water in oil

gregy · Mar 15, 2009

The lube oil in the trans, rearend of my utility 350 is grayish yellow. Where could the water be coming from. Radiator level is full, crank case oil is black. The yellowish color makes me think there is antifreeze in it. Is there anywhere where they share a common seal? Thanks.

Wayne in MN · Mar 15, 2009

How many years since the lube was changed?
Condensation will eventually do this to any oil.
Replace the lube would be my suggestion.

LenND · Mar 15, 2009

Probably just condensation. If it hasn't been changed since who knows when it builds up a lot of moisture. When you drain it let it drain out real good to get it as clean as possible.

ScottyHOMeY · Mar 15, 2009

There's no place for coolant to cross. Condensation is the likely source. If the stuff is not too stiff and you have some good hard work for the tractor to do, you can try cooking it out. Maybe you've seen some threads lately with folks asking if its normal for the seat deck/tranny cover to get hot. (It is, with heavy work.) The water and oil get into a suspension (as opposed to a solution and I'm pretty sure the word "emulsify" gets into the explanation at some point) but it is possible to evaporate the water out of it with enough heat for enough time.

If you don't have that kind of work available for the tractor, probably just as well to drain and replace.

Jiles · Mar 15, 2009

Is it stored outside in the weather? Even the oldest, faded and worn equipment I have is under cover.
Some are covered with plastic tarps. This may be a little extreme on my part but one thing I hate is to try to service or operate rust frozen equipment.
WATER will destroy most everything over time!

gregy · Mar 15, 2009

It's almost like a thin whipped cream, with air in it.

ScottyHOMeY · Mar 15, 2009

That's after running, right? I should think it would take quite a bit of ater to get it to foam up like that.

If so, let it settle for a couple of days and pull the drain plug to see if you get any straight water. Drain until you start getting oil, which will likely be kind of a buttery or caramel color, but pretty much an oily consistency. It's any puddle of plain water in the bottom that will freeze up in a cold climate and make trouble, if that applies in your locale.

If the drain doesn't initially flow and you have to start poking with a screwdriver or whatever, to break up a lot of hard dry sludge, then I'd think you're ready for a change anyway.

If you do decide to change it, drain about half your capacity out and close it back up and top it off with diesel or kerosene to the normal level, and go give her a good run, then drain everything, before refilling.

mkirsch · Mar 15, 2009

Additives in the oil hold the water in suspension, making it look milky and yellow. This is normal for a tractor that has been left outside in the weather for a few years, or inside for several decades, without changing the lube.

Just drain and replace with new. There's nothing wrong.

water in oil

gregy

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Wayne in MN

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LenND

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ScottyHOMeY

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Jiles

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gregy

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ScottyHOMeY

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mkirsch

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