Milky Hydraulic Fluid!!

[Fishman1227]

I have a 1710 Ford tractor I traded for last winter, and when I check the Hydraulic Fluid two weeks ago it was milky, so I changed it with new filter and oil, but I used a lessor grade oil in it and not NH 134D. Would this cause the milky look, or do I have something else going on??
Thanks,
Fishman1227

 

[Ken]

I have a 1710 Ford tractor I traded for last winter, and when I check the Hydraulic Fluid two weeks ago it was milky, so I changed it with new filter and oil, but I used a lessor grade oil in it and not NH 134D. Would this cause the milky look, or do I have something else going on??
Thanks,
Fishman1227

The milky color is due to water in the fluid.
If left outside in the rain or washed with the tractor is hot and water is sucked in as it cooled.
I left a 5 gal bucket 1/2 full of hydro fluid in truck and after a rain there was a couple inches of water had to be sucked in at fill cap .
When you changed oil and filter the remaining fluid in hoses and tank pump caused the new oil to be contaminated. As suggestion to wash with diesel fluid or solvent to clean oil then again add new oil. filter may separate the water but will take time and couple of filters.
ken

 

[Fishman1227]

Ken,
So you are saying to fill with diesel fluid and run a bit and then drain it and refill with new oil, and new filter??
Thanks,
Dennis

 

[murphy1244]

Ken,
So you are saying to fill with diesel fluid and run a bit and then drain it and refill with new oil, and new filter??
Thanks,
Dennis

use a mix of diesel and ATF run then flush.

 

[Fishman1227]

Ok thanks!! I will do that!

 

[Coyote machine]

Post back results. And, BTW, Welcome to TBN.:thumbsup:

 

[J_J]

The standard filter will not filter out water. There are some expensive filters that will take out a little bit of water.

Use this flush mix to help get rid of water.

1 quart atf ( type f or dex/merc 3 ) to 1g diesel, to 1 pint 90-91% rubbing alcohol. I'll put that into a sump as a rinse. if it needs more fluid for some pickup.. I'll add in some cheap utf or more diesel rinse mix.

 

[RobertBrown]

90 % rubbing alcohol is hard to find. I can only find 70% anymore. where do you get 90% and is 20% that important?

 

[arlen4720]

The standard filter will not filter out water. There are some expensive filters that will take out a little bit of water.

Use this flush mix to help get rid of water.

1 quart atf ( type f or dex/merc 3 ) to 1g diesel, to 1 pint 90-91% rubbing alcohol. I'll put that into a sump as a rinse. if it needs more fluid for some pickup.. I'll add in some cheap utf or more diesel rinse mix.

Why rubbing alcohol? That has more water in it. Why not solvent alcohol...it's almost pure isopropyl or ethanol (190 proof, 95%)

 

[Fishman1227]

I will let you guys know how it come out!! I have corn liquor, will that work?? LOL!!

 

[Soundguy]

90-91% is easy to find at drug stores.

70% will work.. but will carry less water as it is already carrying water.

the 95% would be fine.

I don't have a store near me that sells it. 90-91 is the best i can find locally.. so it's what I usually reccomend.

the atf-alcohol-diesel is a darn good rinse for wet sumps.. been using it years...

 

[wdchyd]

Just a tip Fishman

A few years ago, I had a client that had reoccurring milky hyd and he kept changing with new oil to no avail

He ended up having a clogged suction filter/strainer which put an extra strain/vacuum on his shaft seal on the main hyd pump......the result was air entrainment (foamy oil)

the way we found it was we put a good sized sample of the milky oil in a clear jar and all the air separated on it's own in a few days crystal clear....if it had been water it would have water in the bottom of the jar

The fix was new suction filter, reseal the hyd pump and all is well

Not saying your problem is air entrainment but something to watch for on these Japanese Fords

 

[Fishman1227]

Thanks I will check for air. I'm waiting until it warms up a bit before I work on it again.

 

[Tx Jim]

Also check the breather on the hyd reservoir. If it's plugged the moisture has no place to escape when oil & water gets up to operating temp.

 

[Fishman1227]

Ok Tx Jim, I wonder where that is located?? I will see if I can find that..

 

[Tx Jim]

Ok Tx Jim, I wonder where that is located?? I will see if I can find that..

breather is parts key #40

 

[Fishman1227]

Tx Jim,

Can you send me this Attachment to my email so I can make it larger?? Its so small I cannot read it..
Please send it to.