Hydraulic fluid in engine.

[TN8Man]

I was changing fluids (engine and transaxle) on my JD 445 mower and somehow grabbed the wrong oil container started pouring hydro fluid into the engine. I realized the mistake and stopped after about 3/4 qt and quickly started draining it. The engine was never started and I removed the new oil filter and verified no hydro fluid entered it. I then left the filter off and started pouring 1.5 qt Rotella T6 engine oil in and then drained it. No fluid came out from where the filter attaches. I then repeated the flush with T6 and drained it. So less than a quart of hydro went in and flushed twice with 1.5 quarts of T6. I'm thinking I'm good to fill again with T6 and start the engine.

Any suggestions or comments?

 

[ptsg]

Even if you had ran the engine for a short time, it wouldn't have hurt a thing.

Don't worry about it.

 

[TN8Man]

Even if you had ran the engine for a short time, it wouldn't have hurt a thing.

Don't worry about it.

That's good to hear, thanks!

 

[rScotty]

Even if you had ran the engine for a short time, it wouldn't have hurt a thing.

Don't worry about it.

Agree.

 

[5030]

Hydraulic fluid is really just a thinner grade of oil with a different additive package. Forget about it, drain the sump and add the correct oil and carry on.

 

[TN8Man]

I filled it up and mowed the front lawn.

Now to continue my assessment of the engine condition.

 

[IH3444]

Stop Drink Alcohol.

 

[5030]

I'd rather have hydraulic fluid in my sump than antifreeze anyday. Antifreeze can spin a bearing, fluid won't.

 

[4570Man]

Hydraulic fluid likely wouldn’t hurt the engine even if you filled it to capacity with it and ran it. The minuscule amount that’s left after you flushed it definitely won’t hurt anything. Fill it with the correct oil and don’t worry about it.

 

[TN8Man]

The 445 engine is running fine now or same as it was back when I stopped using it for a significant hydraulic leak which is now fixed. With new spark plugs it runs great but after several hours of run time they start to foul and an increase exhaust smoke.