What is the white crystal-like or foam at the top of the fill tube?
Oil & Fuel GC1715 Blowing hydraulic fluid
- Thread starter Coyote1
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What is the white crystal-like or foam at the top of the fill tube?
hube2
Veteran Member
Those are air bubbles. When the fluid enters the return area pressure is released. This depressurization of the fluid can cause small air bubbles to form. Especially if the fluid is cold
DMW
Platinum Member
Wow, pictures explain your issue better than any description. An inspection camera down the fill tube might help out here. Something might have gotten dropped in during the fluid change. Don't be afraid of removing the tube for better access. I'm sure someone can provide insights.
hube2
Veteran Member
Just want to make sure that you didn't miss Oil & Fuel - GC1715 Blowing hydraulic fluid back on page 4. If it were me I'd definitely be getting and inspection camera like @DMW suggested above.
DMW
Platinum Member
I can understand your frustration. This is not a typical problem. As hube2 says, the issue seem to be a blockage not allowing the oil to drain back into the sump. The return line from the FEL drains back into the hydraulic lift cover. If it cannot drain, it will continue to fill until it starts coming out of the fill tube, which is actually a good thing as it stops any pressure build up that could blow out seals. The fill tube is only attached by a bolt on its side, and an o-ring in the base. If you remove it, it may allow the drain hole to be visible. Just going by the pictures, my GC2300 is very similar, but not identical.
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Robin Veerman
Veteran Member
Psst. Is it possible that the lever to the rear remotes has been switched on, and if no hydraulic implements are hooked up, the hydraulics are now dead-heading or flowing through a relief valve?
DMW
Platinum Member
Doesn't explain the pics posted by the OP with a visible level on the gauge for the oil sump, yet fluid coming out of the fill tube at a higher location.
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cdaigle430
Veteran Member
to me. it looks like you have some air in your sump which is giving you a misleading level in the glass level indicator. How many quarts did you add? I would try removing at least a half a quart...then purge the air by raising and lowering the loader and curling the bucket 10 times, same with the BH if its on. Check the level again...remove more if necessary.
hube2
Veteran Member
I found another picture of the return area in my maintenance book. It appears that there are two ports. I could be wrong but I still think the ports are blocked. I have no idea what could be blocking them or how it could have happened during a fluid change, but that is still where I would start because the ports being blocked, or partially blocked is the only thing that makes sense to me.
DMW
Platinum Member
I am assuming the pictures were taken at the same time as well.
hube2
Veteran Member
no idea when the pictures were taken. The maintenance manual is for GC1725/23 but there are references throughout the book to 1710/1715/2300. I assume that it's the same book for all with updates made for changes and places where they missed updating the model references. Here is the image, the side where the fill tube is cut off at the top of the image
This tractor dosen't have a backhoe and i don't have the front end loader on it. I removed the pickup screen and it was clean. The picture of the glass was taken while the fluid was coming out it was part of a video . Asked the mechanic at local MF dealer he said it shouldn't need to be on. I slowed the RPM and it went down.
Robin Veerman
Veteran Member
So if the loader is off the tractor (I do the same in the summer) is the loader lever in the neutral position? I’m still thinking that there’s a lever that’s in the on position somewheres, that shouldn’t be…
DMW
Platinum Member
Is it possible a rag or something got pushed into the fill tube when you did the original fluid change?
