UDT vs. SUDT

[bp fick]

The "debate" over these two Kubota fluids is pointless and tedious, most of the time.

It is similar to debating which is better, 20W-30 or straight 30W?
Which, by the way, is essentially the difference between the two. Bah.

Frankly, the length of time my hydro takes to warm up, I wouldn't mind Kubota introducing a hydro fluid that had even faster flow properties. It might have to be semi-synthetic to achieve that goal, while still having hot temperature protection. I, for one, look toward a future fluid that superior even to sudt.

 

[DickS]

I've opted for Schaeffer's Pure Synthetic (#264).

 

[bp fick]

It's a warranty issue, as long as that is in place, guys are always hesitant to change from branded stuff. Understandable. Kubota dealers have never hesitated in covering warranty HST issues, when sudt is in there. Put in something else and well, you give them an excuse. That point has been made here on other threads many, many times.

When warranty period is over, I would like to try 100% synthetic from Chevron, but honestly? There is zero price advantage.

 

[radioman]

It's a warranty issue, as long as that is in place, guys are always hesitant to change from branded stuff. Understandable. Kubota dealers have never hesitated in covering warranty HST issues, when sudt is in there. Put in something else and well, you give them an excuse. That point has been made here on other threads many, many times.

When warranty period is over, I would like to try 100% synthetic from Chevron, but honestly? There is zero price advantage.

Yeah - you are right about that . They look to any excuse to save a buck.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Yeah - you are right about that . They look to any excuse to save a buck.

It's a warranty issue, as long as that is in place, guys are always hesitant to change from branded stuff. Understandable. Kubota dealers have never hesitated in covering warranty HST issues, when sudt is in there. Put in something else and well, you give them an excuse. That point has been made here on other threads many, many times.

When warranty period is over, I would like to try 100% synthetic from Chevron, but honestly? There is zero price advantage.
__________________
BP

You give them an excuse is what he's saying. Dealers get paid for warranty work. This comes back to a bad vs good dealer who will have major input into the decision of warranty or not warranty. If there is no difference in what fluids you use then no one but you will ever know you don't use Kubota "stuff" or is there a difference that they can tell.

 

[KennyV]

It's a warranty issue, as long as that is in place, guys are always hesitant to change from branded stuff. Understandable. Kubota dealers have never hesitated in covering warranty HST issues, when sudt is in there. Put in something else and well, you give them an excuse. That point has been made here on other threads many, many times.

I have been reading most all the posts, at least most Kubota related posts for many years, even before joining this group.
I have seen references to warranty issues and the use of non branded oil, filters hydraulic fluid, tires, paint, attachments and everything but factory recommended air in the tires...

BUT I can NOT recall any instance of a warranty issue being declined because a non Kubota labeled fluid was used... can anyone come up with a Kubota 'nit picking' warranty issue?

The "I don't want to take a chance group", has no reason to consider it is taking a chance. Use an approved fluid... it will work... change at reasonable (for the application) intervals, it will work. Kubota makes tractors not oils. If it meets spec... It is approved.

In warranty period or out of warranty ... you should use a good fluid. And as stated there are good dealerships and bad, there are also good service departments and those that will try to cover up a mistake in delivery prep...

bp fick ..."I, for one, look toward a future fluid that superior even to sudt."... The future is now... any good full synthetic will do that... Is it worth the trouble to locate a rea$onable $upply ??? good question.
I use TSC travelers premium UDT in my GST. KennyV

 

[bp fick]

I would like to think a Chevron Synthetic is superior to udt or sudt, but I don't have an empirical way of pre-testing that, other than reading specs which are like statistics........

We shall see. I face a total fluid change this spring or early summer and more than likely Kubota sudt will go back in. First reason is that it isn't cheap, but isn't that much more expensive than any other super duper name brand fluid like the Chevron synthetic mentioned.

The next change after that would project to be some 2 or 3 years out. By then? Who knows. It would be off warranty and who is to say what product choices might be available then.

As for Kubota "knowing" you have used another fluid in your HST, it is pretty easy, actually. Sudt is clear and both Texaco/Chevron sythetic is orange, I believe. Pretty much a dead give away.

 

[bp fick]

I have been reading most all the posts, at least most Kubota related posts for many years, even before joining this group.
I have seen references to warranty issues and the use of non branded oil, filters hydraulic fluid, tires, paint, attachments and everything but factory recommended air in the tires...

BUT I can NOT recall any instance of a warranty issue being declined because a non Kubota labeled fluid was used... can anyone come up with a Kubota 'nit picking' warranty issue?

KennyV

Yes, there have been, if I recall. Messicks has recently reported (and yes, he is a dealer, FWIW) that they had tractor with an Non Kubota oil or trans filter that failed. They did not submit the repair under Kubota's warranty, but referred the customers to NAPA or whoever to cover the repair under their warranty. Now, that does not sound like any fun at all.

Messick further stated that had it been a New Holland on a NH tractor or a Kubota filter on a Kubota tractor the tractor company would have covered it with no questions asked.

That example sticks in my mind, but there may be more real life examples, I don't know.

 

[KennyV]

They did not submit the repair under Kubota's warranty, but referred the customers to NAPA

This would appear to be a filter failure??
Also it was not 'turned down by Kubota'... It was a product failure?
If something failed on the tractor causing the filter to blow, Messicks would have noted that and Kubota would have stepped up. And if it was a defective filter, I would have no problem believing NAPA/Wix took care of it...
My point was/is Kubota is not going to nit pick the warranty, how many out of warranty claims have you read about that Kubota took care of either completely or partially... Not all but a few for sure. I do not think Kubota is going to treat any customer with petty discrimination... and I do NOT think the warranty states you MUST use SUDT or house brand filters.
Kubota UDT and SUDT are in fact the same, one is straight weight the other multi viscosity. Synthetic is different... and arguably superior, again I don't know if it is worth the effort to find a source for the difference.
I have never started any of my equipment and put it to work without allowing a warm up, so that particular advantage for synthetic is lost for me.
The idea that some have that after the warranty is over ... "THEN I will switch to something else"... that's the part I have a problem understanding.
If you believe you are doing the best service that is practical when your equipment is new/young, wouldn't it be reasonable you would continue to after it is older... ? KennyV
PS. Really...can anyone come up with a Kubota 'nit picking' warranty issue?

 

[bp fick]

KennyV

You are an excellent communicator and I understand the point you are making completely. I honestly do not know the answer to the question, "Has Kubota turned down a warranty repair because there was TSC house brand udt type fluid in the trans?"

I do not know. Perhaps, Messick will answer.

The only example I know of is the one Messick gave concerning a non-OEM filter failure. Your question is a good one.