Foam in VAC transmission cont.

Lee_K · Dec 27, 2019

I finally got around to digging into the VAC. I used the water detection paste and found nothing. I went ahead and drained about
3 gallons of oil and filled with diesel, drove in circles on a hill side and drained again. I removed the top cover of the
transmission, but every thing looks good. I really dont know what I was looking for, but nothing looks abnormal. I did notice with
the engine running and the dipstick/fill out that oil would sling out the filler hole. I assume this is normal? Here are some
pictures. The oil becomes completely airiated when running but will settle out in a few hours time. Im kind of a loss here.

Thanks in advance,
Lee

Case Nutty 1660 · Dec 27, 2019

Let it drain for 24 hours or so until it quits dripping out,, looks like it still had a good amount of water in it, there is a slinger gear on a shaft that lubes the transmission, that alone foams the oil a bit,, even with out water in the oil

Joe (Wa) · Dec 27, 2019

What do you mean "clears up in a few hours", is the oil completely clear like new oil? I had a 5 gal bucket of emulsified SAE 90 gear oil out of my VAC, it did not settle out with some clear oil on top for most of a summer.

Stir that used oil up and pour about a quart in a glass jar. Let set in the house (warm) for a couple days/week, if emulsified some water will show on the bottom.

Put some of your new oil in a glass jar with just enough water and shake to emulsified similar to the state of your used transmission oil and test the water finding paste.

Pic is what oil surface (90 wt) looks like after a short drive (still cold) and plus about 20 mins after pulling cover. Clean oil, no water.

Joe

BarryfromIA · Dec 27, 2019

Maybe you should look at the bottom of the transmission housing were the bull gears are located that is were the bad stuff ends up when it settles and it don't wash out it has to be scrubbed.

Lee_K · Dec 27, 2019

By clears up I mean the entire transmission will be white and foamy like the picture today in the pan. That was what all the oil from start to finish of draining looked like. However by morning I can get oil out of the bottom like is in the picture in my original post. I will play with some oil in jars like you suggested but I don't think I have any pure oil, it's all mixed with the diesel from flushing today and other oil in my waste oil buckets.

Joe (Wa) · Dec 27, 2019

Ok new oil that you will be filling the transmission, add some water, shake up the jar try to close match the color of the original suspect oil drained from the transmission. Paste check for water, you should get a color change with this mix and said you didn't get a color change in what you thieved in the transmission. The paste does not react to any petroleum product, just H2O.

In view of what you have done so far and if you don't come up with a solution, before you put 7 gals of new oil in that transmission I would certainly take Barry's advice and check the final drive area. Your transmission shift gear side looks clean but most of these VAC seem to be operated nose up so many solids are likely to collect in the final drive.

Joe

Lee_K · Dec 28, 2019

Ok I did an experiment. Left is new clean oil. Middle is oil from the recycle oil bucket (although this also contains diesel from the flush and is noticeable thinner). Right is new oil mixed with water. I shook all three together then took the picture. I could not exactly replicate the color with the water and oil mixture. What I remember in the transmission was more white but the oil I mixed up this evening always had a substantial creme or brown color to it. Maybe that was a false memory but just an observation. The color cut paste I used did not change in the mixture either which makes my previous test void in my opinion.

Also what is involved in looking at the final drive?

Thanks for your help again,
Lee

Lee_K · Dec 29, 2019

I think I figured out the problem. After looking at my new oils this morning I realized that some of the oil I thought was 80W 90 was actually hy-tran. I think at some point I probably added some of the hy-tran instead of the gear oil that was already in the transmission. With this idea in mind I took some of the gear oil and some of the hy-tran, mixed them in a separate bottle and shook it. It seemed to foam quite easily. Then after only about 10 minutes it started to separate again with clean oil on the bottom.

I have to admit, this is my own stupid mistake. It seems like adding pure, fresh 80W 90 gear oil will clear every-thing up. Im still open to options or opinions, but that is likely what I will do. Thanks for everyone's help especially to Joe.

Thanks again,
Lee

shinnery · Dec 30, 2019

To the best of my knowledge any oil is lighter than water. Appx. 5 pounds per gallon vs. 8+ pounds per gallon for water. So if anything separates the oil will be on top and water on the bottom.

Foam in VAC transmission cont.

Lee_K

Member

Case Nutty 1660

Well-known Member

Joe (Wa)

Well-known Member

BarryfromIA

Well-known Member

Lee_K

Member

Joe (Wa)

Well-known Member

Lee_K

Member

Lee_K

Member

shinnery

Well-known Member

Similar threads