Do you love washing your car at the weekend? Ok, in that case, buying a pressure washer to do your job is not a bad idea. One fine day, you find that your machine has been leaking oil for a long time. Turns out that not only did it leave grease stains on your floor, but the most troubling thing is that you were little aware of how to fix the problem on your own. Where to diagnose and which components to look for? Well, you don’t need to worry because this article is going to give you all the information you need, plus some great maintenance tips that will certainly make you one of the go-to guys in the neighborhood in terms of pressure washer repair and maintenance!
Oil leakage in pressure washers is a recurring problem, mostly due to faulty/fractured seals and gaskets. The following may be the reasons behind the oil dripping washers.
Pressure Washer Engine Dripping Oil:
- Seals that result in oil leakage from the pump
- Poor pump maintenance
The possible solutions to the problem are as follows:
- Use of the oil seal kit to make timely replacements
- Avoid exposure to extreme conditions that may damage rubber components;
- Use of non-detergent lubricant oil
Contents
How To Fix Your Pressure Washer Engine Leaking Oil
Oil leakage from the pressure washer pump occurs between the pumping portion and the crankcase. The number one cause is that the seals and the defective plunger retainer O-rings are worn out.
1. Replace the seals that are broken:
Pressure washer pumps use special non-detergent lubricating oils to avoid wear and tear on machine parts and increase their expected lifespan. Most popular oil leaks come from the device pump. As mentioned above, oil leakage is typically caused by broken seals that cannot hold off the oil contained. This is mainly due to the absence of proper maintenance.
– Solution:
To repair the oil seal kit, the first step is to disassemble the pump so that the seals can be checked. The step-by-step process for replacing the seals is listed below.
• Step 1: Pump disassembly
Before any part in the pump is replaced, the pump needs to be turned off. So, let’s take a look at the method:
- Remove the cover: First of all, the screws and bolts outside the pressure washer need to be loosened. Take off the unit’s outside and organize the screws and bolts properly so that reassembly can be done quickly.
- Remove the pump housing: After that, the pump housing would be visible to you. Now the pump housing needs to be removed using the Allen socket. To do this, the bolts on the socket need to be loosened.
- Detach the plunger: When the pump housing is visible, detach the plunger valve at the pump’s end with the scissors. Please be careful that the valve should not be harmed.
- Open the pump casing: Now, you need to break the pump casing into two using a hammer and prevent the casing damage.
- After the case is broken into two, the seals will be apparent to you.
• Step 2: Replacement of the seal
Seals are also compromised due to inadequate maintenance. Check for defective looking seals once the seals are clear. Then check carefully that you the correct one in your oil seal pack.
• Step 3: Using an oil seal kit
- Check the manual: Before purchasing an oil seal kit, you can use your user’s manual to buy the right kind of oil seal kit for your unit.
- Remove the screws: Afterward, you need to remove the screws at the back of your pump using the Allen key.
- Remove the brass ring: Carefully remove the brass ring that holds three oil seals. Be careful not to end up scratching the brass ring.
- Inspect the seal: You should inspect every seal and replace it with the seals in your kit.
• Step 4: Add new oil:
Add fresh oil to the pump after the seal has been removed. It’s safer to go through the user’s manual to find the recommended oil supplier for your pressure washer. Make sure that the pump is upright and that the oil is filled to the right level. After that, clean the oil streaks and drops that lie all over the pump.
Proper and timely maintenance:
Wearing machine components is unavoidable. However, if you serve your parts well, you’re going to change their lives. As in this situation, you can check your seals to make sure that you repair them two or three times a year.
– Solution:
• Avoiding exposure to extreme conditions:
- Hot / Cold temperatures: Suppose your pressure washer is subjected to extreme temperature conditions such as very hot or very cold temperatures for a long time. In that case, this may cause premature failure of rubber components, i.e., gaskets or oil seals.
- Thermal expansion: High temperature induces thermal expansion of the seals, resulting in a lack of fitting that ultimately leads to leakage.
- Don’t expose: As a protective measure, if the weather conditions are severe, you should never expose your pressure washer to the outdoors.
• Non-detergent lubricant:
- Use a lubricant: We have explained above that pressure washer pumps use lubricant oil to avoid mechanical wear.
- Oil filter: Pumps should not have an oil filter since most engines would have kept the oil-free from debris.
- Use good oil: As a result, it is recommended that the oil used be non-detergent because detergent oils attract the dirt present in the pump walls and, without an oil filter, they will eventually cause dirt to build up inside the pump.
Related Questions:
1. What kind of oil should you use for your pressure washers?
If you are using a gasoline-powered pressure washer, it is prevalent to choose the right type of oil that serves a specific purpose. The kind of oil pressure washers usually used are listed below.
• All-purpose oil of the engine:
All-purpose engine oils are commonly used in temperate environments and are typical of the type SAE30. It is recommended for temperatures above 40oF.
• Non-detergent pump oil:
The synthetic oils of Briggs & Stratton will come to mind when you think of non-detergent pump oil. Some pressure washers can operate better with pump oil, but the other oil you can try is 30W non-detergent oil. Non-detergent oils are considered to be better because they were popular before the oil filter was popular.
This ensures that chemicals are permitted to remain on the pressure washer engine’s sidewalls, which prevents dirty oil from rotting or impairing its functionality.
2. What should be the frequency at which your oil changes?
If you live in a country with a mild climate, as a general rule, you can change your oil every spring or as soon as you start washing at the end of the winter. The oil tends to thicken during the winter, which can ruin a fully functioning pump and make you spend extra. Therefore, always fill it in accordingly. In tropical regions, the oil should be updated every fifty hours.
3. How to change the oil in pressure washers?
Now that we’ve told you how much the oil needs to be adjusted, there may be a doubt in your mind as to how the oil changes in the pressure washer. Don’t worry; we still have you covered here.
You need to change your pressure to washer oil, as it will save you from having to waste money on a burnt-out pump. You’re expected to run your pressure washer for a few minutes to heat the oil inside to adjust the oil. Hot oil flows well, making drainage easier. Next, turn the engine off and unplug the hose. Take off the oil cap with your wrench. Next, drain all of the oil and fuel from your pressure washer.
It’s better to collect the old oil in a bucket for safe disposal. When done, replace the old oil with the new oil. It would be best if you were careful not to overfill as it can cause smoke and engine damage when the power washer is switched on later. Don’t forget to put back the oil cap that was removed. Until you finish, make sure you blow up any spilled gasoline.
4. How to check the oil level in a pressure washer?
Before starting your power washer, you should always check the amount of oil. Some owners are lucky enough to have an oil view window that allows them to check the oil level without opening the bottle. If this is not the case, the cap must be opened, and the dipstick tested.
Final Remarks:
The leakage of oil from any machine is not a pleasant sight. Not only can these leaks shorten the life of the system components due to the additional wear and tear, but they also point to the fact that the machine is not well maintained. These leaks are a direct result of the lack of sufficient care for the machine’s components and the inability to make replacements at the right time. To prevent such situations, it is recommended to maintain and operate the computer regularly. Besides, oil changes should also be carried out at regular intervals so that machine parts engage with each other in the presence of reduced friction and less wear and tear.