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Some kind of leak?

October 15, 2016, 12:59:53 pm

Help! I found some wet spots under the engine yesterday and I'm not sure where they are coming from. I think the first picture is the hydraulic pump. Looking at my Cummings book it says this is where the power steering pump would mount. It's on the rear passenger side. The second picture is also on the passenger side and looks like it goes to the radiator fans. I checked the hydraulic reservoir and it is full.

We are in Prescott Valley at Orchard Ranch RV Park. We sold the SB in so cal last month and are  staying up here for a month before heading east to Florida to visit the kids for Christmas.

Thank you for your help.

Greg and Nettie Kemper

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Re: Some kind of leak?

Reply #1 – October 15, 2016, 01:04:33 pm

Check the hoses on your second picture, they look similar to the transmission cooler hoses on mine. Maybe another picture from a different angle would help. The first one is the hydraulic pump, which is also power steering besides fan motors.

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Re: Some kind of leak?

Reply #2 – October 15, 2016, 02:25:06 pm

The fitting in the second picture looks cracked and pretty buggered-up, like it's had a "Homeward-bound" patch job in the past.

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Re: Some kind of leak?

Reply #3 – October 15, 2016, 02:42:09 pm

The second picture looks like the transmission cooler.  It it a long cylinder, maybe 8" in diameter and 32" long (dimensions are a guess from memory). It is full of small tubes like a bundle of straws. As I recall transmission oil goes through the thin tubes and engine coolant goes through the big tube around the thin tubes.  Heat goes from the transmission oil through the small tubes into the coolant and then out via the radiator. Works well as long as there are no leaks.  It is a good place to prevent rust.

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Re: Some kind of leak?

Reply #4 – October 15, 2016, 02:42:47 pm

Your hydraulic pump could be approaching "end of life", OR, you might just have a loose fitting.  Hard to tell with oil everywhere.  I would get under there and clean up the oily mess - get everything as dry as possible.  Then next time you drive it, try to determine the source of the oil.  Possibilities: a leak (pin hole) or crack in a hose, a loose hose, a loose or cracked fitting, a worn shaft seal, or a dried up gasket on the pump.  While you have it all cleaned up, try to get a photo of the metal I.D. plate on the pump.  Knowing what pump you have will let you research the availability of rebuild kits, rebuilt pumps, or new pumps.

Some hydraulic pumps are quite simple to rebuild.  Finding the parts to do the rebuild can be more or less challenging, depending on what pump you have.  I rebuilt my (cooling fan) pump, and it has remained bone dry and functioned perfectly since that time.  Link below to my tutorial, as a example of the general procedure.  You may have a different brand/model pump, but the steps should be similar.

Vickers V10 Hydraulic Pump Rebuild

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Re: Some kind of leak?

Reply #5 – October 15, 2016, 03:17:29 pm

The first one has to be cleaned to see the origin of leak. Second one seems to be from elbow pipe fitting into cooler. Do not see any oil from hose fitting. Once the pump is cleaned up and figured out you will have to drain Hyd oil and then disconnect the hose in 2nd pic to take off fitting and hopefully just refit with tape or?
JohnH

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Re: Some kind of leak?

Reply #6 – October 16, 2016, 11:55:59 am

Thank you gentlemen for your quick replies. After church today I will stop and get some brake cleaner to clean it up so we can have a much better look at it.

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