Diesel fuel was used to top-off hydraulic reservoir on Skid Loader

epistememe · May 18, 2017

I am looking at a 2007 Case 450 Skid Loader that the current owner had one of his hands top off the fuel tank but instead put diesel into the hydraulic tank, ugh. They ran the unit for a few hours but then it began to have "issues" and would no longer work properly. They were confused and eventually had a Case mechanic come out and work on it and finally figured out after 3+ hours of working on it that that is what happened. The guy admitted that that is what he did. The current owner says that they will drain and replace the fluid and all of the hydraulic filters and everything should be fine. I am not sure about the purchase now and whether to be concerned about possible damage to the hydraulic system or not. Opinions? rick in Tucson.

Sawyer Rob · May 18, 2017

Get the name of the mechanic who figured it out, and go talk to him!

ALSO, I'd want to have a look INSIDE those filters that come off too! Heck, take them with you to show to the mechanic!

SR

newbury · May 18, 2017

Any idea how much it took to "top off" the hydraulic tank?

Why did it need "topping off"? Is it a leaker?

With about 17 gallons of fluid standard did he pour in a lot?

On my tractors I could probably put in about 20% at most on top of where the hydraulic fluid is supposed to be.

Oldoak · May 18, 2017

epistememe said:
...............They were confused and eventually had a Case mechanic come out and work on it and finally figured out after 3+ hours of working on it that that is what happened.............The current owner says that they will drain and replace the fluid and all of the hydraulic filters and everything should be fine............

After finding out what really happened, I would have thought the Case mechanic would have done that while he was there.

Second thought, perhaps he didn't have new hydraulic fluid or filters with him at the time.

Sawyer Rob said:
Get the name of the mechanic who figured it out, and go talk to him!..................

Exactly. That is the first thing I would do. :thumbsup:

boggen · May 18, 2017

diesel as parts cleaner.... though man. all the gears, and pistons, and cylinder walls. of the various pumps, transmissions, motors.

sounds like one heck of a "internal cleaning" but hmmm... unit suppose to be off for that...

if it was a tractor, ya ok, some expense in rebuilt hydraulic pump and some valves, maybe a hydraulic cylinder but for a skid loader, with 2 to 4 motors for all 4 wheels, plus motor / pump for FEL for it. that is a lot of internal spots that will most likely not completely drain. sounds like another full filter change oil change. in short order, just after initial filter change and oil is replaced.

muddstopper · May 18, 2017

I have seen this happen numerous times. Somebody new on the fuel truck, hyd tank and fuel tanks side by side, it happens. We usually didnt find out what happened until the machine ran out of fuel, which was usually in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, we never had any pump problems or other things go bad. Not saying diesel fuel is good for a hyd system, but nothing immediantly failed because of it.

Looking4new · May 19, 2017

Waayyy back in the 1960's and '70s we used to deliberately put diesel into the hydraulic tanks in the winter, just so the hydraulics would work. But keep in mind that we were working the machines in -20 to -40 F temperatures.
Myself, I think I would drain what oil I could out and refill with the proper hydraulic oil and forget about it.