Skid Loader Oil Leak

kcm.MN

Well-known Member
Location
NW Minnesota
As some know, just got a used Gehl 5625 recently. The other day I spent quite a while digging a 5-gal bucket full of old oil-soaked gunk from the bottom of the engine compartment. There was rotting leaves, twigs, and even corn husks in there, along with LOTS of oil. While I'm sure the engine likes having this new-found air flow under it, I now have a bit of an oil leak, almost certainly coming from a pump or motor. Will have to raise the cab to gain access. Don't really have time for that nor a place to work in out of the elements.

So here's my question - I need to do some soil work before Winter, but really don't want this oil to get into the soil. Would it be possible to put some cat litter or something under the engine to catch the oil for a while? Just looking for a quick temp fix - not a long-term solution.

I also know of a product called Oil-Sorb or something like that, but have no idea what it costs or where around here to get it.
 
I'd let it drip. Kitty litter or other bentonite product will make a hard to clean mess in the pan. A little oil naturally lubricates the soil.
 
We have oil absorbent pads that we use
at work. Come in the emergency spill
kits. Used one last week as my
trackhoe couldn't shut down and had a
leak that was dripping on the
concrete.
 
(quoted from post at 19:44:02 09/16/17) We have oil absorbent pads that we use
at work. Come in the emergency spill
kits. Used one last week as my
trackhoe couldn't shut down and had a
leak that was dripping on the
concrete.

Kotex to the rescue!
 
JMS -- Nearest Mills Fleet is in Fargo, 3+ hours away. Have a Fleet Supply not too far though.

Hmm, forgot about the oil "pads". Still, have never purchased them so not sure where to look.

Kotex?? AWESOME! *lol* That's using the ol' noggin. ...Or using [i:a0dc633e3a]something[/i:a0dc633e3a], anyhow!

...What about wood shavings/bedding? Besides getting that locally, could also make up all I want right here. :shock:
 
Kitty litter and oil dry are the same material, bentonite. Kitty litter is usually cheaper at discount stores like Dollar General.
 

Pads would be the best. I have kept some on hand for 25 years or more. They are pricey, but they are the ones that float on water. The other thing is that you have to buy a hundred. I googled them and found an outfit called Sustainable Supply that has 100 for $28.00
 

Pads would be the best. I have kept some on hand for 25 years or more. They are pricey, but they are the ones that float on water. The other thing is that you have to buy a hundred. I googled them and found an outfit called Sustainable Supply that has 100 for $28.00
 
Baby diapers. They're easy to find and essentially the same thing as leak pads. They're expensive as well, but if you don't want to fix it right that's the price you pay.
 
Thanks for the tips on the Pig Oil Pads. I think that might be the right way to go. Seems the oil is only leaking out the bottom from one point, so might be able to rig up a pad on the outside which is easy to monitor and change out.

It's not a lot of oil, but more than I want going into the soil. Will be used for growing food. ...Of course, the oil [i:98f05133d2]could[/i:98f05133d2] possibly help the food go down easier, but I think that grocery store junk would need it more than home-grown. *lol*

Thanks for the tip about Sustainable Supply. Checked on Amazon, but they're a bit pricey.
 
We used to use a lot of pads in the paper mill, you can't have oil drops on white paper! One time we were installing a new gearbox on the
bridge crane that ran above the whole operation, and I was tying some pads to it. The superintendent say you don't expect a new one to leak
do you? My reply was, you wouldn't bring a new baby home from the hospital without a diaper on it would you?
 
If you are losing so much oil you are worried about contaminating the soil, you need to fix the leak. Sticking something in to absorb the oil in the skid loader is a potential fire hazard. I'd think twice
about that.

Think of it this way... if you are worried about the leak contaminating things, what will you do with the old diapers? Landfill them? You are just moving the problem somewhere else.

Odds are you have a bad hose or o ring somewhere. Most skid steers get a leak somewhere along the line. With some models, I'm pretty sure if there is no oil under 'em, it's because there's no oil left in
'em!
 
Don't use rags unless you remove them as soon as you shut machine off. Think spontaneous combustion!
 
To everyone who replied, thank you again!! Got more projects to do than time or hands to do them, so all the help and info is greatly appreciated.
 

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