Algae in my hydraulic fluid

[fritz423]

You guys saved me when I replaced the seals on my JD 520 loader, now I have another issue. Three times now I've had my hydraulics seize up but this last time I took a video of the mess. I'm 90% sure this is algae-there was three reasons for water to get into the system, cracked shifter boots, leaking seals on the loader, and condensation from temperature fluctuations.

I've fixed the boots and seals but it's getting mighty expensive to replace fluid and filters. Do I need an algaecide treatment? Nobody at the Deere place had a clue. I hate to wait for another failure. Can't seem to find a good answer. Working fine for now, it's been a month.

 

[muddbutt]

I've had a similar issue with my JD 3520, green algae in hydraulic fluid. Tractor is kept under shelter. Dealer has no answers. I hope you find a solution to share!

 

[fritz423]

If I can't get an answer here I plan on hammer-calling a Deere engineer until he cries uncle and gives up the answer. I'm buying hydraulic filters in bulk now.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Get a sample and send off for a analysis.

 

[Gary Fowler]

That was sure some badly contaminated with water hydraulic fluid. I think if you fix all the places where water can get into the reservoir then you should be good to go.
A little condensation that might be produced will take years to get that much milky fluid and I have never seen algae growing in the hydraulic fluid like you have. I think I would have flushed it with some diesel prior to installing new filters. Then I would have swabbed out the diesel using the filter screen opening before adding oil. Oil and filters get expensive fast.

 

[strum456]

What stands out to me is that multiple reservoirs are having the same problem. What are the chances that water is badly leaking into all of these? I'm assuming you don't use your tractor for cranberry farming (lol). Where I live, we get some pretty extreme temperature swings, which cause my tractors to sweat pretty bad. But I've never seen anything like that unless a machine was left sitting out with a way for water to leak in.

On a side note, I have had algae problems with diesel. It was happening when I had my diesel stored in some plastic barrels. It kept clogging the filter on my transfer pump. I switched to a metal tank and the problem went away. I talked to the guy that delivers our fuel, and he said that he has heard some complaints from people that have equipment with large plastic fuel tanks - ones that are stationary for a long time between uses.

 

[Rock knocker]

The amount of biocide you use is exceedingly minor, so I don't think it would hurt anything, certainly less so than all that green water.

Go for it.

 

[RNeumann]

I've used the fuel additive with good results. I'm guessing if the growth is bad this will kill everything growing and possibly plug the filters one more time. But using it routinely after that should prevent further issues. Note they say it's moisture that causes this.

For fuel I'd use the other product all the time in fuel storage situations. For vehicle and tractor tanks I'd put the product in about 2 tanks or so of fuel before my filter changes....just in case!

http://www.biobor.com/products/biobor-jf-fuel-additives/transmission-fluid-fuel-additives/

 

[Tx Jim]

Besides adding biocide to hyd reservoir be sure that the hyd filler cap vent isn't plugged with dirt.

 

[fritz423]

Thanks for the tips. I've read over the information for BioborJF -it worries me that there is no "official" recommendation from any manufacturer to use it in Hydraulic/transmission fluid although the site does have a page that suggests it works for transmission or any hydrocarbon fluid.

As stated above, I guess the recommended shock treatment would be around an ounce. That's not much.

I'm hoping I've stopped the water sources. I'm tempted to use a shock dose of the BioBorJF, run it for a week, and then replace fluid/filters one last time.

 

[fritz423]

I've read about using diesel...man that is beyond my comfort zone. Wouldn't that cause problems in the pump?

 

[fritz423]

This is definitely an outdoor tractor, my wife would kill me if the tractor had cover when her car doesn't.

 

[Ford850]

I think it's rare to see algae in hydraulic fluid because the heat would kill it with normal use. Compare that to diesel fuel that sits in a tank collecting moisture and never gets heated. I think by sealing the leaks, and if you added a quality fluid, some good hard use should resolve the issue.

 

[RNeumann]

Thanks for the tips. I've read over the information for BioborJF -it worries me that there is no "official" recommendation from any manufacturer to use it in Hydraulic/transmission fluid although the site does have a page that suggests it works for transmission or any hydrocarbon fluid.

As stated above, I guess the recommended shock treatment would be around an ounce. That's not much.

I'm hoping I've stopped the water sources. I'm tempted to use a shock dose of the BioBorJF, run it for a week, and then replace fluid/filters one last time.

That's my vote!

 

[Gary Fowler]

I've read about using diesel...man that is beyond my comfort zone. Wouldn't that cause problems in the pump?

You don't actually use the diesel in the pump, just flush the system with it so it washes out all the dirt and grime. I have dumped in 5 gallons and opened all the drains to flush it out, then swabbed the inside wherever I can to remove any residual. A little diesel mixed in with 10-15 gallons of hydraulic fluid wont hurt a thing. After all it runs thru you high pressure injection pump all the time.

 

[muddstopper]

I had my fuel man top off all the hydraulic tanks with diesel before. And expensive oil change since some of our equipment hold 200gal of oil. Machines ran for a day or two before anyone figured out what happened,but didnt seem to hurt anything.

 

[scdeerslayer]

This is definitely an outdoor tractor, my wife would kill me if the tractor had cover when her car doesn't.

My tractor has a cover (although it does have leaks, but I plan to build something else ---- someday) buy my truck never has.

 

[fritz423]

I keep hoping I can use this as an excuse for a new barn/workshop...here's hoping!

 

[ovrszd]

Maybe I missed it, does this tractor sit for long periods of time??

I don't think water leaking into the system would cause algae. If it did, the tractor would have to sit long periods of time or the heat of operation would kill it. Water sinks to the bottom if left sitting a long time so again, can't understand how algae would get started.

Sure looked like algae though. I'm curious to hear the solution. Also curious to hear the fix for water leakage. Tractors are generally designed to prevent water entering the system. How are you going to know if you have cured the contamination point?

Good luck with this.