Had a couple hoses start to leak under heavy pressure just pinholes so I shut it down the hoses were hard they got scorched from being close to the fire I noticed the fluid coming out was cream colored or off white. Could be from the heat, water in the fluid or air maybe. No leaks of any kind that I’ve ever seen so I’m thinking heat or the cooler weather caused the change in color.

I’m going to change the fluid in the tank then put on a new Zinga filter and fresh hydraulic oil a complete fluid change. I had 2 new hoses made the other day just need the filter to get here. So did anybody ever see the color that hydraulic is in 30-40 degree temps? Don’t want to ruin the splitter it’s a custom built 35 ton the thing splits everything it's fed.

So what’s the normal color of winter hydraulic fluid, it’s getting changed either was past due I’d say.

Sounds like it has water in it.

Unless it got water in it, probably just frothy.

That was my first thought but just cannot see that as possible it’s a closed system so it’s weird.

Color does not change

Water in oil is white I'm thinking.

There could be several reasons. Either water in the fluid. Or it is frothing up because it is getting old. When you get yourself new fluid, make sure it has a foam inhibitor in it or you/ll be changing it again. I made that same mistake and its bad for the pump and dangerous running the splitter as you are then using a compressible medium due to the fine bubbles and that can make for very erratic movement of the piston.
As the oil gets older it will start to froth up in closer temps and should be changed

It’s water, the oil should be the same color as when it comes out of the jug, it can just be condensation so just do a annual oil change, it takes a lot to hurt the system and I doubt you have caused any damage.

I would think condensation/water or air.i know alot of people are going to transmission fluid instead of hydraulic fluid. The tyranny fluid stays thinner in colder weather verses hydraulic making it easier to start and operate.as far as I know fluid stays the same color no matter the temp.

It’s been a few years since the last change it’s not an easy change with no drain on the tank I need to pull a hose to do that it’s a PITA.

Mine did the same when I ran it unlevel, turned white and foam ,
Easy fix but did change filter and oil

My bad I found a drain a recessed Allen plug under the tank it looks huge nothing that I would have it’s farmer size, 3/4 maybe 1 inch size. It’s off some John Deere piece of equipment I’ll see what the neighbor has handy. I’ll change it out with a pipe plug style so I don’t go through this again.

Keep us updated on what you find out.

Will do I’ll try to get a pic up if I get the plug pulled today.

if it got water in it, it could take a couple of times to get the oil to stay good,

Has happened to me before in my log splitter and firewood processor drain it and fill with new fluid.

A lot of fluid came out of the cylinder when changing the hoses, the filter will be changed and the tank drained. I’ll see if I can drain the pump that should be almost all of it or darn close.

Dexron 2 is good oil. Put a cow magnet in tank. Joiner nut or bolt might make an allan wrench

doesn't it have a breather cap?

mine has a breather cap

I figure it condensates much like how it gets in the gas can

we get those days were it is raining on the underside of the tin roof wood shed that is completely open on one side and fence boards on the other 3 so no were close to air tight but still get the right weather were everything is cold but the moist air moves in and condensates on everything even the underside of a tin roof that sheds all the rain

condensation.

That worked I welded a nut to a bolt that fit the plug tried to double nut it but that would not hold under pressure. Worked like a dream.
Thanks

Here’s what the fluid looks like except for the odd color it looks/acts like regular fluid no lumps, foam, strange smells I have 2 buckets of new stuff so it’s getting the Royal treatment.

make sure your hydlolic filter is below the reserve tank
every day as it freezes , water condenses o n the steel tank and freezes and melts the next day, problems add up over time, Comes in through the air filter on the tank
will take a couple of cleanings to rid the water problem
run with no load back and forth a zillion times and then check the filter, if the ram warms up it is what you need to get the water moving

It has a breather cap yes the tank is smaller than I wanted, I think it’s 9 gal I wanted 15 gal but the hoots used a tank they already had at the place.

the lining of the old hoses get dissolved with yuk fluid like that
went with a Xlarge tank because of the amount of fluid pushed by the pump
Scuba should know the ratios of pump/fluid should be at least 3 cycles before it is used again
your is getting re-cycled at least 3 times per cycle, depends on your ram size

Can’t get the right pics to post of the splitter but the filter pipe comes out the side but the filter hangs below the tank I’ll post a pic of the tank it’s the main body between the axles JD green.

next re-build put a much larger tank on it
filter should be a larger than a P18 filter form a car, 3 "X8" size with a glass bubble around it, then you can see the water build up in the bottom inch or so
with a shut off switch so easy to change out by shutting it separate

9 gallons of hydraulic oil is enough, I have an 8570 Massey combine that’s completely hydraulic driven that only holds a total of 25 gallons and works a lot harder than that log splitter, condensation is a problem in any hydraulic the best solution is to change the oil once a year, I’m guessing the engine oil gets changed that much and the hydraulic oil runs under a lot more pressure.

Mine has a screen at the fitting between pressure side hose and tank.
Not saying others do.
A pain to change fluid led to neglect in its former life.

Edit to add pressure side.

Moisture got in or was created from heat running it in cold weather which creates water. Been there done that.

Thanks guys I’ll pull the system filter and replace that, maybe cycle it with the starter to see if that will pump anything out then jack up the axle ends to finish draining the tank. Looks like it will be good as new after all the attention it’s getting with every filter being changed fluid/oil/gas and the 2 scorched brittle hoses. Will keep an eye on the other hoses but they did not look to be damaged I might just go ahead and change them out anyway before I add the new oil I’ll look them over better today.

That's no problem. Just find a bolt with the correct size head to fit the Allen plug. Find two nuts for the bolt and put them on and tighten them together. Insert bolt and use a wrench to turn the nut. The plug will come out.

if you don't have one they are very handy

Scuba1 recommended this one and I have been pleased with it

https://www.amazon.com/FOUR-UNCLES-...t/dp/B0836GH3G7?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

lets you suck the oil out of most anything great for lawn mowers and other small engines that have an awful or very poorly placed drain plug.

faster to suck it out and pour it in the dipstick hole on the lawn mower than it is to try and open the drain plug at all

also great for changing brake fluid and bleeding brakes by yourself

That looks like a cool tool !! No crawling under the truck to change the oil !!

It's water in the tank, probably caused by condensation as Diggerman said. I had that happen to mine once too. I drained the tank and replaced the fluid. I kept it outside year round, but covered with a tarp. I think that's how it got the condensation eventually. I think the varying temperatures caused it.

On one of my outboard motors on the boat, when I drained the lower unit, the oil was cream colored. I had a lower O ring that was cracked and had to replace it. That solved the problem.

all the German car guys have gone to them the Volkswagens , BMW , Audi , Mercedes as most of them don't get all the oil out at the drain plug some leave a quart and a half two quarts
almost all of them have a plate to remove to access the drain plug
and they almost all have the oil filter on top now

I bought a rubber stopper the right size and drilled a hole in it and attached it to the end you can vacuum bleed the air out of cooling systems with it also when on the air compressor it has enough suction to suck down radiator hoses


on many transmissions you can empty the pan if it has a dipstick , on my 2003 gmc 1500 I can get about 4.5 quarts out , fill back up and next year change out about half again , it isn't perfect but it is very little work and cost.

I bought an easy drain plug for the Tacoma that replaces the factory drain plug but I’m afraid to put in on for fear of it self draining in the high country. LOL

Got it back together I put the Zinga long filter on it to increase the fluid capacity it took almost the whole 10 gallons of fluid. The cylinder jumped around some until the air was out of it. It’s still white and foamy now but that’s expected with the air in the system being pumped out and some old fluid in the pump.

I will run it more in a few days once I’m done getting my cat equipment out before it rains this weekend. If the creek crossing gets wet it’s a longer walk getting into the rough country with very few roads.