Hydraulic fluid with water

piperjim · Mar 27, 2015

My '61 3010 has water in the hydraulic fluid, based on the 'milky' color. I've purchased a new filter and 10 gallons of replacement fluid, enough for a single change. I'll change it, and then probablh
change it for a second time. But, it makes me wonder....

1. How does the fluid get water in it? Condensation in the reservoir? ??
2. What do I do with 20 gallons of water-contaminated hydraulic fluid? The county road & bridge shop takes old motor oil to burn in the winter. But, they won't take it if it has water in it. Dang, I
hate to think I have to separate it out.

What do you guys do with old hydraulic fluid?

Thanks,

tim s · Mar 28, 2015

It will separate it's self when it sets a bit, I use all my waste oil and any other I can find in my waste oil furnace, I have water separating features in the primary tank and the large storage tank. As for water getting into your transmission, there are several ways,#1 is a power washer, rain and condensation is one of the lesser ways..also "some" transmission oil looks milky just naturally,, I don't like that brand, I think it was a BP # oil....

Tx Jim · Mar 28, 2015

piperjim
Check to be sure breather in hyd filler cap isn't plugged with dirt.

D- · Mar 28, 2015

Let tractor set a day or so then loosen
drain plugs just enough to allow free
water to drip out before draining oil.
I would only use 5 gallons to flush.
Warm up and operate all functions to
eliminate as much contaminated oil as
you can. Then repeat procedure if needed
with another 5 gal.

D- · Mar 28, 2015

Also be sure to bleed brakes during both flushes.

newgenjdcollector · Mar 28, 2015

10 gal. may or may not be enough. There are some hyd. oils that when mixed with water will not separate very well. I had a nasty situation a few years back and probably wasted over 100 gal of good oil tyring to flush the system.

I finally found a very good solution. Cenpeco hyd. oil will separate very quickly from water. What I did was I drilled and tapped the drain plug with a drain cock. Once I drained the old oil and filled with the Cenpeco, the drain cock allowed me to drain off small amounts of water off the bottom. Every time I used the tractor, I would let it sit a few days and drain off the water.

Even if you flush the system with new oil, you will still have bits of milky oil throughout the system and it is a persistent headache to say the least because very small amounts of water can ruin good oil fast. Gallon per gallon, the Cenpeco is higher in cost but I think it has saved me a lot of money by not having to waste any more oil.

coonie minnie · Mar 28, 2015

Watery or not, it goes in my waste oil burner. It handles it no problem, but water is pretty diluted by the time it hits the furnace.

As for water in the trans, closely inspect the transmission cover under the platform. Odds are it has a pinhole or two letting in rain or water from the pressure washer. I have a 3020 that for several years was getting water in the transmission despite being parked in the shed. I had the platform off for other reasons, and there was a smale hole!

newgenjdcollector · Mar 28, 2015

That was the culprit on mine. But we didn't know that at first. That tractor was parked outside most of the time when I first got it. We'd flush it with good oil and then after it rained, it would be all milky again. Couldn't quite figure why. Finally I ripped the platform off and found the problem. Whoever had it before me must've been into the trans because there was no trans cover gasket and the bolts were all loose. All that water was being funnelled right into the trans case. Amazing how stupid people can be.

piperjim · Mar 28, 2015

Thanks guys for all the suggestions!! I'll try just barely cracking it and try to drain the water out first....maybe that'll do the trick. Then, I'll take off the platform and check for places where water
might be getting in. Will check the other suggestions, too.....breather vent clogged, etc.

Thanks!!!

piperjim

Mike M · Mar 28, 2015

Read on here before someone said to add HEET fuel additive to help get rid of the water in oil.
Good chance your brakes linings are now shot too. I guess they don't like water.

Hydraulic fluid with water

piperjim

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tim s

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Tx Jim

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D-

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D-

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newgenjdcollector

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coonie minnie

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newgenjdcollector

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piperjim

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Mike M

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