The importance of knowing how much you have drained out

[beowulf]

L3410 HST. After draining the transmission oil (from four plugs), I changed the two filters, and checked the manual re the quantity of oil needed to fill it -the manual advised it took 10.3 gallons of oil. So I started adding oil from several 2.5 gallon containers. I thought I would check the sight glass at about 8-9 gallons to see if it was close to being filled. I saw no line in the sight glass - so I kept adding. . .finally I was over 10 gallons and then over 11. Still no line in the sight glass. I stopped adding oil and figured I had missed seeing the sight glass line at some earlier point in the fill. So, then I took a look at the volume of oil I had drained - from the transmission and the crankcase - it seemed to be about 8 gallons total - a rough estimate. To me, that then meant that I had overfilled the transmission oil and had just missed the sight glass line - I simply filled past it.

So, apparently, only about 8 gallons had drained from the four plugs and thus I only needed to fill 8 gallons more instead of the 10.3 I assumed I would need to put in.

I then had to drain (and waste) 2-4 gallons of the oil I had just put in. I did that and saw that the sight glass line was now mid way.

The lesson - if I had kept track of how much I had drained I would have known - roughly - how much I needed to add - and at what point I needed to pay attention to the sight glass. OR, if I had paid attention to the sight glass throughout the fill instead of waiting until I thought I was near to a full fill point I would not have wasted oil.

(Note: I thought I had completely drained all the transmission oil that would come out from the four plugs - but that was only - I estimate- about 8 gallons. I am not sure if that is a normal drain amount- i.e., that a couple of gallons will remain after draining.)

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Doh! At least you caught it.
What do you think would happen if you started is 20% over full? Just messy or damaging?

 

[beowulf]

Luke, I don't know what would have happened - but figured it was not a good idea to try if I had overfilled. Sure hated to drain all that new oil out, but sometimes there needs to be a cost to a lesson. . . better remembered that way. I know now to keep my eye on the fill line all the time I am filling, and not to assume I can put the 10.3 gallons in - which is its capacity - when I fill.

 

[MF283]

Good point here that we take for granted, i always fill some, do something else for a few minutes & check levels on the dipstick.
I used to use a Bota on a farm i worked on part time, that sight glass always bugged the fire out of me, there one minute, gone the next, so it seemed.

Ronnie

 

[oosik]

Its my opinion that the amount of oil needed for an engine oil change or hydraulic oil change is calculated from engineering drawings when the tractor is designed.

I don't see how it could be from actual experience. When I did my first hydraulic oil change on the M6040 - the owners manual said- 59.2 quarts(almost 15 gallons) when also changing the two filters. In fact it took 16.5 gallons. The engine oil took 14 quarts instead of the spec sheet - 11.5 quarts.

This was an eye opener for me. I always fill to the mark - let things sit/or run the engine - check again and again fill to the mark quite carefully.

 

[Fallon]

I added some John Deere red hydraulic dye to my crystal clear super UDT2 in my Kubota. Hate that dam sight glass. Could never tell if it was over or under the whole glass. Heck you could barely see a line with the crystal clear fluid when it was mid glass. The JD dye made it nice & pink now so I can see it now.

 

[DEWFPO]

That new oil you drained out is still as good as ever so I hope you didn't dump it. Yes, new oil is sometimes almost impossible to see thru a sight glass.

DEWFPO

 

[beowulf]

Dewfpo, Yeah, I had to put it aside to take to an oil recycling center. It was certainly clean and clear, but I made the mistake of draining it into an oil collection pan that had other oil that was a bit dirty - so once it was mixed it was too late. Anyway, the more painful the memory the better the lesson is learned. I see another poster mentioned putting dye in the hydraulic oil - that makes sense as it is really difficult to see the oil line.

 

[Paul Thornton]

Been there, done that. I did manage to save the fluid though.

 

[Adam1742]

Good point here that we take for granted, i always fill some, do something else for a few minutes & check levels on the dipstick.
I used to use a Bota on a farm i worked on part time, that sight glass always bugged the fire out of me, there one minute, gone the next, so it seemed.

Ronnie

Ronnie, I understand your frustration. My Massey has done that since day 1. Oil in the sight glass 1 minute, gone the next, then magically re-appears. Where the heck does it go? Haha