L3130 HST - Dirty Oil Question

[penokee]

Recently did the 50 hr. change and have a question on color of used hydraulic oil. Several posts have mentioned that you can't tell if your oil is bad just by the color - maybe so, I have no idea. Question: What makes the oil dark? 50 hr. drained oil in left bottle, new Super UDT in right bottle.
penokee /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[CTyler]

Everytime I have drained out the hydraulic fluid on my L3130HST it has looked new. Coming up on 800hrs now.

 

[odleefs]

Just my initial thoughts on this matter...Contaninants like dirt, oxidation byproducts, dust, airborn particulate matter, like pollen, to name some of the offenders are responsible. Do you wipe off your hydraulic connections before hooking them up or do you wash them off? Did any of your hydraulically driven attachments have old oil in them or did you rent/borrow any? Hope this helps.

 

[ronjhall]

<font color="blue"> What makes the oil dark? </font>
My best guess is someone ran tractor with brake on. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif This will cause to oil to overheat. There was also discussions a few years back of the up setting for the 3PH being set to high. This caused hydraulic pump to run against pressure relief valve. This will also cause overheating. Do you have attachments that would cause hydraulic pump to run constantly against pressure relief valve?

 

[gsxr1100]

As odleefs posted that is what makes it dark. Plus water, metal from wear etc.

Really the color does not tell you anything. Get a oil test done and then see what is up.

 

[SkyPup]

Looks like you've managed to seriously overheat the HST transmission oil and oxidized it in less than 50 hours of operation.

Hydraulic oil degradation is almost directly proportional to operational temperatures, although water contamination will increase the rate of degradation more rapidly.

The SuperUDT from my three Kubota's is allot better than that @ 400 hrs.

Did you overheat your L-3130 HST?

 

[Pks]

You can't go by the color alone especially if you don't know what color the oil was when it went into the tractor. Consider the left bottle, do you know exactly what color the oil was when the oil was new? Do you know exactly what type of oil it is? Other than a looking for bits of metal and such, knowing the color of the oil before it was used is highly useful.

As for an analysis, that would be a good idea. If you're interested, you can do some analysis yourself: does it smell burned; what is the color difference between the oil when new and the oil now; view a drop under a microscope and look for bits of metal and dark porous flakes of brake or clutch material, look for bits of rubber and nylon from seals.

If you don't have a microscope a 10x magnifying glass will work. One of your gradeschool kids could do the visual using a microscope in biology class.

 

[FL_Cracker]

Looks like either a heat issue or using a attachment with another type of oil in it. Someone brought water, but you can rule out water. Water would turn the oil milkey. It would not have clear look of any color.

Charles

 

[KennyV]

Hi…
I have no idea why your oil is so dark… all the replies are good guesses, I am not going to add another, I just wanted to say thanks for posting a picture of the ‘trick’ screw on oil funnel… I have not seen one of those in many many decades. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif KennyV.

PS. Like gsxr1100 said… “Get a oil test done and then see what is up.” If you do, post back with results.

 

[penokee]

I worked it pretty hard w/FEL on some hot days - 5-6 hrs. at a time, bur gage never showed overheating. Did operate once with the brakes on /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif.
penokee