hydraulic fluid indicator clear, then milky after operating

[SPYDERLK]

I too am pretty sure its air. After parking it overnite raise the loader at low rpm immediately after starting. Does it jerk a little several tmes as it rises? If so its definitely air. Be sure your hyd filter is snug/tight.
larry

 

[studor]

+1 on the air versus water -- water turns hydraulic fluid toffee colour (like coffee with cream) not milky white. As well once water is in the fluid it does not settle out as described --JMHO

 

[Ford tractor]

+1 on the air versus water -- water turns hydraulic fluid toffee colour (like coffee with cream) not milky white. As well once water is in the fluid it does not settle out as described --JMHO

That's true for old fluid. Clean fluid will just turn white with a trace of honey as there is no dark contamination in it yet.

Air in the system will cause wear to accelerate. Google up "cavitation" and learn about the damage it can cause. You may have a clogged return filter or a loose fitting on the line that goes to the pump inlet. That's the suction side.

 

[jasonp]

definately learned a lot from being on here just one day - thanks all!!

so i checked the tractor again after it parked overnight. it was on a slope, and i could still see 'white' but i read that the background to the viewer window is white, so hopefully that explains that. i moved the tractor to a level surface, and white was gone, but no bubble in the viewer as should be (according to manual). i'll try adding some fluid to see if that helps. i had a small drip in one of the lines to the loader, so that also might explain a low fluid level.

the fluid in the viewer doesn't seem as clear as it should be, so i was thinking of draining some fluid to get a closer look.

if i were to replace all the fluid, someone told me i had to not only drain from main tank, but also from the lines. can't find any info on doing that, but i'll take a closer look at the forum to see if i can find any.

thanks again!!

 

[jasonp]

oh, and raising the loader slowly - it doesn't jerk at all...pretty smooth. so sounds like no air in the system anyway.
so it looks like either water or just low fluid.

 

[J_J]

It is a lot of work to totally drain all the fluid. It probably isn't necessary unless you have some component fail and disperse contaminants throughout the system. Fill to the correct level when cold. It will expand some when hot.

Put a tarp over the tractor if left outside to help keep water out of the system.

 

[Ford tractor]

so i checked the tractor again after it parked overnight. it was on a slope, and i could still see 'white' but i read that the background to the viewer window is white, so hopefully that explains that. i moved the tractor to a level surface, and white was gone, but no bubble in the viewer as should be (according to manual). i'll try adding some fluid to see if that helps. i had a small drip in one of the lines to the loader, so that also might explain a low fluid level.

thanks again!!

When it was level, you state the color in the window changed, but you couldn't see the fluid level line (correct??). If so, it sounds like the tractor is over filled with fluid. That could lead to foaming of the fluid. I know it does in automatic transmissions. Typically, if it is over filled, adding more won't help.:laughing: