Pressure Washer Pump Dripping Oil. Troubleshoot & Fixes

Enjoy cleaning your cars on holiday? Well, in that case, buying a pressure washer to do the job for you is not a bad idea. One fine day you notice that your machine has been leaking oil for quite a while. It turns out that it has left grease stains on your floor, but the most concerning thing is that you are little aware of how to solve your problem. Where to troubleshoot from and which components to look for? Well, you don’t need to worry since this article is going to provide you with all the DIY knowledge you need in addition to some maintenance tips that will surely make you one of the go-to guys in the neighborhood as far as pressure washer repairs are concerned!

Oil dripping in pressure washers is a reasonably common problem primarily due to damaged/broken seals and gaskets. The following can be the reasons behind the washers leaking oil.

Pressure washer pump leaking oil, what might be wrong:

1. Worn-out seals that result in the leakage of oil from the pump
2. Poor maintenance of the pump

The possible solutions to the problem are:

1. Using an oil seal kit to make timely replacements
2. Avoiding exposure to extreme conditions that can damage rubber components
3. Using non-detergent lubricant oil

Now, if you don’t have any experience fixing pressure components before, well then, we’ve got you covered. Listed below are various solutions and steps to ensure preventative maintenance that you can try out and help you fix the problem.

Steps To Fix Leakage Issues:

Oil leakages from the pressure washer pump occur between the pumping section and crankcase. The number one reason is worn out seals and faulty plunger retainer O-rings.

1. Replace the worn-out seals:

Pressure washer pumps use a specific non-detergent lubrication oil to prevent machine parts’ wear and tear and enhance their service life. Most common oil leaks originate from the pump of the machine. As said above, oil leakage is usually due to damaged seals that cannot hold off the oil contained. This is a direct result of lousy pump maintenance.

– Solution:

To replace the oil-seal kit, the first step is to disassemble the pump so that the seals can be visible. The step by step procedure to replace the seals is described below.

• Disassembly of the pump:

Before any component in the pump is to be replaced, the pump needs to come off. So, let’s look at the procedure:

• Remove cover: First up, the screws and bolts at the pressure washer’s exterior need to loosen. Take off the machine’s exterior and properly arrange the screws and bolts so that the reassembly can be done without much hassle.
• Remove the pump casing: After that, the pump casing will be visible to you. Now the pump casing needs to be taken off using an Allen socket. For this, the bolts at the socket need to be loosened.
• Remove the plunger valve: After the pump casing is visible, remove the plunger valve at the pump’s end with scissors. Take caution that the valve shouldn’t be damaged.
• Open the pump casing: Now, you need to split the pump casing into two using a hammer, avoiding any case damage.
• You should see the seals: After the casing is split into two, the seals will be visible to you.

• Replace the seal:

Seals often get damaged due to poor maintenance. Once the seals are visible, check for faulty looking seals. Then search if you’ve got an identical one in your oil seal kit.

• Using an oil seal kit:

• Check the manual: Before buying an oil seal kit, you should go through your user’s manual to buy the correct type of oil seal kit for your machine.
• Remove screws at the back: Afterward, you need to remove the screws at the back of your pump using an Allen key.
• Remove the brass ring: Carefully remove the brass ring that encloses three oil seals. Be cautious that you don’t end up damaging the brass ring.
• Examine each seal: You should examine each seal and replace it with the ones present in your kit.

• Fresh oil addition:

After the seal has been replaced, add fresh oil to the pump. It is better to go through the user’s manual to find the recommended oil supplier for your pressure washer. Make sure the pump is upright, and the oil is filled to the appropriate level. Afterward, clean the oil streaks and drops that are lying all around the pump.

2. Pressure Washer Regular Maintenance:

The wearing out of machine components is inevitable. However, if you service your parts well, you enhance their lifetime. As in this case, you should keep a check on your seals and make sure that you replace them twice or thrice a year.

– Solution:

• Avoiding extreme conditions:

• Hot/Cold: If your pressure washer is exposed to extreme temperature conditions such as very hot or very cold temperature conditions over a long period, then that can cause premature failures of rubber components, i.e., gaskets or oil seals.
• Thermal expansion: High temperature causes thermal expansion of the seals, making their fitting lose, eventually leading to leakage.
• Prevention: As a preventative step, you should never expose your pressure washer to the outdoors if the weather conditions are extreme. This will decrease the service life of the parts.

• Using Non-detergent lubricant:

• Lubricant Oil: We explained above that pressure washer pumps use a lubricant oil to prevent mechanical wear.
• Oil Filter: The pumps don’t have an oil filter as most engines have that would keep the oil-free from debris.
• Use Good Oil: Resultantly, it is advised that the oil used should be non-detergent since detergent oils attract the dirt present in the walls of the pump, and without an oil filter can eventually cause dirt buildup within the pump.

Related Questions:

1. What type of oil do Pressure washers typically use?

If you are using a gasoline-powered pressure washer, then it is prevalent to choose the right form of oil that serves a particular function. The type of oil pressure washers typically deal with are described below.

• All-purpose engine oil:

All-purpose engine oils are frequently used in temperate environments and are representative of the SAE30 type. It is recommended for temperatures above 40 F. However, if temperatures fall below 40 F, it is advised that you use 10W-30 oil to help your power washer start without difficulty.

• Non-detergent pump oil:

The synthetic oils of Briggs & Stratton will come to mind when you think about non-detergent pump oil. Some pressure washers can work better with pump oil, but the other oil you can try is 30W non-detergent oil. Non-detergent oils are considered better because they were common before oil philters were popular.

This means that the chemicals are allowed to stay on the pressure washer motor’s sidewallskeeping dirty oil from degrading or impeding its functionality. Using any other form of oil in your pressure washer can cause sludge to build up.

2. What should be the frequency of your oil changing?

If you live in a country with a mild climate, you should change your oil every spring or as soon as you start washing at the end of the winter. Over the winter, the oil appears to thicken, and this can spoil a completely working pump and make you spend extra. Therefore, always refill it accordingly. The oil should be changed every fifty hours in tropical regions.

3. How to change the oil in pressure washers?

Now that you know how frequently the oil must be changed, you might want to see how you should change the oil in your pressure washer. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered here as well.

You need to change your pressure washer oil, as it will stop you from having to spend money on a burnt-out pump. It would be best to run your pressure washer for a few minutes to heat the oil inside to change your oil. Warm oil flows well, making drainage easier. Next, turn off the engine and detach the hose. Take off the oil cap with a wrench. Next, remove all the oil and gasoline from your pressure washer.

It’s safer to collect the old oil in a jar for safe disposal. When done, substitute 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 turned on later. Don’t forget to refill the oil cap that was removed once. Before finishing up, make sure to mop up any spilled gasoline.

4. How to check the oil level in a pressure washer?

You should always check the level of oil before starting your power washer. Some owners are fortunate 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, you need to open the cap and check the dipstick.

Final Remarks:

Oil leakages from any machine is certainly not a good sight. Not only do these leakages shorten the lifetime of the machine components due to the added wear and tear, but they also point towards the fact the machine is being poorly maintained. These leakages are a direct consequence of a lack of proper care to the machine parts and not carrying out replacements at the right time. To avoid such circumstances, it is advised to maintain and service the machine regularly. Moreover, the oil changings should also be carried out at regular intervals so that the machine parts interact with each other in minimum friction and least wear and tear.