Oil & Fuel Tranny oil filter 'exploded' at startup! HELP?

[duck_man]

It's very cold out today, -23 Celcius. After finally getting my Case DX25E started, right away the Hydro oil started pouring out from around the filter. LOTS of it. All over my beautiful new garage floor.

Could it be that the filter and the oil were frozen ? Condensation inside the filter somehow? Is there a way to heat this up - like the equivalent of an engine block heater or something? The HST, hydro systems etc all share a common sump.

This is a real pain because the tractor is parked in the garage right next to the wall with difficult access to the filter. I suppose I'll have to wait until it warms up and get a new filter and some fresh Hy-Tran in there. What a bummer I wanted to go play in the snow! In the meantime I have to go down to Wallymart and get some kitty litter.

Has this ever happened to anyone else here and if so what have you done to fix it and make sure it doesn't happen again?

Should I get one of those big diesel 'tiger torch' heaters and heat the garage up for an hour or so before I try to get the tractor going? It's not insulated yet.

 

[Dusty]

Must have had water that collected in the filter and froze. Better the filter than the hydro. Take the filter off and drain 'n refill your hydro with fresh oil. You might say that you are lucky to have such little damage. I have seen water crack cast iron transmission cases when it freezes.
Dusty

 

[escavader]

Sorry for your problem.
Was it the proper oil,and proper hydraulic filter?It sure does sound like the oil wouldnt strain through it.When was your last filter change?
alan

 

[RalphVa]

You might want to check into getting one of those magnetic heaters for your transmission. Do a Google search. You'll find lots of them for sale.

Ralph

 

[Doc_Bob]

I agree with dusty, new Hytran and filter.
Bob

 

[RonR]

While I don't discount that water could be the cause, I would more likely suspect increased pressure from the cold oil caused the filter to fail, or just leak at the seal.

New oil is cheap insurance, either way, and a new filter.

I try to keep the rpm's low on a cold startup, to keep the pressure down on the hydro.

Ron

 

[Doc_Bob]

It's very cold out today, -23 Celcius. After finally getting my Case DX25E started, right away the Hydro oil started pouring out from around the filter. LOTS of it. All over my beautiful new garage floor.

Some of the New Holland TC owners (40/45) talk about a winter hydro filter to avoid bursting on startup.

See what your dealer says about a winter filter.
Bob

 

[john_bud]

I have had the same issue with a kubota HST. Kubota went thru at least 3 revs of the filter to get one that is stout enough for winter use. Wisconsin sees some -20 to -30F weather.

Your tractor is probably similar to the K; Oil from the pre-charge pump gets filtered then on to the HST pump. It is in the 200-400 psi range when it is filtered. In the winter, the gasket on the filter shrinks and the oil thickens up. That jacks up the pressure, the shrunken gasket fails and you get a big puddle under the tractor. (I have had three!)


There are 3 things to do, be sure the filter is tight, change to a multi-viscosity oil like SUDT or a lower viscosity oil as recommended by the dealer and warm the tractor up for a minute for every degree below 0 C --> WITH the clutch dogged down. Then for 3-5 minutes with the clutch up. If it's above 0C, but still "cold", I just give it a couple minutes then go slow.

The HST pre-charge and main pump is not engaged with the clutch down. The regular hydraulic pump that powers the loader and 3pt is still working and will slowly warm the fluid. It would be nice to not have to do this, but....

jb

 

[Dusty]

Thanks John Bud.. what you describe makes sense to me after your explanation. My original thought was moisture being collected in the filter and freezing. Since others have also experienced this your theory must be correct. This old dog, just learned another new trick.

 

[ovrszd]

I have had the same issue with a kubota HST. Kubota went thru at least 3 revs of the filter to get one that is stout enough for winter use. Wisconsin sees some -20 to -30F weather.

Your tractor is probably similar to the K; Oil from the pre-charge pump gets filtered then on to the HST pump. It is in the 200-400 psi range when it is filtered. In the winter, the gasket on the filter shrinks and the oil thickens up. That jacks up the pressure, the shrunken gasket fails and you get a big puddle under the tractor. (I have had three!)


There are 3 things to do, be sure the filter is tight, change to a multi-viscosity oil like SUDT or a lower viscosity oil as recommended by the dealer and warm the tractor up for a minute for every degree below 0 C --> WITH the clutch dogged down. Then for 3-5 minutes with the clutch up. If it's above 0C, but still "cold", I just give it a couple minutes then go slow.

The HST pre-charge and main pump is not engaged with the clutch down. The regular hydraulic pump that powers the loader and 3pt is still working and will slowly warm the fluid. It would be nice to not have to do this, but....

jb

Yep, you are right on the mark. I run a JD roadgrader and although it has never puked around the filter, it will trip the hydraulic warning light telling you the oil flow is dangerously slow when first cranked on a real cold night and that's with an engine heater that warms it enough to crank like you just turned it off. But that heater does nothing to warm the hydraulics. in your case if you can depress the clutch and hold it for a minute, then slowly engage the clutch the surge will be limited and not blow off your filter. Lastly, go to O'Reilly's or Checkers or NAPA or whatever chain of auto parts store is familiar to you and buy a big bag of floor dry. You can buy a 50 pound bag for what you are going to pay for a 5 pound bag of kitty litter.