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Water in hydraulic fluid

1398 Views 4 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  dave2280
new to machinery.. I just got a 2000 New Holland 555e. I had to change a leaky fitting.. I noticed that the hydraulic fluid was milky. Is there anyway to get rid of the moisture w/out having to do a complete fluid change. thanks.
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Heating the fluid to 140° will help it settle out so that it can be drained off. It will also tend to evapourate at a faster rate than when cold and the fluctuating level from normal hydraulic cylinder operation will vent the excess humidity.

Unfortunately, draining the settled water means opening the drain port which will dump the fluid as well if you aren't quick enough getting the plug back in. It's less messy to just drain and change the fluid and bite the bullet for the cost since it takes quite a bit of time at temperature to separate and settle the water out.

If it regularly gets normal use that warms the fluid up to 140°+, the water will <eventually> evapourate. If it sits for long periods of time between uses, change the fluid to get rid of the water.
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