What could cause slow actuation of hydraulic components?

Slow actuation of hydraulic components can result from internal leakage in the actuating unit. When there is internal leakage, hydraulic fluid can bypass the piston or any seals within the cylinder, which leads to a reduction in the effective pressure available for actuation. This results in a slower response time as the fluid does not sufficiently generate the necessary force to move the component as quickly as intended.

While cold temperatures can affect fluid viscosity, making it thicker and potentially slower to flow, the internal leakage is more directly responsible for affecting the actual actuation speed of the components. Other factors, such as overheating or incorrect fluid levels, can also lead to performance issues, but they typically manifest in other ways rather than specifically slowing down the actuation process due to loss of pressure at the seal level.