Don’t Skip Your Jetter’s Daily Oil Checks!
Neglecting your jetter’s oils can turn a quick, profitable job into a breakdown that eats your time and money. “Oil” doesn’t just mean the motor oil in your hydro jetter’s engine; its high-pressure pump is lubricated by a different oil, and it may also have a transmission/gearbox that requires another type of oil. Each oil is critical to keeping your jetter in action without breakdown interruptions.
With over 35 years on the shop floor and in the field, here’s our no-nonsense rundown of these three oils you should check every day, why they matter, and the mistakes that can sideline even seasoned pros.
| Fluid | Why It Matters | Check For |
| Engine Oil | Lubricates and cools engine, prevents premature wear, maximizes efficiency | Low oil level, dark and/or gritty oil, burnt smell, metal flakes, leaks |
| Pump Oil | Lubricates parts in the pump’s crankcase, maximizes mechanical efficiency, indicates internal water-leakage | Milky/gray color, low level, contamination, leaks |
| Gearbox/Transmission Oil | Maximizes mechanical efficiency, lubricates parts | Low level, burnt smell, metal flakes, leaks |
Did you notice that in the “Check For” column that we didn’t just recommend checking for “low oil level”? You’ll also want to assess each oil’s condition if you want to maximize the life and efficiency of these critical jetter components.
The Cost of Neglecting Oil Checks and Oil Changes
Skip your oil maintenance and here’s what you’re asking for:
- Major damage: Pumps, gearboxes, and engines seize up without proper lubrication.
- Downtime you can’t bill for: Breakdowns mid-job cost you customers and cash flow.
- Repair bills you don’t want: Big component replacements aren’t cheap.
- Shorter equipment life: Neglect wears your investment down years early.
Let’s take a closer look at the roles of these 3 oil types and what to look out for:
Engine Oil: Protecting The Heart of Your Jetter’s Power
Your engine oil is your jetter’s most critical fluid. Clean, high-quality oil keeps parts moving smooth, cuts down friction, and helps prevent overheating. We’ve seen more than a few engines saved just because an operator took 30 seconds to check before the first run of the day. Stick to your manufacturer’s oil-change schedule and DO it. If the oil looks dark, gritty, or smells burnt, change it immediately. Spot metal flakes on the dipstick or in the drain pan? Stop right there and find out why, that’s your jetter telling you it’s in trouble.
Common mistakes to avoid: Skipping pre-job checks, using the wrong oil grade, or pushing back change intervals to “save time.”
Pump Oil: Protecting the High-Pressure System
The High-Pressure Pump is the “heart” of your jetter, thus its oil is the lifeblood of your cleaning power, keeping its crankcase parts lubricated and cool under pressure. Gray or milky oil? That indicates high-pressure water-intrusion into the crankcase, and it’s a fast track to a blown pump. We see it in the shop all the time, and it’s always more expensive than a regular service. Shut it down and fix it before you cost yourself a job.
Common mistakes to avoid: Ignoring changes in oil color, not inspecting often enough, or topping off with incompatible oil.
Gearbox Oil: Enabling Smooth & Efficient Power Transfer
Like Jetters Northwest machines, many jetter brands & models include a gearbox which transfers power from the engine’s shaft to the pump’s shaft, just like your vehicle’s transmission transfers power from its engine to the drive-train and ultimately the wheels. In both cases, lubricating fluid is critical to moving your power where it needs to go. Low or dirty oil leads to heat, mechanical-strain, and breakdowns. If your jetter is gearbox-equipped, use only the oil that your manual calls for – it is typically a “gear lube”, not transmission fluid.
Check its level and smell often, and fix leaks before they fix you. Also realize that the actual gears inside the gearcase generally shear (break down) the oil’s viscosity more harshly than the crank and rods in an engine or pump crankcase, so changing your gear oil at the correct intervals is critical to its life.
We’ve seen many, many gearboxes last over a decade just from steady oil checks and changes, and that’s money in your pocket. But we’ve also seen many gearboxes seize up in a year or two due to neglect, adding repair expenses … and costly downtime.
Common mistakes to avoid: Letting leaks slide, ignoring burnt oil smell, skipping change intervals, or mixing oil types.
Pro Maintenance Tips for Dependable Oil-Lubrication
Break-in period: In the first 30–50 hours of operation, change all oils: engine, pump, gearbox, and change the engine’s oil filter to clear out break-in debris.
Routine cycles: Keep a set schedule. Either schedule oil-changes based on the hours on the jetter, or keep it simple by a simple calendar-schedule regardless of hours. Properly scheduled and done, both methods can keep downtime low.
Stay alert: Look, listen, and feel for trouble! Low levels, discoloration, burnt smells, odd vibrations. Catch it early, fix it fast.
Jetters Northwest Maintenance Mindset
At Jetters Northwest, we know from decades of field work and literally thousands of serviced units that your best jobs start with a few minutes of maintenance. Water is your hydro-jetting tool, and every drop of oil running through your machine helps keep that water flowing and jetting out the nozzle to get jobs done. Skip the daily basics and you’ll pay for it sooner than later, or be proactive with regular maintenance and maximize your jetter investment.
Want to see this in action? Watch the video where Jonesie breaks down what to look for when checking fluids on your jetter.
Get equipped, get out there, and get jetting.
