Hopefully the picture shows up below. I changed the pump oil 3 months ago and filled it to the red dot. I have checked it every time I get to a job and it always ends right at the middle of the red dot.
Recently I noticed it went all the way up to the top of the sight glass… even some small bubbles can be seen. I dont know what this is from somehow my oil is rising???
I’ve only been in the business 4-5 months so I’m pretty confused. I do have a hose from the pump that goes back to the tank which is what I thought released water if too much pressure occurs so I shouldn’t have water getting back into the pump…
Should I drain the oil and refill with new?
Does anyone have a picture of what their oil looks like through their sight glass? I am wondering if my oil is getting water into it? Very weird to rise instead of leaking.
I’ll be completely honest I didn’t notice any water in it…
The only thing is I read that Cat Pump oil is made to mix with water incase there is a leak.
I assumed maybe I overfilled or there was still some oil left over so when the pump was running it caused it to be overfilled. I then drained it back down to the red dot and after running the motor/pump for 20-30 more minutes as a test the oil had risen past the sight glass again.
The seals could be busted and allowing water in or was the machine left outside and has there been a lot of rain? Sometimes it will get in through the oil cap.
You should have paid special attention when you drained the oil to see if there was any water in it. How much over red dot is it. If just a little no big deal. If a lot drain a little more. It’s easy to overfill. But if you say it was fine until a few days ago, then as
Ryan said, may be your seals. I doubt rain water got in thru cap unless you left it off.
As long as running ok, just keep an eye on it. Looks like a new unit, so talk to who you bought it from. CAT has pretty good warranty, believe it’s 5 years. Call them. But seals, orings, seats and stuff like that considered normal wear, so unless real new they may not help.
Seals should last about 1500 hours though per their maintenance schedule.
The whole trailer set up was purchased used so I don’t imagine I’ll get any warranty coverage.
I drained the oil directly into a cup to check for water, it does seem a little murky compared to “new” oil but nothing that would really alarm me which is why I drained and refilled to try again. (I’ve done this process twice)
The only issue is that I have drained oil 5-6 times now to get it back to the red dot so it is “gaining” while the machine is in use.
It has never been run dry, is covered while not in use so no water could have gone through the fill hole and I would say has under 100 hours on it. The previous owner did let it sit for a year in his garage without use so maybe that did it?
