Speed Queen leaking oil

[mad]

We've got a pair of modern Speed Queens, purchased brand new in Spring 2020. Been great up until now, conveniently right out of warranty. Now clothes are ended up peppered in oil spots. I'm assuming the washing machine transmission is leaking.

We're pretty handy and my husband can certainly rebuild it. But I'm seriously considering ditching these in favor of a vintage pair. (Anyone got any early 70s Hotpoints out there to complete my dream appliance set...? Sick of dealing with modern junk.)

Is this a known issue with these Speed Queens?

 

[combo52]

Oil leak in a TR 3000 Speed Queen top load washer

There is no transmission and no oil in this machine, you could’ve developed some sort of a buildup under the agitator from poor washing practices that may be starting to come off, who knows

Go ahead and get your husband to take the agitator out, etc., and see if there’s any signs of buildup there I guess

 

[gelaundry4ever]

oil

The only washer that uses oil of this brand is the Speed Queen Classic Clean.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

What you consider oil spots:

Are not possible. There is no way this washer can leak oil into the clothes. As John said look for buildup under the agitator. Also, regular use of too much softener and not enough hot/warm water washes can cause build-up that may be staining your clothes.
WK78

 

[gelaundry4ever]

fabric softener

I would tone it down on the fabric softener and use at least the recommended amount and dilute it with water. Use the heavy duty cycle and treat it as an everyday cycle. That's what the normal cycle used to be.

 

[mad]

Grease

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Ha, I should've remembered this isn't a transmission model. It's hard to think straight with the kids crawling up the furniture and looking for trouble...

My husband pulled the agitator off last night, and it was disappointingly clean underneath. We don't use fabric softener and frequently run hot cycles.

But I think we solved the mystery... The lid latch mechanism was absolutely swimming in grease. This has been dripping down onto the tub cover and into the laundry. I have no idea how they determined the latch required such immense quantities of grease and what made it suddenly start flooding out everywhere.

 

[DADoES]

 
That seems odd ... maybe something spilled in the latch slot?

 

[gelaundry4ever]

grease in lid latches

I think whoever puts grease in lid latches is just being stupid!

 

[combo52]

Speed Queen top load TR series leaking oil?

Hi, thanks for investigating and your good pictures, whatever is in that little plastic tray was poured into the machine through the lid lock opening, that tray is designed to keep water spilled detergent bleach whatever from damaging the lid lock there was no grease used on a lid lock at the factory that’s for sure, I don’t think that is causing the stains, but who knows

We did have one customer with a TR machine where they kept pouring the bleach into that lid lock hole and it eventually ruined the lid lock because they did it a few too many times I guess, lol

John