Oil & Fuel difficulty reading sight gauge

PatS · Jul 10, 2011

I got a CK20 S recently. I love it, but I'm having trouble reading the sight gauge for the trans/hyd oil. I changed the fluid, replacing the filter. I got 5 gallons out and put at least 6 back in (manual says 5.7 gal capacity) . But I can't tell if I have enough or too much. Not sure I'm looking at oil in window or nothing. I tried using the BH stabilizers to tilt the tractor so I could possibly see a difference in the gauge but that didn't help. The hydraulics are working. Any advice, other ways to check? Yhanks

VictorW · Jul 10, 2011

Does your ck20 have a dip stick for the hydro oil? My Ck30hst has one at the rear of the tractor and it's the only way for me to know the fluid level.

Gil Case · Jul 11, 2011

Ck 20S has a dip stick below the seat. Little stubby one and it is hard to read, but it is there.

2LateIWon · Jul 11, 2011

I had the same problem with my Challenger MT275. It called for almost 9 gallons I put close to 12gallons in thinking I was being really careful on reading and pouring the fluid. (It has a FEL and I thought it needed more fluid for that but thought 3 gallons was way to much.)Someone sugested adding a little bit of Auto tranny fluid as it is red and would tint the fluid. (I just over filled mine and drained it by unscrewing my filter a little bit. I had my wife look at the sight glass and once she saw the fluid dropped she told me and I tightened the filter)
Good luck

PatS · Jul 11, 2011

Thanks for the replies. I'll look for the dipstick and tinting the fluid sounds like a good idea, if the ATF won;t harm anything

2LateIWon · Jul 11, 2011

See I didn't know if the ATF would do anything or not. I also wouldn't want it to stain the glass window either (which I don't know if it would or not)

PatS · Jul 11, 2011

I have a CK20 gear tractor. I don't think it has a dipstick for the trans/hyd fluid

IslandTractor · Jul 13, 2011

Someone once posted that Caterpillar sells a dye that is compatible with HST fluid. I've never managed to find it on line but it really is a good idea. I could never read the HST oil level on either my CK20 or DK40se accurately. PITA.

I can find all sorts of UV fluorescent dyes but still haven't found a simple red or other color oil dye that would simply make reading the dipstick easy.

PoorMansCat · Jul 14, 2011

IslandTractor said:
Someone once posted that Caterpillar sells a dye that is compatible with HST fluid. I've never managed to find it on line but it really is a good idea. I could never read the HST oil level on either my CK20 or DK40se accurately. PITA.

I can find all sorts of UV fluorescent dyes but still haven't found a simple red or other color oil dye that would simply make reading the dipstick easy.

yes they do... its actually a red dye that can be added to any type of oil... if I was at work, i could get you the p/n.... any good Cat dealership can find it for ya... it wont take much.... I mean very little, the stuff is concentrated.

IslandTractor · Jul 14, 2011

PoorMansCat said:
yes they do... its actually a red dye that can be added to any type of oil... if I was at work, i could get you the p/n.... any good Cat dealership can find it for ya... it wont take much.... I mean very little, the stuff is concentrated.

Thanks. I'll make a few calls tomorrow.