How To Properly Bleed a Floor Jack - Garage Lift Equipment

 
Regardless of the make or model of the floor jack, some maintenance is required.

After extensive use lifting cars, trucks, or other vehicles the pumping action on floor jacks over time can allow air into the hydraulic pistons or cause a small amount of jack oil to leak out. This can cause the jack to not function as smoothly or lose some of its lifting power. Luckily with some basic maintenance highlighted in this video, your floor jack with be back in action.

1. Locate the fill/bleed valve on your floor jack.  This will be a screw that pulls double duty as both the fill location for the jack oil and the bleed valve to release excess air. To gain access to the valve you may need to remove some accessories depending on your floor jack model. This particular model has a tool tray. This jack uses a #2 screwdriver to remove the four screws and set the tool tray aside

2. Once you have access to the fill/bleed valve you will see the safety valves. DO NOT ADJUST THE SAFETY VALVES.

3. To check the fill level take a #3 Phillips head screwdriver for this particular jack model (check out the Powerbuilt ones here), and remove the valve screw. Once the screw is removed check the fill level. The oil level should be even with the top of the jack piston. If the level is below the top of the piston, use your jack oil brand of choice and add jack oil to the correct level.

4. Now with the proper level of jack oil replace the bleed/fill valve and tighten it back up. With the jack in the upright position start pumping the jack handle to raise the jack to the maximum lifting position.

5. With the jack at the maximum height, crack the bleed valve to allow air to escape the jack piston chamber. Release the jack allowing it to lower all the way down on its own. Note: you can assist the jack with light hand pressure to speed up the process.

6. Once the jack is completely lowered, retighten the bleed valve. Lift the jack-up to its maximum height once again as in step #4. At maximum height release the bleed valve once again and lower the jack all the way down as before in step #5.

7. Now with the jack at its lowest level and having bled the oil chamber twice recheck the fluid level.  Remove the bleed/fill valve with a #3 screwdriver on this particular jack model, and inspect the fluid level. With the fluid level even with the top of the jack piston, you are done. Replace the bleed valve screw and tighten firmly.

8. Reassemble any floor jack accessories you removed to gain access to the bleed fill valve screw.  

It is ready to start lifting cars, trucks, and ATVs.