sea-foam green fluid in steering pump reservoir

Dirtsmith

Member
My 1964 Ford 4000 sprung a leak. Some weird green-like fluid started shooting out on the right side. It covered the inside of the sheet metal, and sprayed all over the framework for the
loader. So, I let it cool down and then proceeded to remove the sheet metal to look for a radiator leak. (Removing the sheet metal with the frame work of the loader in the way is no easy task.)

It turns out that the leak is not in the cooling system at all, it is actually fluid squirting out of the top of the reservoir for the power steering pump. (The power steering pump is a roller vane
type.) After I removed the cover clamp and the reservoir cover, I could see the sea-foam green fluid and that it is clearly low.

This adventure resulted in two questions:
1) What sort of power steering fluid is sea-foam green? (What of ANY machine fluid is sea-foam green?) (Since it's not a coolant system leak I am eliminating radiator coolant as a possibility.)
2) What would cause fluid to squirt out of the top of the reservoir?

In the reservoir cover there a piece in the center where the fluid is coming from, I saw it happen. The cover appears to be designed like this, but I can't figure out why.

I don't want to drain and flush the system, I would prefer to just top it off and run the tractor (and look for the actual leak). I just don't know what to top it off with as I am not even sure it is
power steering fluid and I don't want to risk mixing incompatible fluid and cause some other new problem.

As always, thanks for your collective expertise.
 
The green fluid is a mineral oil type hydraulic fluid, at auto parts stores ask for Pentosin CHF. In the power steering seal kit for a row crop 901 there is one package of seals that is marked mineral oil only. Only seal kit I've ever seen marked like that. I dont know why you have the leak but the lid has that small metal circle on the top to vent hot air. It has very small holes in it, three I think.
 
You're not the first to have that happen. That system seems to have a few quircks that I don't totally understand. They seem to be hard to get the air out of the cylinders also. I had one rattling so bad one time it broke the pressure line at the P/s gear. It somehow cleared on its own. You may have air in the system. It could be a sticking pressure valve. I know there is a small check valve in the steering gearbox valve assembly that can be removed through one of the line connections. I don't know if I would monkey with that. It might be wiser to take it to someone who knows Power steering well and has the tools to test it correctly. Diagnosis by a learned mechanic might be your best bet. Some things can be very irritating when you just shoot at them in the dark and bullets ain't cheap.
 
I just read some posts on foreign ( excuse me, make that IMPORTant )autos that use the green fluid. Some say the green fluid eats the seals in a red system. I'm not so sure about that. I dont see how mineral oil will eat anything as I believe its neutral, it does not have a ph. Someone on here said the manual calls for a hydraulic fluid, which is what the green stuff is. We always had the dexron in our pumps, its non foaming. Im just shootin in the dark, you always need to shine a light on the problem. Does anyone know about those seals in a rowcrop system?
 

It would be nice to not have to drain and flush the system but unfortunately you will be lucky to get off with only a drain and flush. The system is supposed to have Auto trans fluid, that meets the M-2C41 spec. Mixing oils is potentially very bad. Drain and flush flush flush, and order a new filter.
 
Hey, showcrop, what about those seals from Ford on a 901 that are marked mineral oil only? Dirtsmith, you might have compressed air in the system when it went low and that might have shot it out the top of the lid.
 
(quoted from post at 05:57:39 10/08/18) Hey, showcrop, what about those seals from Ford on a 901 that are marked mineral oil only? Dirtsmith, you might have compressed air in the system when it went low and that might have shot it out the top of the lid.

Maybe those seals were after market? I am going by my owner's manual.
 

Thank you both for your insight.

I had massive brain storm and decided to call the place did the last known service on the tractor before it came into my possession. The mechanic told me that he would have used AgCo 821 Hydraulic and Transmission fluid.

It has been four days since the problem surfaced, so by now the entire tractor is cooled off. I popped open the clamp, removed the lid and now I see a caramel colored fluid. The fluid is very low, so air getting into the system seems very believe-able - especially if a pump is sucking it in. However, that suggests leak elsewhere.

Ha, that makes my tractor is the "Mystery Machine"! (That was a Scooby-Doo reference should any of you readers be younger than 45.)

My new experience-based theory is that with heat and pressure, that caramel colored fluid turns light green.

I think I'll just go the safe route, as suggested. I'll drain, flush-flush-flush, replace the filter and refill with clean new fluid.

I also took a moment to look at the underside of the lid. It has some holes (appear to be there by design) that are perhaps a vent, hence why I saw the fluid squirting from where I saw it.

Here is a picture of the fluid, this photo also clearly shows that the level is way too low - and NOT sea-foam green!
mvphoto24904.jpg
 
Looks like water contamination to me. I agree that the low level probably allowed air to get into the system which caused it to foam and fill the reservoir with foam, and then as it heated up the air in the foam expanded and caused some to squirt out through the vent holes in the cap.
 

In addition to what Sean said the water in the oil could have been vaporizing, increasing the pressure in the reservoir, causing the liquid release through the vent holes. Another matter with your power steering system is to clean the end of the cylinder around the rod, especially the underside.
 
Did you have a filter on there? If not, you need one. I'll post pics of the bagged seals on the 901 later showcrop.
 
(quoted from post at 14:44:47 10/08/18) Did you have a filter on there? If not, you need one. I'll post pics of the bagged seals on the 901 later showcrop.

Riveroadrat, he said that he was going to replace the filter. That tells me that he had one in there.
 


IF.... the filter is missing or damaged,,,, it will squirt fluid on to the top vent and leak like a sieve. Good filter must be in place and secured with the spring clip thingy. Picture does not show seafoam green.. shows hydraulic light amber/brown with milky white tint due to water contamination. But I am usually confused.
 
Hey, showcrop, what about those seals from Ford on a 901 that are marked mineral oil only? Dirtsmith, you might have compressed air in the system when it went low and that might have shot it out the top of the lid.
 
Hi Sotxbill,

You are not at all confused. I was. I saw sea-foam green liquid, so I thought it was a radiator coolant leak. I found the liquid coming from the P/S reservoir, but after it cooled it went back to its (nearly) proper color. I have since attributed the discoloration to be from heat and pressure on the fluid while the system was operating.

With guidance from the others who also contributed to the resolution of my dilemma. I have decided to drain, flush, flush, flush, and fill the system, just to play it safe. While drained, it will be in a good state for other work like changing filters and replacing missing/broken parts, so what you offered about the filter is gratefully accepted, it reinforces the idea of replacing that part. I am now trying to secure the proper parts for the P/S system so I can refresh and replace parts as needed with the correct parts.

I have the "I&T Shop Service" manual, which is very helpful. However, for as complete as it is, not all part numbers are called out. With so many variables from one tractor to the next, even in the same model line, trying to be exact with a part number seems to be more art than science.

In short, I am confident with what parts I need, but as of yet, I can't be specific with what I ask for from a seller to ensure that I am buying the proper parts.

One step at a time.
 



riveroadrat, not only the filter missing, so is the retainer clip for the filter, as well as all of the gaskets too.

Maybe it's luck or maybe it is really not that uncommon, but it turns out that all of the parts I need are in stock at my local farm supply and my order was already pulled. I'll pick them up today, or tomorrow.

So, through this process I discovered the search tool on the New Holland website for finding the parts I need. It's a drill-down type menu and it works very well.

I'll report back here to let you know if my work was successful.
 

Success!

I completed the work and it (not surprisingly) made an enormous difference in how the tractor handles.

If you are interested, here are the parts I needed and what they retailed for. Should any of you run into this, you can ball-park your expenses.

price-----part number*-----part descrription
$41.40-----C0NN3C603B-----oil filter retainer
$15.90-----AE33538A-----oil filter
$20.14-----231191-----oil reservoir cover gasket
$5.88-----AG33547A-----pump intake and exhaust gasket**
$48.00-----Multi-G 134-----2.5 gal hydraulic oil ***

* this is the part number from the New Holland Agriculture website

** I only bought one, but in retrospect, I should have ordered two

*** This was the reccommended Ford replacement part, but there was a less expensive option for about half of the cost.

I hope this helps one of you someday.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top