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Water in new bucket of T S C tractor hydraulic fluid

J

jacks

Member
I bought two 5 gallon buckets of Premium (Traveller) tractor hydraulic fluid recently. I was topping off the hydraulic system reservoir on a tractor this week from one of the newly opened buckets. I noticed some milky looking fluid going through the bucket pump clear tubing. Turns out that the bucket had 1-2 inches of water at the bottom of the bucket. The bucket was still factory sealed when I opened it. I suctioned the bad fluid out of the reservoir and took the bucket and a clear cup full of white fluid water emulsion to show the T S C store manager. I let the manager know that I store my fluid inside, so it was unlikely that water got into the bucket after I purchased it. She said that they store pallets of tractor hydraulic fluid outside. So that is a good explanation of how water leaked in. They gladly refunded my purchase price, but I let them know that I will not be buying any further hydraulic fluid from them until they start storing it inside. Just a word to the wise, make sure that your supplier does not store 5 gallon buckets of motor oil, tractor hydraulic fluid, gear oil, etc outside.
 
My thought is if the vinyl pull up tube on the lid gets water in it, and it freezes, it will split the vinyl allowing water to drain into the bucket.
 
Expansion and contraction come into play with pails and drums stored outside. They warm and the contents expand, especially if setting in the sun. This builds pressures high enough to slowly leak out around the crimped or threaded closures. If there is water setting on the top of a pail or drum it can be drawn in through the same areas when a vacuum is created inside the pail/barrel during cooling. I remember a bulletin to contractors from the Mobil rep we worked with years ago about storing barrels tipped enough to the side (bungs positioned 90 degrees to the direction of tilt) to prevent water building up to the bung openings and covering pails if they had to be stored, due to these facts.
 
It could have been put in there by the packaging company.

They buy bulk, put in storage tanks, then transferred to whatever container is on the order.

If a tank was contaminated, it could easily make it to the retail container unnoticed.

I used to buy 5 gallon hydraulic oil from a local supplier, it was labeled "Econolube", can't remember the brand. One time I was finishing off a bucket, noticed some spots flowing out of the spout into the funnel. Stopped and looked in the bottom of the bucket, dirt and grit covering the bottom!

Took the bucket back, they didn't deny it having trash in it, told me that was normal for the economy brand, it was only intended for use in leaking systems that didn't matter.

I informed them that was bull manure, never went back.
 
Worked as a mechanic for a power company. We found that 55 gal. drums, stored upright, outside would draw in water,and expel a film of oil. Over time, it could draw in quite a bit of water.
 
I have bought hundreds of 5 gallon buckets of oil,, never buy the cheap junk though but I have yet to ever see a drop of water in a Case or now cnh 5 gallon bucket of oil, I can see a drum getting water draw in but a sealed 5 not once,, sure you pull the seal and push the poring tube back in and leave it outside,, but not a sealed one, like said I would put money on the fact it was put in when filled,, you get what you pay for and I have said it a million times, Quality oil/grease is cheap,,
cnt
 
Look closely at seal in 5 gallon buckets.they are NOT solid to spout but porferated. Water can creep in
 
Been storing mine at times outside for 40 years now never once did any get in a unopened one. I only buy 10-20 of them a year now but used to buy it by the pallet when I ran my repair shop, now the old metal cans would,, never had a issue since they went to plastic,, I generally keep them inside but at times they are in the back of the Ranger,, as long as even a opened one has the spout pulled up Zero water gets in mine, must be a real Junk bucket that would pull water in, if things can go in they will leak out
 
I have two buckets still sealed in the shop of the same oil. Decided not to use it. Offered it for two for the price of one but haven't found any takers.
 
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