Water in Tractor Supply oil…

[Blstr88]

10 year old LS J2023H…I change engine oil/filter, fuel filter, air filter and hydraulic/HST filters yearly but have never done the hydraulic fluid. I figured after 10 years (400 hours) it wouldn’t hurt.

Drained it all, replaced both the filters and proceeded to fill back up from a 5-gallon bucket of Traveller hydraulic/trans oil I picked up from TS this morning.

When I started pouring it in I thought it seemed a little light colored/bubbly and thinner viscosity than I expected. Didn’t think too much of it and filled the tractor up.

Well when I was cleaning up a bit I spilled some on my garage floor and when I wiped it up I could tell it seemed off…just wiped up too easy and looked like water was in it. I opened up the lid off the bucket and it definitely looked to be like water/oil. I poured some into a mason jar and let it settle and this is what I found.

The bucket was completely sealed with the ring around the lid as well as the piece you have to peel off the spout. I couldn’t believe it!

Needless to say it’s drained back out of the tractor, 2 new filters are on order and I ordered Amsoil fluid like I should have done from the start. I run amsoil in just about everything…Not sure why I cheaped out on this but I learned my lesson. Anyone else ever see this?

 

[sd455dan]

10 year old LS J2023H…I change engine oil/filter, fuel filter, air filter and hydraulic/HST filters yearly but have never done the hydraulic fluid. I figured after 10 years (400 hours) it wouldn’t hurt.

Drained it all, replaced both the filters and proceeded to fill back up from a 5-gallon bucket of Traveller hydraulic/trans oil I picked up from TS this morning.

When I started pouring it in I thought it seemed a little light colored/bubbly and thinner viscosity than I expected. Didn’t think too much of it and filled the tractor up.

Well when I was cleaning up a bit I spilled some on my garage floor and when I wiped it up I could tell it seemed off…just wiped up too easy and looked like water was in it. I opened up the lid off the bucket and it definitely looked to be like water/oil. I poured some into a mason jar and let it settle and this is what I found.

The bucket was completely sealed with the ring around the lid as well as the piece you have to peel off the spout. I couldn’t believe it!

Needless to say it’s drained back out of the tractor, 2 new filters are on order and I ordered Amsoil fluid like I should have done from the start. I run amsoil in just about everything…Not sure why I cheaped out on this but I learned my lesson. Anyone else ever see this?

No Not water in hydraulic oil, but did have a similar what is up with this oil recently.

Changing oil on FIL's Kubota diesel powered mower. Started pouring in oil from his jug of Delo 15W - 40 and thought wait a minute this looks like dirty used oil. To be sure went to town and bought some more of the same oil and they had a coupon deal for several bucks off so I bought 4 gallons.

Get it home and open it up and sure enough just as dark as the first jug.
Went back to his jug finished the oil and filter change and mower is running great. Just weird how dark this Delo is.

ps. I would demand a refund on that oil.

 

[Hay Dude]

Was the bucket sealed?
I bought a 2.5 gallon of DEF fluid and it was just water. Someone carefully opened it up, poured the DEF in their tank, then refilled with water, glued the little paper seal back down, and returned it.

Never seen water in oil like that. That’s insane.

I would suggest buying any/all tractor oils from an AG tractor dealership.
If that was motor oil, you’d be rebuilding an engine.

 

[Sportsman762]

At the local TSC they store the oil outside sometimes. I have seen several buckets that have had water still sitting on the lid. I wonder if the lid / spout was not sealed and allowed water ingress?

 

[SPM]

I don't doubt what you had happen but I think I would give Tractor Supply a chance at responding and checking their stock of that hydraulic fluid. Have numbers readily available from the container to give them. I can't be the only one that would like to hear their response.

 

[caver]

I've read complaints about this years ago possibly in reviews.

I mentioned to Project Farm he should do a review of the many oils for tractor hydraulic. TSC, Hygaard, HyTran, Delvac etc.

 

[workinonit]

I've had water in sealed 5 gal buckets of oil before. I figured it got in there on my watch so I never made a deal of it.

 

[Blstr88]

I returned it. I took the jar showing the water and the manager guy didnt question me at all, just took the bucket and issued refund. To be honest he almost didnt seem as surprised as I expected him to be.

Yeah it was a sealed up bucket. Couldn’t have been on my watch though, I bought it about 1000am Saturday morning, brought it home and right into my garage. I was pouring it into my tractor by about 1400, it never sat outside while I owned it.

 

[ray66v]

But, but, if it meets the spec's, it just as good.

Tractors, and repairs are costly. I don't think hydraulic transmission oil, is a good place to save money.

 

[wttuckerjr]

Was the bucket sealed?
I bought a 2.5 gallon of DEF fluid and it was just water. Someone carefully opened it up, poured the DEF in their tank, then refilled with water, glued the little paper seal back down, and returned it.

Never seen water in oil like that. That’s insane.

I would suggest buying any/all tractor oils from an AG tractor dealership.
If that was motor oil, you’d be rebuilding an engine.

I had the same thing happen to me with DEF! Thankfully, I noticed it before I poured it into my tank. Now, I take the top off and check the seal before I even put the 2.5 gallon DEF in my cart.

 

[dodge man]

The amount of separation in that jar almost makes it seem like it left the plant like that. There is only so much room in a full 5 gallon bucket for water to leak in. I assume somewhere there is a huge bulk tank these buckets get filled from, maybe that was the bottom of the barrel.

 

[zzvyb6]

You may have gotten caught up in a pipeline (water) slug.

 

[Hay Dude]

I had the same thing happen to me with DEF! Thankfully, I noticed it before I poured it into my tank. Now, I take the top off and check the seal before I even put the 2.5 gallon DEF in my cart.

They’re becoming more sophisticated. Now they glue the seal down, so you have no idea.

 

[ultrarunner]

Good catch and one more thing to watch out for.

 

[spruce Deere]

That's not cool, water in the oil right from a new bucket. Glad to hear the store cut you a refund and the tractor did not get operated. I have not used 'chain store' oils because of stories like this.
I have always used chevron THF 1000 in my tractors. I can buy a new sealed bucket or have a bucket refilled at my local distributor.

 

[5030]

That's not cool, water in the oil right from a new bucket. Glad to hear the store cut you a refund and the tractor did not get operated. I have not used 'chain store' oils because of stories like this.
I have always used chevron THF 1000 in my tractors. I can buy a new sealed bucket or have a bucket refilled at my local distributor.

So do I, in either a 55 or in 5's for makeup oil. Same with my Rotella T6. 55's or in 1 gallon jugs (when on sale as I'm always looking to buy for less). When the T6 is on sale I only buy it in sealed cartons and I'll pour it in the partial 55's. I've never had 'compromised' oil. I NEVER buy any cheap TSC Traveller crap, ever. and I always chek yo make sure the twist cap seal is intact. I gusee you could get a jug of oil that some clown drained and replaced with used oil. Anuthing is possible today with people that are less that upstanding but I've nevr had that experience and I alsways observe what I'm pouring out anyway.

My 55's of Chevron are in metal drums with wire sealed bungs. Same with the T6. The per gallon price is much better than buying smaller quantities and I buy them from my local jobber anyway.

My philosophy is, if the factory seals aren't present, I don't want it.

Certainly not buying Amsoil stuff anyway. Too expensive.

Spruce Deere... I discovered that NAPA carries the hard to get Chevron THC a while ago and they offer it in ones, 5's and 55 gallon drums as well and they will drop ship it to your location (so long as yopu can unload it) via commercial carrier.

Get my grease in 15 gallon open head (but sealed) drums as well and I bulk load my lever grease guns from the air greaser. Been using Mobil synthetic grease lately as the cost of the Lubrication Engineers synthetic grease has went through the roof. Still paying around 1000 bucks for a 150 pound (15 gallon) open headed drum, but a 150 pound drum lasts me about 2 years.

I'm sure I could get bogus oil, anyone can, but so far, I've not had that issue but again, I don't buy cheap TSC Traveller junk in the first place.

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for....

 

[spruce Deere]

Back when i was real busy part of a multi crew road building/logging outfit we would burn around a 1000 gallons of fuel a week all crews combined, Bulk everything was delivered to the shop. The grease and other oils were consumed also, not quite as much as fuel burned but could be guessed by fuel consumption. Iirc, 15 gal drum equivalent in tubes would last not quite two weeks with crews in full operation.
Fun, busy times but glad that is in the past.
I have seen myself the thf 1000 work so well in so many different machines, high pressure, low pressure, and finals I have no desire for any other brand. For price and performance it's tough to beat.

 

[5030]

I have seen myself the thf 1000 work so well in so many different machines, high pressure, low pressure, and finals I have no desire for any other brand. For price and performance it's tough to beat

Yes it is and why I use it. Not cheap as you state but in reality no more expensive than say Kubota SUDT or Deere hysdaulic fluid and it 'meets or exceeds' all maufacturers criteria as well.

For me, it has excellent cold weather flowability and is good with all my seals as I've not had to ever replace any, ever.

The added benefit is it comes colored so you can see it unlike the clear stuff Kubota and Deere sells.

Interestingly, the Chevron 'smells; exactly like the SUDT at least to my nose it does. Never sniffed the Deere fluid however.

Finally, when I change my fluids, I always send a sample to Blackstone and it always comes back as good to use longer, though I don't. Same with the Rotella T6. IMO' lubricants in general are the cheapest form of maintenance you cab perform.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I had the same thing happen to me with DEF! Thankfully, I noticed it before I poured it into my tank. Now, I take the top off and check the seal before I even put the 2.5 gallon DEF in my cart.

I never would have thought that would be an issue! I do my best to only by DEF from a pump and have only had to buy 1 jug in the year and a little bit that I've had my truck.