May have run Pressure Washer with no pump oil! ...confused

Troy-Bilt 3000psi


I went to change the oil on my pressure washer and could not find a drain bolt anywhere other than on what I believe to be the pump. It was an allen bolt that took a 3/8 allen wrench to remove...I poured out about 1 cup or so of oil until it was empty. I didn't realize pressure washers take both pump oil and motor oil... The pressure washer ran for an hour no problems, then it would stopped running and wouldn't stay running for long after that.

Have i ruined the pump? I'm not sure where the drain plug for the engine is...i looked ,what seemed to be, everywhere.

 

I assume you refilled it with oil, right? Does this have the pump under the engine?

 

the pump is under the engine.

I drained the oil out of the pump (i believe it was the pump) and then put oil into the engine...thinking that I had drained the oil out of the engine and not the pump. Then I ran the pressure washer without any oil in the pump for a good hour. I can't find the drain bolt for the engine, all I saw was the drain plug for the pump.

 

Not good. So have you tried putting oil into the pump to see if it will run, or are you still trying it dry? The drain plug for the engine is under the engine. You can drain it out the fill tube if you want.

 

Well I have to try and find some pump oil now...don't know where to get it or which viscosity to get either. It's a pretty new pressure washer, so maybe not having any oil in it didn't mess it up as bad? wishful thinking perhaps

 

i took a flashlight and looked down the drain hole of the pump and it was partially filled with a bunch of clear oil soaked plastic shavings. I know this is not a good sign...but does anyone have an idea on what that would be? How might I fix it?

EDIT: I think fixing the pump might be out of the question...i smelled the dark colored oil that was in there and it smelled burned. I assume the pump burned up. Is it possible to buy a new pump for these things and install it myself? Man I feel stupid right now.

 

Yup. The pump is probably shown in the manual and you can call and order one.

 

When I do stuff like this, I try to think of the cost of fixing it as tuition for the future. I hope that makes you feel a little better.

 

DO NOT FEEL BAD At all.I did the same thing 2 years in a row on a craftsman pressure washer. Probably will do it again.

 

Hah, well I suppose dumber things have been done... Expensive mistake though.