Floor jack needs Viagra - Help -

[Chocaholic]

I have an old 2.5 ton floor jack. Has always served me well. Probably 20 years old. Weighs a ton!

Seems to have lost it's lift. Will raise the car a few inches before pumping the handle does less and less.

There's a slotted cap and an allen-head cap. Both are full of hydraulic oil, so couldn't add more. Is there a trick to reviving these things, or is it time for a new aluminum one?

[fastfredracing]

They won't take much fluid without operating the handle. You need to open the fill cap, and add a few drops of fluid, pump the handle, few more drops, pump the handle, rinse repeat. Run it up to full lift, drop it , and do it again. May take a few cycles. '
From your description , sounds like low fluid.

[pete3799]

What Fred said.
Get some hydraulic jack oil and add it as you pump the handle.

[Baz]

Mike,

Try adding more jack oil as you move the handle up and down.

Good luck!

[Chocaholic]

Did that, but will try again. Didn't seem to be low. I added oil and it quickly overflowed the opening.

Try, try again! Thanks for the info guys.

[EarlyPorsche]

If you end up replacing I highly suggest staying away from the cheapo aluminum jacks. Mine was just junk. Now the steel ones at Costco I've had good luck with and I believe our host sells a good aluminum one.

[URY914]

The seals need replacing.