Hydraulic system cleaner

OregonAaron · Mar 13, 2022

Sooo, on my ole John Deere I was going to change the hydraulic fluid soon. Is there some sort of hydraulic system cleaner or flush that could or should be used as general maintenance when changing the fluid? I know there are all sorts of snake oils and super-d-duper fluids that a guy can buy that are a complete waste of money and possibly worse for you machinery... Any one of you gurus have any thoughts on this?

lugnuts2030 · Mar 13, 2022

Diesel Fuel

Steve@Advance · Mar 13, 2022

Unless there is some type of contamination, I would not put any type flush in
it!

Reason is, once anything is put in there and circulated, there is no way to
get it all out, especially if it's trapped inside the cylinders. That could be
a considerable amount.

If there is access to the inside of the tank, you can wash it out, wipe it
clean. If there is a suction strainer, clean or replace it. If there is a
return filter, replace it.

If the system is contaminated with sludge or the wrong oil, about all you can do is replace the oil several times to reduce the contamination. Short of a complete disassembly, removing
and purging all the cylinders is the only way to completely clean it up.

If there was a pump failure and metal was shed, it needs a complete tear down
and flushing of all components.

Water will eventually evaporate away once the oil is up to temperature and
operated for an extended period, and the source is eliminated.

Don't confuse air for water. If the level was run low, it will whip air into
the oil and give it a milky appearance. Once the level is restored the air
will eventually work it's way out.

OregonAaron · Mar 13, 2022

As far as I know there is not any contamination in the system... However it is a 50 year old piece of machinery so I'm sure it's not 100% perfect. I don't NEED to flush it, but I wasn't sure if there was something magical I could do as preventative maintenance.

Jim.ME · Mar 13, 2022

(quoted from post at 21:56:08 03/13/22) As far as I know there is not any contamination in the system... However it is a 50 year old piece of machinery so I'm sure it's not 100% perfect. I don't NEED to flush it, but I wasn't sure if there was something magical I could do as preventative maintenance.

Get it good and warm and drain it hot is about the best. Once drained physically clean what you can.

SVcummins · Mar 14, 2022

I use diesel fuel

OregonAaron · Mar 14, 2022

Do you just add some diesel to the hydraulic system and run it for a bit before draining? If so, how much?

SVcummins · Mar 14, 2022

If I was just going to do a cleanup Id dump a couple gallon in
run it about ten minutes and drain it depending on how big the
system is mine are over 10 gallon . Another thing I have done
is to buy cheap hydraulic oil drain the system fill it with the
cheap run it until hot drain it and refill the system with
whatever hydraulic oil you use

Tx Jim · Mar 14, 2022

I would never introduce anything in my JD tractors hyd system but good hyd oil that meet J20C specifications

BarnyardEngineering · Mar 14, 2022

Here's the hypocrisy of recommending diesel fuel as a "flush" for a hydraulic system:

You complain about the "lack of lubricity" in diesel fuel, and dump all kinds of witch's brews, snake oils, and homemade concoctions in your expensive machine's fuel tank to replace this "lack of lubricity."

Then you turn around in the same breath and recommend diesel fuel to flush a system where lubrication is CRITICAL, where if you run it without oil for more than a few seconds, you burn up the hydraulic pump.

If diesel has so little lubricity, how can you recommend using it in a system where lubricity is so critical?

Plus unless the capacity of the system is only a gallon, the pump may not even pick up the diesel fuel, and WILL run completely dry.

Besides, what do you do with the gallons and gallons of contaminated diesel fuel you end up with? Dump it in the creek?

Hydraulic oil maintenance is all about dilution. Get the old oil mixed up and warm, dump it, and refill with fresh. Then start changing it regularly, or don't. Put the whole concept of "flush" out of your mind.

caterpillar guy · Mar 14, 2022

Just pull the filter if it has one drain over night then refill for get about the flush nonsense. there is only one magic cure pull it all apart clean by hand then reassemble. Otherwise you are just in the wind.

Fritz Maurer · Mar 14, 2022

Dump the contaminated diesel fuel the same place
you dump the diluted hydraulic oil.

steve in ok · Mar 14, 2022

(quoted from post at 21:22:50 03/13/22) Diesel Fuel

X2

wilson ind · Mar 14, 2022

IS it then ok to dump old hydraulic oil in creek????????? You are the one bring up creek dumping.

BarnyardEngineering · Mar 14, 2022

(quoted from post at 05:46:07 03/14/22) Dump the contaminated diesel fuel the same place
you dump the diluted hydraulic oil.

I dump my old oil in the empty buckets from the last oil change. I usually have enough trouble scrounging up enough buckets for that, now I have to find however many more buckets for my diesel fuel "flush?" When it wasn't necessary or effective and potentially damaging in the first place?

Scott 730 · Mar 14, 2022

(quoted from post at 21:15:53 03/13/22) Sooo, on my ole John Deere I was going to change the hydraulic fluid soon. Is there some sort of hydraulic system cleaner or flush that could or should be used as general maintenance when changing the fluid? I know there are all sorts of snake oils and super-d-duper fluids that a guy can buy that are a complete waste of money and possibly worse for you machinery... Any one of you gurus have any thoughts on this?

It sure would be nice if people would post what model of tractor the question pertains to!!!!

Fritz Maurer · Mar 14, 2022

You may not be in an area to get rid of waste oil
easily, so why dont you find an old furnace oil tank
and store your oil in that? There are guys that suck
up drain oil for free if you have a quantity worth
driving the truck to your house. I used to be one of
them when I got my waste oil heater in 97; then not
long after, everybody else got one too, and we were
all fighting for drain oil in a 30 mile radius. I would
not be surprised to see drain oil become a salable
commodity with 3 more years of this administration.

OregonAaron · Mar 14, 2022

As far as the model of my tractor goes it is a 1520, however this was a general question pertaining to flushing of hydraulic systems. From the responses I received it seems as if there is not a reason of great concern I should probably just stick to the manufacturer recommended fluid and that's it.

wore out · Mar 14, 2022

(quoted from post at 07:20:47 03/14/22) As far as the model of my tractor goes it is a 1520, however this was a general question pertaining to flushing of hydraulic systems. From the responses I received it seems as if there is not a reason of great concern I should probably just stick to the manufacturer recommended fluid and that's it.

I think wanting to know what you are working with is a VERY important question.

I would have no qualms about "flushing" a simple "open-center" tractor hydraulic system with diesel fuel. Unless a control or steering or brakes are activated the pump is not building pressure, just circulating fluid.

But I would not consider doing the same with a tractor with a "closed-center" system that builds and maintains full working pressure immediately upon startup.

OregonAaron · Mar 14, 2022

Okay, sounds reasonable to me. It was one of those questions that just popped into my head while pondering future maintenance

lugnuts2030 · Mar 14, 2022

When replacing parts in a hydraulic that has metal filings in the system, the professional shops tell to disassemble everything possible including lines and hoses and flush with diesel fuel til clean, then blow diesel fuel out with compressed air.

J.Wondergem · Mar 14, 2022

I agree with Steve. Rinse it with Hydraulic oil.

SVcummins · Mar 14, 2022

Ive used diesel a number of times to flush water out of a
system. Where are all these issues gomer ?

Hydraulic system cleaner

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