Smell Hydraulic Fluid??

[Glenn9643]

Occasionally while using the loader I get a whif of hyd fluid. Seems that I smell it most often when backing away from the pile after dumping. I'm on 20 acres 10 miles out in the country so I'm not smelling something from next door. I've not found any evidence of leaks. Anybody have experience with this? Seems to me that if you can smell it it MUST be leaking somewhere but there's no sign around any fittings and it doesn't show any loss on the sight glass. I haven't had to add any fluid so there are no "spills" that I might be smelling. No obvious problem with the hydraulics; everything seems to be working as it should. Anything to worry about?

 

[CTyler]

I have smelled it on mine occasionaly when its hot out and the fluid is hot after working hard. Mine isn't leaking as in drops or anything but one quick connect on the FEL has a bunch of dust stuck all the way around it. I could also be that it is venting as the fluid expands or foams.

 

[Kelvin]

I occasionally smell hydraulic fluid when operating my Kubota, and I have no known leaks either. As mentioned in the other post, I suspect that the smell is coming out of a hydraulic air vent somewhere in the system.

I'm curious to see in anyone posts some better information about this...

Kelvin

 

[chim]

Kelvin, I think you have it. When you use the loader, fluid is being drawn from and returned to the hydraulic reservoir. When the fluid is being sucked out, air enters the tank via a vent. When the fluid returns to the tank, it displaces the air and forces it out through the vent. Probably the reason it is noticeable when backing up is the vent location...............chim

 

[fishman]

I noticed the smell too on my Kubota, but only after my 50 hour service. It's most pronounced when backing up after dumping a pile of dirt, as you say. I have been chalking it up to a slight overfilling of my hydraulic fluid, but don't know for sure. Hope it's not a problem.

 

[slowrev]

With double action cylinders the hydraulic fluid level stays about the same. I do believe it is a normal venting thing though.

 

[Bird]

John, you have a vent under the seat so if you have no leaks, that would be where the odor comes from I think. Maybe that's why you notice it more when backing up; it's rising in front of you then instead of behind you.

 

[DavidJ]

As usual, that Bird has been there and done that, hasn't he /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

When dumping you're moving lots of fluid quickly so you're stiring the fluid in the tank and, as Bird said, the vapors are rising in front of you when reversing.

 

[slowrev]

I think Bird has it. It is the direction of airflow over the vent, and maybe the sloshing of the hydro fluid due to dumping and direction changes.
On an open center hydraulic system you have pretty much constant flow thru the hydraulic system. A bit less flow when you are using the loader than when not.

 

[JerryG]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( John, you have a vent under the seat so if you have no leaks, that would be where the odor comes from I think. Maybe that's why you notice it more when backing up; it's rising in front of you then instead of behind you. )</font>

Glen,
Bird has it. It is coming from the breather under the seat.

 

[Henro]

I had the same question last year after getting my tractor.

I still smell that smell sometimes when using the loader.

No doubt in my mind it is normal...I have learned to expect it and don't worry about it at all. I have 250 hours on my tractor now...in just over a year.

 

[fishman]

Thanks Bird, I'll check that out when I get home. That makes sense at least.

 

[valkman]

Me too! - It seemed to get worse on my Kubota L3130 after my 50 hr service. But I couldn't find any leaks. I just rolled a 100 hr, and learned to live with it. It does seem worse when backing up as well.
I think everyone is right - it has to be the vent.

 

[Glenn9643]

Well, there's comfort in finding out that others have noticed it too. I'm fairly new to the FEL and didn't have any idea if the smell was "normal" or not. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Typhoon]

Thank goodness!! I have been smelling it every now and then too since I got my tractor new! And only when im using the loader. Im glad its normal. I have been a little worried about it at times, but could not for the life of me find any leaks!
-Brad