M126GX WATER IN HYDRAULIC FLUID

[sheepdogwb]

I recently purchased a 2015 M126GXDTC from a dealer. After about 3-6hrs of operation, I noticed that the hydraulic pump was getting louder and steering was becoming difficult. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the hydraulic fluid looked milky. I changed the fluid and filter and it has gotten better. I will change again after a few hours of operation. My question is: How did the water get in the fluid? Has anybody else had this problem? Was it from the dealer pressure washing the tractor? I keep the tractor in a shed out of weather. Thanks for any comments. This is my first post and I am a new to this forum.

 

[JerryMT]

Most water gets into the hydraulic oil via condensation. It's a common problem. Water can get into the gear box and HST oil from the same source. Periods of long non-use exacerbates this. When you work the tractor and the oil heats up, water will evaporate. Certainly some water can get in via pressure washing but most often it just ordinary condensation.

 

[sheepdogwb]

Thank you JerryMT for the reply. My fluid should not look "milky" correct? Should I keep changing it until it clears up? Thanks again.

 

[DustyRusty]

Once water gets into the fluid, it is almost impossible to get it out 100%, since draining only gets most of the water-contaminated oil out, but some will be left in the machine. Keep changing it until working the unit hard will heat the balance of the oil so that the water will leave the oil as a vapor. It is going to take a few changes of oil and filters until you get ahead of this issue.
If you have some glass you can put the milky oil into them and eventually the water will settle to the bottom and the oil on top will be good to use. Experiment with a quart jar to see how much water is in a quart of oil mixed with the water. It should take about 3 days to get the water to totally separate from the oil unless it has become so homogenized that it will never separate.

 

[sheepdogwb]

Thanks for the advice. I will do just that.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

How do you know it's water?
It would take many years of condensation to make that happen!
This is a BIG hydraulic system.
Foaming (air entraining) is more commonly caused by air than it is water.
I think your barking up the wrong tree, I'll bet your issue is air getting sucked into the system.
You need to look air wet spots on the suction side of the system.
Look at all these connections.

 

[woodman55]

Draining some oil into a clear container and letting it set for a few days, will tell you whether it is water or air.

 

[JerryMT]

Thank you JerryMT for the reply. My fluid should not look "milky" correct? Should I keep changing it until it clears up? Thanks again.

That's correct it should not get milky looking. I had an old Ferguson TO-30 that would invariably show some water in the transhydraulic fluid if I let it sit too long (I didn't do it often). I would use it for about an hour hauling an irrigation pipe trailer and there was no sign of water in the oil afterward. It doesn't take much water to look milky.

 

[sheepdogwb]

How do you know it's water?
It would take many years of condensation to make that happen!
This is a BIG hydraulic system.
Foaming (air entraining) is more commonly caused by air than it is water.
I think your barking up the wrong tree, I'll bet your issue is air getting sucked into the system.
You need to look air wet spots on the suction side of the system.
Look at all these connections.
View attachment 94835

I'm going to check for "oil / water" separation as suggested. I will also check the tightness and integrity of these connections. If there is no visible problem (something loose, visible fracture, oil residue) with these connections, is there another way to check them?

This tractor is used for hay (harvesting and feeding) and for pasture mowing / trimming. I am feeding hay with it at this time using both the front end loader and rear lift w/ hay spear.

Thanks again for all the help.