatly depends on its usage. For example, a hydraulic jack that is used rarely on a personal level can last for decades, while a hydraulic jack that is used daily many times on a commercial level will last a few years.

b) Quality

STE produces its Hydraulic Jacks in many 3 quality levels. The starting quality is basic, which has the least price but a shorter lifespan. In contrast, the highest premium quality Hydraulic Jacks are a little costlier but are very durable and can last for decades.

c) Maintenance

The third and main factor is maintenance. If a Hydraulic Jack is not maintained, it will rust or get leaked and fail within only a few years. But if you clean it, grease it, oil it properly, and fix it properly, it may last for decades.

How Do You Grease A Hydraulic Jack?

Greasing a Hydraulic Jack has many benefits, such as

• Grease also lowers the wearing between moving parts
• Working become easier because grease lower the friction between parts
• Grease protects the metal parts from rust, and other environmental factors, so it increases the jack lifespan
• More.

So, it is very necessary to lubricate the Hydraulic Jack various parts with all-purpose grease frequently. You can see the guidelines below to learn which parts of the Hydraulic Jack to lubricate;

• Springs
• Front axle
• Leveling Arm
• Caster wheels
• Lifting Piston(s)
• Handle Sockets Bases
• Release-valve mechanism
• More.

How Do You Clean A Car Hydraulic Jack?

Cleaning a Hydraulic Jack has many benefits, such as;

• Look good
• Cleaning decreases chances of rusting, so prevent leakages
• Cleaning protects from dust, chemicals, e.t.c, which may get into the jack internal system and harm it
• More.

So, it is very necessary to clean the hydraulic jack of any debris, moisture, e.t.c, as soon as possible with a dry cloth or with a cloth soaked in a mild soap solution.

But it should be kept in mind not to clean the cylinder ( piston ) or any other moving part, or grease will be removed. Only clean the exterior surface. But if moving parts are very dirty, you can slightly clean them and apply grease on them again.

Do Car Hydraulic Jacks Need Oil Refilling?

Yes and no.

New Hydraulic Jacks do not need refilling for years unless there is a leakage. While when Hydraulic Jacks get old after years of use, the fluid in them also expires and refilling the fluid returns the working to the best condition.

If the fluid level is down, but the jack is like new, then only fill the oil but if the jack is very old, then drain the oil and refill it with a new one.

Always use only jack oil for filling because other oils such as steering oils, brake oils, e.t.c, can damage the jack or may not work correctly.

But how do you know when there is a need for oil filling in the jack?

You can know that Hydraulic Jack needs oil from the following signs;

• It is difficult to pump jack.
• Jack does not rise to its maximum height.

So, after seeing these indications, fill the oil in the Hydraulic Jack by following the steps;

• Open the release valve by turning it clockwise or pressing it or any other way depending on its design. This will lower the jack. Keep the release valve open during the whole operation.
• Locate the filler plug. On bottle jacks, it is usually on the side of the main cylinder, while on trolley jacks, it is mostly underneath a plate on the handle side, and for other shape jacks, see the manual guide to find filler plug.
• If a filler plug has a cover on it, remove it until the plug is visible. Depending on the design, the cover can be removed entirely or partly. For example, in trolley jacks, if needed, remove the cover plate ( fully or partially) to make the filler plug accessible.
• Now, clean the filler plug and surrounding area of any dust, moisture, chemicals, e.t.c.
• Depending on the design, the filler plug may be screwed out or will simply pop out by getting a screwdriver under it. Either way, most filler plugs are made of rubber, so use gentle force to avoid damaging them during extraction. The filler plugs are irreplaceable.
• If it is a hydraulic bottle jack, place it in an upright position, and for trolley jacks, place them straight on the ground and so on. Always place jacks on level ground during filling to estimate oil levels precisely.
• Now, fill the oil into the hole until it reaches the lower rim of the hole and cleans any excess oil. It is best to use a funnel to avoid spilling.
• Attach back the Filler Plug tightly by simply pushing it in or screwing it.
• If your jack has a cover, do not place it back on because, during the bleeding process, a filler plug is needed to open for releasing air out of the jack.
• Now, finally, bleed the air out of the jack for the proper functioning of the Hydraulic Jack. For bleeding, see the next question ( Q9 ).

How Do You Bleed A Vehicle Hydraulic Jack?

Sometimes the air in the jack blocks its normal functioning, such as the jack will not rise to its max height or will not work smoothly, or will not work at all, and so on. So, in these conditions, it is important to get the unnecessary air out of the jack, which is also known as Bleeding of the Hydraulic Jack.

Besides bad working, bleeding a jack is also necessary after oil filling.

You can follow the below guidelines to Bleed a jack properly;

• Place the jack in an upright position on level ground.
• If the filler plug has a cover, remove it.
• Open the release valve ( by turning it clockwise or by pressing it, e.t.c. ) and lower the jack as much as possible.
• Pump the jack 10 times
• Now, loose the filler plug only a little so the air can escape. If it is a rubber plug, just get a screwdriver under it and push it. If it is a screw plug, loosen it a bit and tighten it again instantly.
• Now, close the release valve by turning it clockwise or any other way according to your jack design.
• Finally, raise the hydraulic jack for checking. If it rises to max height as well as does not show any jerky motion, then it is working fine. Otherwise, repeat the process a few times until it starts operating correctly.
• At last, put the cover back on if you removed any during the start of this process.

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The above process should work for almost all kinds of Jacks. For Hydraulic Bottle Jacks, there is a special, more advanced bleeding process, which you can see below;

• Raise the jack rim halfway
• Turn the jack upside down.
• Open the release value and apply pressure on the upside-down jack to retract the rim back into the cylinder.
• Close the release valve
• Now, set the jack back in a straight position.
• Loosen the filler plug a bit with a screwdriver either by pressing it ( rubber plug ) or unscrewing it ( screw plug ). And afterward, tighten the plug again instantly.
• Now elevate the jack for checking. It should be working fine. Otherwise, repeat the process until it starts operating properly.

What Are The Prices Of STE Hydraulic Jacks?

The prices of STE Hydraulic Jacks depend on the following factors;

• Quality
• Kind of jack
• Capacity of Jack
• Customization

a) Quality of STE Hydraulic Jacks

STE offers its jacks in three qualities, such as

• Standard
• Premium
• Ultra-Premium

Standard Quality Jacks include few features and are the cheapest, while Ultra-Premium Quality Jacks have a lot of features and are the highest in price. Premium quality jacks lie in between standard and ultra-premium ones, both in price and feature aspects.

b) Kind of a jack

STE produces its jacks in the following kinds;

• Jack Stands
• Scissors Jacks
• Hydraulic Bottle Jacks
• Hydraulic Trolley Jacks
• Hydraulic Electric Jacks

Scissors jacks, due to their simple components, are the cheapest, while Hydraulic Electric Jacks, due to their automatic motor function, are the most costly of all. All other kinds of jacks lie in between these two.

c) Capacity of Jack

The price of any kind of a jack also mainly depends on its lifting capacity. For example, a 2-ton lifting capacity jack will be much less expensive than a 50-ton lifting capacity jack.

d) Customization

The following customization also add a little price to the overall value of a jack;

• Adding a custom logo
• Changing its standard design
• Adding a special color combination
• More.

You can see the chart below to get an idea about the average prices of STE Jacks;

What Are The Quality Levels Of STE Hydraulic Jacks?

STE produces its Hydraulic Jacks in 3 quality levels;

• Standard Quality
• Premium Quality
• Ultra-Premium Quality

You can see the chart below to differentiate between them;

STE Ultra-Premium Jacks also include Welded bottle Jacks, and these jacks are very durable because the various components are welded, which lowers the chances of leakage. The only downside of being welded is that neither you can not open it nor adjust, but this feature also allows for longer life. Our Welded bottle jacks also have additional features, such as a zinc-plated handle, electroless nickel-plated rams, e.t.c, for more durability than normal bottle jacks. And above all, the price of Welded bottle jacks is only a bit higher than normal quality bottle jacks.

What Are The Max Load Capacities And Max Heights Of STE Jacks?

STE produces its Car Jacks in 5 kinds;

• Jack Stands
• Scissors Jacks
• Car Electric Jacks
• Hydraulic Bottle Jacks
• Hydraulic Trolley Jacks

a) Jack Stands max loads and heights limits

Jack Stands are used when you want to work under the vehicle. You may be thinking, why do you need jack stands when you have hydraulic jacks? The answer is simple. Hydraulic jacks are suitable for lifting the loads, while Jack stands are suitable for holding the loads. You can place a vehicle on jack stands for days and work under it without any worry but never get under a car, not even for a second when it is on hydraulic jacks alone. Safety pin feature is also available in Jack Stands, which provide extra security.

The max loads and heights limits of STE Jack Stands are given below.

b) Scissors Jacks max loads and heights limits

Scissors jacks are the simplest forms of jacks. These are fully mechanical and need almost no maintenance. Due to scissor jacks’ small size and lightweight, these are mostly used in vehicles. These are also the cheapest in the price of all jacks. But the only downside of scissor jacks is a large amount of force is needed to operate them.

The specifications of STE Scissor Car Jacks are given below;

c) Car Electric Jacks max loads and heights limits

Car Electric Jacks come in two options;

• 12 V Electric Scissor Jacks
• 12 V Hydraulic Electric Jacks

Electric car jacks have the following features;

• Are the most advanced and easiest to use
• Operate on a 12 V power supply from a cigarette plug.
• Can lift a car in under only 2 minutes with a single button press.

The only downside of these jacks is that they have the highest price among all other jacks, but they make the work effortless and fully automatic.

STE Car Electric Jacks come in 1 Ton, 2 Ton, and 3 Ton lifting load capacities and can lift a car from 120mm – 450 mm ( 4.72 inch – 17.7 inch ).

d) Hydraulic Bottle Jacks max loads and heights limits

Hydraulic Bottle Jacks are the most compact and easy-to-use. Their prices are lower, but load lifting capacities are higher than all other kinds of hydraulic jacks. Hydraulic Bottle Jacks have applications in many areas, such as in cars, garages, construction, and much more.

The specifications of STE Scissor Hydraulic Bottle Jacks are given below;

e) Hydraulic Trolley Jacks max loads and heights limits

Hydraulic Trolley jacks, as the name describes, are jacks with wheels for easy moving. These are very heavy-duty Hydraulic jacks and are mostly used for commercial purposes such as in garages, workshops, e.t.c.

The max loads and heights capacities of STE Hydraulic Trolley Jacks are given below;

What Are The HS Codes Of Hydraulic Jacks?

HS codes, also known as Harmonized System codes, are internationally accepted codes, which are used to classify traded products.

We at STE give a 6 to 10 digit HS code to all of our Hydraulic Jacks. The exact amount of customs duties on your shipment can be found out by giving HS code(s) to your country’s customs department.

As we are very skilled in the shipping of products, we can instruct you step by step, or we can refer you to a delivery agency, either way, when you buy from us, you will not have to worry about the delivery of your order.

The HS Codes for STE Hydraulic Jacks are;

• Jack Stands HS code: 8431100000
• Scissor Jacks HS code: 8425491000
• Car Electric Jacks HS Code: 8425491000
• Hydraulic Bottle Jacks HS code: 8425421000
• Hydraulic Trolley Jacks HS code: 8425421000

What Is The GS Certificate Of Hydraulic Jacks?

GS certificate is a famous German quality assurance certification, while the CE certificate is a European standard quality assurance certification.

STE Hydraulics Jacks have both GS and CE certificates.

There are many advantages of certificates which are given below;

• Certification assures strict manufacturing standards.
• Certified Jacks are trusted by everyone and get sold easily.
• Certified Jacks are of higher quality and can last for decades than local ones.
• Certified Jacks are easy to import, and you can sell them without any pre-approval.
• Certified Jacks have accurate load capacities and heights mentioned on them.

What Is The ASME Standard For Hydraulic Jacks?

The standards explained by the American Society of Mechanical Engineering are also known as ASME standards. This organization’s standards are one of the highest known standards in America.

STE Hydraulic Jacks are manufactured according to the ASME 2009/2014 standards and have ASME certification logos on them.

Our STE Hydraulic Jacks pass the following ASME recommended tests;

• Design Proof Tests
• Loaded Operational Test
• Tipping Test
• Mobility Test
• Load-Sustaining Test
• Release Mechanism Test
• Load-Limit Device Test
• Proof Load Test
• More

a) Design Proof Test

According to ASME, in this test, all the old and new custom designs of jacks shall be tested. For passing, all jacks must meet the stated specifications without any functional or operational damage during the operation.

b) Loaded Operational Test

According to ASME 2009/2014, this loaded operational test includes a multiple series of subtests that will be done in the next headings, ( c ), ( d ), ( e ), ( f ), with a deadweight not less than the rated capacity of the jacks.

c) Tipping Test

This test is performed with a loaded jack in a fully extended position. First, the jack is tilted to its greatest angle in all directions. Afterward, the jack is moved forward and backward at least 1 foot ( 305 mm ) without the wheels or casters lifting from the ground. For passing, the load shall remain on the jack after the experiment.

d) Mobility Test

According to ASME 2009/2014 standards, lower the jack to its minimum height with a load on it, and move it across a 0.5 inches ( 12.7 mm ) high, 15-degree-slope rise in the floor at a speed of 1.5 ft/sec ~ 2.0 ft /sec ( 457 mm / sec ~ 610 mm / sec ). At the end of a slope, there should be a fall of 0.5 inches. The approach should be such that only one wheel or caster at a time touches the slope ( during rising) and the ground ( on the fall ). For passing, the jack must stand the test without the loss of load.

e) Load-Sustaining Test

According to ASME, in this test, the jack is fully extended with a load on it, and it should neither lower more than 0.125 inches ( 3.18 mm ) in the 1st minute nor more than overall 0.1875 inches ( 4.76 mm ) in 10 minutes.

f) Release Mechanism Test

In this test, the jack is fully extended with a load on it, and the release valve is open, and the descent rate is calculated. For passing this test, the descent rate should not be more than 1 inch per second.

g) Load-Limit Device Test

According to ASME, for checking the load-limit device, a greater load is applied than the rated capacity. For passing, the load limit device should activate between 100% ~ 125% load limit, and if the device activates lower or above this limit, then it is not ok.

g) Proof Load Test

In this test, the load is applied to the jack, and the jack is lifted to its maximum height. For passing this test, the jack should lift and sustain the load through the lifting range. Also, any internal load-limiting device should be deactivated during this process.

The advantages of ASME certified Jacks are given below;

• Are safe to use
• Have a longer lifespan
• Do not need any pre-approval for their selling.
• Guaranteed high-quality manufacturing from the best materials
• Due to being famous, they are trusted by everyone and get sold quickly.

So, STE ASME certified Hydraulic Jacks are best for all country customers, especially for Americans.

What Is The Delivery Time Of STE Hydraulic Jacks?

We at STE have 80 skilled workers in 4 assembly lines and 2 packing lines which can manufacture 5000 pieces of Hydraulic Jacks per day.

As we manufacture hydraulic jacks from scratch and in a very big quantity ( about 1,500,000/- Hydraulic Jacks per month ), you can expect the cheapest prices from us.

We offer a large variety of designs of hydraulic jacks, but if you have a special design of a hydraulic jack, we can also make it.

After making, we test all jacks very carefully for any kind of faults, especially leakages. When passed we packed and shipped them. During normal conditions, you will get the cargo in about 30 days (excluding manufacturing time ).

If you choose a Hydraulic Jack from our available designs, delivery time will depend on;

Production period ( depend on order volume ) + Testing + Packing + Shipping time ( 30 days or more ) = Delivery time

For a special design Hydraulic Jack, delivery time will depend on;

Prototype Making ( 7 days ) + Shipping of sample + Prototype editing ( if needed ) + Production period ( depend on order volume ) + Testing + Packing + Shipping time ( 30 days or more ) = Delivery time