Milky hydraulic fliud.

[rasorbackq]

Last week did my maintenance by replacing the engine oil and hydraulic fluids in my HST Branson tractor . Noticed today the site glass showed milky foamy color fluid. Some how it has gotten contaminated. . Couple questions .
Does milky color only mean water has gotten in? or can a mixing of 2 oils type fluids cause this?

So since Ive been using the tractor front bucket I have to assume the milky fluids also in the hydraulic lines . I know the fluid needs to be changed again but how does one do this to remove all the milky oil from the systems. It holds 10 gallons at a cost of $200 to replace. Trying not to drain and refill with the rear end of tractor again with filters also only to have it milky in a day after the buckets used again.

 

[Hay Dude]

Last week did my maintenance by replacing the engine oil and hydraulic fluids in my HST Branson tractor . Noticed today the site glass showed milky foamy color fluid. Some how it has gotten contaminated. . Couple questions .
Does milky color only mean water has gotten in? or can a mixing of 2 oils type fluids cause this?

So since Ive been using the tractor front bucket I have to assume the milky fluids also in the hydraulic lines . I know the fluid needs to be changed again but how does one do this to remove all the milky oil from the systems. It holds 10 gallons at a cost of $200 to replace. Trying not to drain and refill with the rear end of tractor again with filters also only to have it milky in a day after the buckets used again.

A friend of mine just bought a flooded tractor (we had an epic flood here in September).
It had milky hydraulic fluids. What he did was collect used hydraulic oil from a couple local farmers (me one of them), drained the milky hydraulic fluid and filled with used hydraulic fluid 3 times until none of the used fluid had a milky appearance. On the 3rd draining, he refilled with new hydraulic fluid and filters.
You could go to dealers in your area and give them empty oil jugs. Ask them to save discarded hydraulic fluid in them and do same thing.

 

[sea2summit]

I’ve never heard of mixing oils causing milky fluid.

I have a change worth of fluid I haven’t taken to disposal yet…guess Hay Dude just gave me a good reason to hang onto it, never thought of that.

 

[woody]

need to figure how it got milky is it water contamination or is it sucking air some where? My B26 was sucking so much air it was foaming out the vent and looked milky. Is the level higher than when you last checked it. Was the oil you drained out milky looking?

 

[Fxfymn413]

Last week did my maintenance by replacing the engine oil and hydraulic fluids in my HST Branson tractor . Noticed today the site glass showed milky foamy color fluid.

I assume there was no water in the oil you drained out so my bet is you have air in the system since you just changed the fluid. Let it sit and then check it. And if it is water letting it sit will allow the water to separate from the oil so when you open the drain you will get water before you get oil which will allow you to diagnose how much water is getting into the system.

The likelihood of water appearing immediately after an oil change seems pretty slim when there was no sign of prior contamination.

 

[BeezFun]

take a teaspoon of the old fluid and heat it with a torch. If it pops and sizzles like bacon frying that's water. If not, it was probably air.

 

[5030]

need to figure how it got milky is it water contamination or is it sucking air some where? My B26 was sucking so much air it was foaming out the vent and looked milky. Is the level higher than when you last checked it. Was the oil you drained out milky looking?

You wash it? How it gets in milky = water, always. Foaming is usually2 not compatible fluids. Ever bother draining the bellhousing? If not you should.

 

[rasorbackq]

need to figure how it got milky is it water contamination or is it sucking air some where? My B26 was sucking so much air it was foaming out the vent and looked milky. Is the level higher than when you last checked it. Was the oil you drained out milky looking?

The oil I changed was not milky at all.
Golden dark but was at the 300 hrs schedule. I dont remember replacing the plug on the oil filler. Have to go look.

 

[rasorbackq]

Filler plug was installed . I also checked the vent plug for filling . It too was there and tight. When I did the machinate I over tightened one of the filters and gasket did not sit right. Causing the real big mess on the floor.
I put a drip pan under it that was not clean to catch the fluid that was running out . By morning it was stopped I could see the issue with the gasket . Replaced the filter again.
Filled with what I had left then used the drip pan which was about 2 gallons in it.
I poured it in until the dirt from the pan started to show then I stopped.
There was no water in the drip tray before I used it.
So all I did was drained from 2 spots under neath . Removed 2 filters and opened the fill vent and removed the fill cap . Either filter is leaking .
Did not wash the tractor.
In barn every night.

 

[rasorbackq]

The likelihood of water appearing immediately after an oil change seems pretty slim when there was no sign of prior contamination.

I agree