Where is my hydraulic fluid going??

[Yogi05]

2024 TYM T25 with about 15 hrs.
I bought it new last October(ish).
It came with the front grapple installed and I used it a bit last fall.
Then the snow came and I went to the bucket which hadn't been installed until then.
At some point I learned how to check the TDH fluid level through the site glass at the rear,
and there was no fluid showing.
I bought some and figured out how to fill it (unbolt seat and tilt forward etc. What a crappy
design).
Had to add almost 5 litres before it just rose about the 1/2 way mark in the glass. Which is
where it should be with attachments etc. curled to the minimum piston travel.

I was surprised at that, but wrote it off to poor dealer prep, and double checking level after
installing the front remote system at purchase.

I cleared my driveway a few times over the winter with FEL and this past weekend put the
grapple back on. I checked the TDH and there was nothing in the site glass. I lost a little bit
fighting to connect the lines for the grapple, but nowhere near enough to go off the glass.

I bought another 5 litres and poured it in little by little. After the WHOLE container it still
is not showing on the glass.

There are no visible leaks under the machine, but I have not crawled under, or laid down to look inch by inch.
You would think a leak that allowed enough fluid out that it took 5L to refill would show as quite a puddle.

So where is my fluid going? The system, dry, according to the manual takes 17 litres. I am after adding 10 now.
I will call the dealer this week, but in the meantime......... I'm worried. If it needs to go for warranty work I'll
need to borrow/rent a trailer, take a day off work for drop off then pickup, and take a ferry to the dealer.

BTW, once I topped up the fluid last fall when putting the bucket back on, I never looked at it again. Not until
I lost a bit of fluid putting the grapple back on.

So, is it possible they didn't check ANY fluid levels at pre-delivery and now it has swallowed it to fill everything else?

Is the fluid so clear that I over filled it and am just not seeing a level in the site glass?

When I added the last time (two days ago) I thought that might be the case so I worked it an hour or so to see if
it would show once mixed with original fluid. No difference after.

I could drain and refill the whole system to ensure the proper level, but 17 litres at around $45/ 5 L is getting pricey
if not totally necessary.

Any thoughts?

 

[jack32008]

Get yourself some JD Hydraulic Fluid Dye (Amazon.com). It's RED in color and makes it MUCH easier to see how much hydraulic fluid you have in the clear sight glass.

If you are 'fighting' to get your hydraulic lines on/off the tractor and/or attachments, once the engine is off, move your FEL joystick up, down, left and right to release the pressure in the system. If it's a 3-PT hydraulic attachment, drop the 3-PT and that will relieve the pressure on those lines. Should help you getting those lines connected or disconnected MUCH easier.

 

[Roadworthy]

Check the oil level in your engine's crankcase. You may find your missing hydraulic fluid. Sometimes a seal in the engine driven hydraulic pump fails dumping hydraulic fluid into the crankcase.

 

[Yogi05]

Get yourself some JD Hydraulic Fluid Dye (Amazon.com). It's RED in color and makes it MUCH easier to see how much hydraulic fluid you have in the clear sight glass.

If you are 'fighting' to get your hydraulic lines on/off the tractor and/or attachments, once the engine is off, move your FEL joystick up, down, left and right to release the pressure in the system. If it's a 3-PT hydraulic attachment, drop the 3-PT and that will relieve the pressure on those lines. Should help you getting those lines connected or disconnected MUCH easier.

Did all of this except the color stuff. Thought of it, but didn't think food coloring was a good idea

 

[Yogi05]

Check the oil level in your engine's crankcase. You may find your missing hydraulic fluid. Sometimes a seal in the engine driven hydraulic pump fails dumping hydraulic fluid into the crankcase.

Did this. Relieved to see engine oil at the correct level.

 

[Yogi05]

Thanks for the replies.
Called the dealer today and talked to the tech.
He's mystified too because losing that much fluid (if I am) would make a HUGE mess somewhere.
I came to the same conclusion.
Given what it would cost me in lost time from work etc. I think my next move is to pick up a new tarp for underneath
to see if there's leaks. Then on the weekend, drain and refill the fluid.
I'll watch for some colored stuff. It'll definitely make it easier to be sure.

 

[ptsg]

Thanks for the replies.
Called the dealer today and talked to the tech.
He's mystified too because losing that much fluid (if I am) would make a HUGE mess somewhere.
I came to the same conclusion.
Given what it would cost me in lost time from work etc. I think my next move is to pick up a new tarp for underneath
to see if there's leaks. Then on the weekend, drain and refill the fluid.
I'll watch for some colored stuff. It'll definitely make it easier to be sure.

I was going to suggest this next. Put some cardboard or something under the tractor that is easy to see leaks. It has be to going somewhere.

 

[jack32008]

Did all of this except the color stuff. Thought of it, but didn't think food coloring was a good idea

I figured if JD-MT3668 equipment oil dye was good enough for the GREEN, ORANGE, and BLUE 'tractor guys'... it was good enough for a RED Tractor guy! For around $15 USD, I can now see my hydraulic fluid/oil level without wondering if I over-filled, or it's under-filled. (BONUS: It helps finding leaks too!)

 

[KennyG]

The other great thing about the dye is that you only need to put it in every 3 or 4 fluid changes because enough stays in to keep tinting the oil. It's amazing how little it takes to make the fluid visible.

 

[jack32008]