Where did my oil go???????

[LabLuvR]

I just had to put close to a gallon of hydraulic, tranny oil in my 2000 GST L3710. When the dealer brough it out to me, three weeks ago, the glass was about 3/4 to half filled with oil. I assumed since this was hydraulic/tranny oil the consumption would be very low and did not pay close attention to the oil level til yesterday. My guess is that I have put around 30 hours on it since delivery. Total hours on the tractor now is 501 and everything seems to be in great working order. I have also searched and cannot locate any leaks. Was I wrong in assuming consumption would be very low? One thing I do know I will check the level every day from now on! Is this amount of consumption normal? Thanks!

 

[Junkman]

My guess is that the oil has taken the place of trapped air in the system. Very common in new machinery

 

[5030]

Got any implements that you are using? maybe connecting and disconnecting hydraulic lines? Maybe you have a leaking fitting on your FEL. It's highly unlikely the tractor itself is the culprit. If you checked it with any cylinders extended (like on the FEL), the oil in the sight glass would be lower. I had a 3710 previous to the 5030. It's a long, long way between the bottom edge of the sight glass and the bottom of the sump. The oil level will even fluctuate due to the temperature of the oil.

In closing, I'd presume the oil is still there, that is, unless it spilled on the ground when you changed implements.

I always keep a spare 2.5 gallon jug of UDT around just in case. Even though the hydraulic quick disconnects are poppet style on the 5030, I still loose some every time I change a hose.

 

[LabLuvR]

No implements used other than bushhog,plow and disc. Maybe the air theory or temperature theory is correct. With no leakage anywhere, it sure is a mystery. At least I haven't found any in the radiator.

 

[sandyc]

I'll bet that the oil for air theory is at work here. If the dealer did not "work" the machine then the pump and all the related tubing, passages, and all that good stuff needed to be filled with fluid!

 

[5030]

LabLuvR:

I don't think there would be any in the radiator. There is no oil to water cooler on the engine.

Labs, huh?? We have a few too. A golden a black and a chocolate. All in the house and right now, all on the couch and loveseat.

 

[frank_f15]

now that u have worked it, top the oil off according to the manuel and then watch it from there. that oil should remain constant UNLESS u have a leak.

 

[LabLuvR]

Oil in the radiator was just making light of my situation. You have got to love a lab. They are just too smart! My black lab is asleep on my bed. What a bed hog!

I will keep my eye on the glass from now on. I would not expect to have to add anymore for sometime, unless I find a hidden leak. Thanks for the info guys!

 

[grandad]

One more thing I learned about that sight glass. It is very sensitive to changes in slope. Try to check it in the same place, or at least on a known level, hopefully paved, surface.

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue">I don't think there would be any in the radiator. There is no oil to water cooler on the engine.</font>
I think that Daryl is right, you can't get the hydraulic fluid in the radiator. Having said that, you can get it into the engine oil. If the seal goes out of the hydraulic pump, it can dump into the oil sump.

 

[DaGoatMan]

Everyone seems to be assuming this tractor is new. I think LabLuvR said in the opening post that he put 30 hours on it since it was delivered and total hours is now 501 hrs. I would think the air would already have been worked out of the system, unless he had a new FEL put on before delivery or something. Not sure. I think he is doing the best thing by keeping a close eye on it. If it continues to loose fluid them the source of the leak will need to be found.

 

[JWE]

I have a friend that had a similar problem with his John Deere. He kept losing hydraulic fluid but there were no signs of a leak. After several months of scratching his head he finally discovered the problem. While unloading a I-Beam from his pickup truck he noticed a wet spot on the rear window of the truck. It ended up that he had a pin-hole leak in one of his loader hydraulic hoses that would only leak when he had a full load in the bucket. It was such a fine leak that you could not see it with the naked eye and it would only leak if he had 500 or more pounds in the loader. The leak was aimed away from the tractor so there was never any evidence on the tractor. He replaced the hose and it resolved the problem.

John