Beware of the shop-vac trick when changing hydraulic filters...

[k0ua]

That deck fitting has a tube that goes to the bottom of the waste tank into the fluid. As long as the vacuum hose doesn't reach the liquid it only pulls a vacuum on the tank. Only oil that will go into the vacuum tank is maybe some mist droplets caused by the agitation.

That was my experience with the "shop vac trick" method. No actual fluid stream comes into the shop vac but the bubbles breaking the surface makes for tiny droplets that are sucked up into the shop vac filter. It isn't much but I still had some shop vac filter contamination.. If the "shop vac trick" methods works for you, than that is cool. I just preferred to use the "stop up the vent" method. It works for me, and the loss of fluid from changing a filter is very small and predictable. It works for me, and I don't have to mess with getting the shop vac out and the duct tape or requiring an assistant.

 

[k0ua]

I used this method once to change a leaking fitting on the bottom of a diesel fuel tank. The tank was about 3/4 full and I only lost a few drops. It worked awesome!

Absolutly do NOT try this on a gasoline tank as chances are very good that the electric motor will ignite the gasoline. If you insist on trying it have lots of insurance including on yourself.

KA-BOOM !

 

[CH4Ohio]

That deck fitting has a tube that goes to the bottom of the waste tank into the fluid. As long as the vacuum hose doesn't reach the liquid it only pulls a vacuum on the tank. Only oil that will go into the vacuum tank is maybe some mist droplets caused by the agitation.

That makes sense!! Thanks.

 

[TractorTYMe]

That blows

 

[Midniteoyl]

I used this method once to change a leaking fitting on the bottom of a diesel fuel tank. The tank was about 3/4 full and I only lost a few drops. It worked awesome!

Absolutly do NOT try this on a gasoline tank as chances are very good that the electric motor will ignite the gasoline. If you insist on trying it have lots of insurance including on yourself.

You can make a pretty cool flame thrower using a brushed motor and WD40

 

[IndyJay]

I used this method once to change a leaking fitting on the bottom of a diesel fuel tank. The tank was about 3/4 full and I only lost a few drops. It worked awesome!

Absolutly do NOT try this on a gasoline tank as chances are very good that the electric motor will ignite the gasoline. If you insist on trying it ...have lots of insurance including on yourself.

...have someone with a video camera with instructions to post it here.

 

[dodge man]

Thanks for the tip, now I know why my shop vac acts like a leaf blower.

 

[jmc]

I wonder how much dust the exhaust from a dirty shop vac contains, and if it's now in the hydraulic tank?

 

[old and tired]

I wonder how much dust the exhaust from a dirty shop vac contains, and if it's now in the hydraulic tank?

I know... it's before the filter so (as far as I'm concerned) it's all good... I trust the filter will do it's job.

 

[IndyJay]

I know... it's before the filter so (as far as I'm concerned) it's all good... I trust the filter will do it's job.

Plus the vac was blowing filtered air, it's not like the blower was reversed.