Oil & Fuel Mahindra 2538 HST Transmission Oil Issues?? overfill?

[mahindra2538hst]

Hey everyone,

I have a Mahindra 2538 HST with the glass transmission oil level indicator.. you know the model without a f&%king actual dipstick....

When I start the tractor after it sits for a bit, it makes a sound like its taking a moment to fill the hydraulic lines. It made me check the glass indicator and i couldnt see the bubble. Im at 230 hours or so and i changed fluid at 50hrs. Im like 100% sure i that i got the bubble right in the middle when i did that change.

I check the level and i dont see a bubble, i also notice some oil residue with a dry dirt around the fill cap. my instinct is that someone fluid came out when i was moving dirt up our fairly steep ramp we're working on.

Thinking i lost trans oil, seeing oil around the cap, and not seeing the bubble... i figured i would add a little bit of oil. i stopped at 5 gallons...... no bubble. Was my thinking off?

im guessing i messed up somewhere. i looked through the fill cap and im starting to see fluid about 4-5 inches down inside there.... did i f-up and over fill like crazy? am i supposed to start seeing fluid near the top of the fill cap?

If i messed up, can i siphon the oil out of there or is it easier just to drain ~13.5 gallons (5gal +3.5 gal +another 5 gal)...?

Any advice will be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[seville009]

Few thoughts - being low 5 gallons is a lot. I’d think you would have had noticeable issues when driving or using a loader or implements. When checking the fluid level, make sure all rams/cylinders are fully retracted.

I just had a loader hose blow apart of me and spew fluid all over; don’t think I had to put more than a quart in to get the bubble back up on my MF1540.

 

[Roadworthy]

Check your engine oil. When my Mitsubishi was losing transmission fluid it ended up in the crankcase courtesy of a leaky shaft seal on the hydraulic pump. I believe some Mahindra engines are built by Mitsubishi.

 

[mwayne]

Is it possible that the hydraulic oil level was over the sight glass to begin with? In the future you may want to consider using a dye in the fluid to make it easier to see or use an approved fluid like Chevron 1000 THF which is red.

 

[mahindra2538hst]

it could have been. i used a flashlight to try and help me see it, and it looked empty. im gonna siphon it out today or maybe just drain the entire transmission and start over. do you know if anyone makes a aftermarket dipstick for the 2538 hst?

 

[mahindra2538hst]

thanks, im gonna check the engine today.

 

[davek78063]

thanks, im gonna check the engine today.

I have the 2538 and i had to have my wife specifically look at the glass. There seems to be a fine line between the level being below the glass and above the glass. It is a real PITA. Probably the worst thing on the tractor. You said you added 5 gals, I would remove/drain 7 or so and then gradually fill having someone look at the glass as you slowly fill as it is hard to watch what your doing so you don't make a big mess filling it and watching the window. Did I mention this was a PITA. Are you listening Mahindra???

 

[mahindra2538hst]

I have the 2538 and i had to have my wife specifically look at the glass. There seems to be a fine line between the level being below the glass and above the glass. It is a real PITA. Probably the worst thing on the tractor. You said you added 5 gals, I would remove/drain 7 or so and then gradually fill having someone look at the glass as you slowly fill as it is hard to watch what your doing so you don't make a big mess filling it and watching the window. Did I mention this was a PITA. Are you listening Mahindra???

yea... exactly what i did. such as pain. i ended up draining 10 gal and refilling to what i needed. ended up it was over filled... ordering dye today :thumbsdown:

 

[duffer]

I experienced the same frustration on the viewing glass. My level was over the glass when it was delivered. When I changed the fluids I made a home made dip stick for the rear assembly. Now I just unscrew the fill cap, check the level with the dip stick and go on my way.

If you don't have a 12v pump to fill the reservoir, you should get one. I bought a cheap diesel fuel pump on ebay for $15, and figured I'd try to fill the 8 gal hydraulic with it, rather than muscle-ing a 5 gal bucket over a small funnel and spill a ton of it. If I burned up the pump, so be it. But it worked great. And still pumped diesel fuel afterward.

 

[mahindra2538hst]

I experienced the same frustration on the viewing glass. My level was over the glass when it was delivered. When I changed the fluids I made a home made dip stick for the rear assembly. Now I just unscrew the fill cap, check the level with the dip stick and go on my way.

If you don't have a 12v pump to fill the reservoir, you should get one. I bought a cheap diesel fuel pump on ebay for $15, and figured I'd try to fill the 8 gal hydraulic with it, rather than muscle-ing a 5 gal bucket over a small funnel and spill a ton of it. If I burned up the pump, so be it. But it worked great. And still pumped diesel fuel afterward.

do you think you can take a picture of the homemade dipstick you made? im interested in seeing what you came up with. id like to make one as well.

i bought a manual pump that sits on top of the 5gal bucket. it has a hose and a hook end that sits perfectly in the fill hole. i can get an entire 5 gal pretty quickly. it also allows to be more accurate.