Oil leaking - help me understand !!

[SD1]

Hi, I'm looking for expert advises!!

I have a trailer equiped with a Tie down 70 brake actuator. This model has a filler cap on the top where you fill the reservoir. I just noticed that oil is coming out of around the cap and dripping down. I removed the cap and re-thighten it and still, oil is comming out after 2-3 days.... The trailer has not moved since last fall i.e. has not been on the road yet this spring.

Oil was not dripping last summer...

Why would oil be commng out? What is creating the pressure?
:smt100

 

[Lazy Daze]

I can't picture the actuator, off hand. But, the first thing that comes to mind is that it may be over filled and the heat is causing it to escape. Check your level. The next thing is to check whether or not you have an o-ring for a seal.

 

[SD1]

I thought about over filled issue however, I did not add any fluid this spring and it did not leak last year. Can something happened during winter that caused this?

There is not (and never was, I believe) and o ring sealing this cap.

Thanks

 

[Lazy Daze]

Unless water got in there, somehow. Can you check the fluid level (just to be sure)? Are you able to post a few pics, too?

 

[SD1]

The oil level seems ok. I might have to had a bit. I am woundering what may cause pressure to build in the reservoir enough to push oil out. Trailer is parked in the driveway...

Here are 2 pictures of the actuator unit.

Thanks for your help !

 

[Lazy Daze]

Well, that's a good one you got there. If it's not overfilled (and you're not using the trailer), I really don't see how oil could leak out up top... it sort of contradicts the law of gravity, you know?

The cap does have an internal "bladder" of sorts - sort of like a pressure relief valve. But, the only way there would be built up pressure is... 1) If the trailer is being used (master cylinder being compressed) and 2) There is a blockage in a line somewhere or the MC is bad - bad enough that it's overcoming the bladder.

How much oil is actually coming out? Just what is seen in the picture?

Maybe it's just a bad cap, but the level would still need to be quite full and/or the trailer being used.

 

[SD1]

Puzzling, isn't it?

The oil was dripping down very slowly. Just enough to make an 8 inches stain on my driveway. The only theory I can think of at this point is that air got in the system somehow and expanded because of the recent high temperature creating pressure in the reservoir.

I think I will bleed the system and take the trailer for a ride and see if the brakes are working OK. Then I'll monitor what happens.

thanks

 

[Lazy Daze]

Puzzling, isn't it?

Yeah, it sure is. If air got in there, something else is wrong - it shouldn't. Besides, you would think that that if air did get in there... It would escape trough the cap, not the oil (again, gravity).

You should probably get a new cap, either way.

I'm still worried that water got in there. Before you bleed, suck out a bunch of fluid from the reservoir - put it in a clear, glass jar so you can look at it.

 

[87cc]

There should be an o-ring under the cap. Mine has one.

I've contacted Tie-Down directly with other problems and they have been very helpful.