Technical blog · 28/04/2026
What is the difference between AW and HLP hydraulic oil?
AW comes from Anti-Wear and indicates that the hydraulic oil contains additives that protect metal surfaces under contact, typically zinc-based (ZDDP). It is the most common term in catalogs from American and Brazilian manufacturers.
HLP is a classification from the German standard DIN 51524 part 2. An HLP oil is, by definition, a hydraulic oil with corrosion protection, aging resistance and additives that reduce wear. In practice, an HLP oil and an AW oil of the same viscosity grade serve the same type of application.
The relevant difference is in the details of the specification required by the machine manufacturer. European equipment usually cites DIN 51524 (HL, HLP or HVLP), while American machine manuals refer to AW. If the manual asks for HLP 46, a quality AW ISO VG 46 oil that meets DIN 51524-2 will do the job.
JEFLUB's Fluid AW is formulated with a complete anti-wear package to meet the typical requirements of these specifications. Send your equipment manual to our team and we will confirm compatibility at no cost.
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