ATF in place of UTF, for tractor?

[California]

We've seen it suggested in the Yanmar forum that ATF is superior to UTF for Yanmar's Powershift transmissions, providing smoother shifting and better cold weather fluidity. Powershift is about the same as a car A/T with internal wet clutch packs shifted by hydraulic circuits. (an ordinary clutch is between the engine and the transmission input; no torque converter).

One respected gray-market importer said he used ATF in everything he sold, and saw zero problems over several years.

What are the pros and cons of using ATF in place of UTF? Possibly better cold weather operation?

 

[Diamondpilot]

We ran ATF in a New Holland Mustang Skid Steer (BobCat) my neighbor had. Made leaks easy to detect.

Never had a issue.

Chris

 

[jerrybob]

I can only tell you that when I bought my 186D several years ago......the fluid was terrible.....milky brown and the filter screen was full of crud. We drained all fluids.....cleaned filter and added ATF based on the recommendation of a Yanmar tractor dealer that is no longer around. Ran that ATF fluid for a few months.....drained it and refilled filled with new ATF. Over the 6 years I've had the tractor........I've never used anything other than ATF. Performance wise......never have had a problem and all is well.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I don't know about the modern CUT tractors and use of ATV. I know the old IH Tractors used Hy-Tran which looked just like the red ATF and it could well have been. I know we sometimes borrowed equipment that was run on IH tractors and hooked them up to our tractors with UTF with no problems but that was with maybe half a gallon into 50 gallon reservoirs.
I sure wouldn't substitute it on any of my tractors.

 

[buickanddeere]

Some ATF has friction modifiers and some doesn't.

 

[careyo63]

My concern also were JD303 is recommended and the effect on the Hyd. Lift using just ATF.. And agree also with the older Hyd. equipment? My Mid. to late model Yanmar only holds maybe 4.5 to 5Gal. Max. Which is the same as a lot of models sold by JD. of that era. Anyone had any problems? And like asked Cold weather Esp.? I can't say and even checked a few things, but can't find the first complaint on anything using ATF..

 

[fortec]

UTF is a very different chemistry to that of ATFs. One very major difference is the amount of anti-wear component, which is far higher in a UTF. Having worked with both types of product I personally would not substitute an ATF for UTF in the application.

 

[careyo63]

I discarded the Bucket Yrs. ago but found this old pic. I used on TBN of all places around 2008. From TSC. 32F was hard to believe.

 

[fortec]

There are plenty of UTFs available, (or UTTO as they are known in Europe). It's best to stick with major known brands, such as Mobil 424 for instance. Don't be tempted by low price offers as there are a number of 'knock off' products being marketed. Some of those are often undertreated with key additives.

 

[woolyAcres]

I'm following this discussion with interest. I'm a cold climate user (0F would probably be the coldest I'd try to use my tractor on any regular basis) but I run a standard geared Yanmar (as opposed to California's power shuttle which seems to be more like and automatic transmission). So far I've only been using the mfg's recommended JD303. Would moving to something thinner make cold weather operation easier on the components? If so, what are other folks using in place of JD303?