Rental Equipment Hydraulic Fluid & New Bobcat Warranty

[spindlewood]

I just purchased a Bobcat MT120. The owner of the Bobcat shop warned me that if there were any warranty issues related to hydraulics, Bobcat would take a sample of the fluid and that using any rental equipment would have the possibility of voiding warranty since attachment fluids mix.

Has this ever been an issue for anyone and does this match industry standard expectations? It took me by surprise. I'm about to rent a trencher and it sounds like I need to talk to (and trust) the service manager of every rental company before renting equipment.

Plus, how can a rental company guarantee what fluid is in their equipment lines? Whatever the last rental customer used in their machine will be what is mixed in the lines of each implement.

 

[spindlewood]

I've found a prior thread with this as the topic and it seems there are mixed opinions on the wisdom of using rental equipment.

I suppose I can flush my system when done using equipment, but I don't see that happening.

I've read others flush out the equipment first, but I dont have the knowledge (or tools?) to know how to do this.

This seems like talking about safe *** or getting fluids in a hospital. Definitely unnerving after purchasing new equipment.

 

[Gregster613]

I've found a prior thread with this as the topic and it seems there are mixed opinions on the wisdom of using rental equipment.

I suppose I can flush my system when done using equipment, but I don't see that happening.

I've read others flush out the equipment first, but I dont have the knowledge (or tools?) to know how to do this.

This seems like talking about safe *** or getting fluids in a hospital. Definitely unnerving after purchasing new equipment.

I haven't rented any hydraulic equipment but your question sure is worthy of discussion. Especially the last sentence - if one goes to the hospital and gets blood or any other fluid needed to sustain their life - are they warrantied? I think not, at least until or unless one sues.
I think you have a valid concern however it's going to be the Bobcat manufacturer that has the final say. Interesting topic.

 

[redman135]

Contaminated oil can be a problem. eg farmer A borrowed a tip trailer from farmer B. Farmer B had old school tractor and diff/gearbox oil was contaminated which went into the trailer.
The oil from the trailer mixed with oil in Farmer A's tractor.
Problem: Farmer A's tractor was late model JD and the brake linings delaminated and went through the diff /gearbox.
Shop time to just clean the crap out and I don't know what the repairs were apart from new brakes. Also I don't know who paid or how much for cleaning/repair either. This was pre covid, before prices went nuts.
I have got a used hydraulic back blade that I will be testing the oil on before it goes on my tractor.
Good luck.

 

[WranglerX]

I not even sure my dealer uses proper fluids (brand) when I had hydraulics done...... Seems dealer services many different brands and sizes of machines and he buys hydraulic fluid by the 55 gallon drums and pumps it into anything services.....

Think it would be a pretty scientific and expensive way to try to rook customer out of warranty work when warranties are usually corporate and not dealer issued....