Help choosing hydraulic fluid

[Gary Fowler]

I will give my 2Cents on this topic again. Many think that they have to use Kubota oils in their machines just because Kubota sells it, it must be the best stuff. I will say again, there is no Kubota refinery anywhere in the world making KUBOTA oils. They buy from a supplier that they cut a deal with to sell them the cheapest oil that will meet their specification so they can mark it up a heck of a lot and sell it to folks thinking it is THE BEST. If it is made by a refinery to an API grade it will meet that spec. If it meets the spec for the grade of oil specified, then it meets or exceeds that spec. No one puts something on a can and says it meets an API spec if it doesnt( well maybe in Nigeria). They can all be traced back to the manufacturer if you need to. Use whatever brand makes you feel good and gives you peace of mind. IF that is $100 per quart Super Majjic" oil or $2 per quart meets the spec oil, buy whatever you want. It has all been tested to meet the API certifying agency requirements if it has that cert on the label and no manufacturer is going to void your warranty if you show that you used the correct grade and spec of oil.

 

[KennyV]

I will give my 2Cents on this topic again. Many think that they have to use Kubota oils in their machines just because Kubota sells it, it must be the best stuff. I will say again, there is no Kubota refinery anywhere in the world making KUBOTA oils. They buy from a supplier that they cut a deal with to sell them the cheapest oil that will meet their specification so they can mark it up a heck of a lot and sell it to folks thinking it is THE BEST. If it is made by a refinery to an API grade it will meet that spec. If it meets the spec for the grade of oil specified, then it meets or exceeds that spec. No one puts something on a can and says it meets an API spec if it doesnt( well maybe in Nigeria). They can all be traced back to the manufacturer if you need to. Use whatever brand makes you feel good and gives you peace of mind. IF that is $100 per quart Super Majjic" oil or $2 per quart meets the spec oil, buy whatever you want. It has all been tested to meet the API certifying agency requirements if it has that cert on the label and no manufacturer is going to void your warranty if you show that you used the correct grade and spec of oil.

Gary ... that is what I have always known...
I was just wondering what kind of language was written into some of these peoples warranties that caused them to think they had to use Kubota oils to "protect themselves" and their warranty.. That is the most ridiculous reasoning I have ever came across... KennyV

 

[Jay4200]

Gary ... that is what I have always known...
I was just wondering what kind of language was written into some of these peoples warranties that caused them to think they had to use Kubota oils to "protect themselves" and their warranty.. That is the most ridiculous reasoning I have ever came across... KennyV

Especially with hydro-trans fluid. I might consider spending more for a motor oil, although I'm a fan of cheap oil changed often rather than expensive oil changed infrequently. A tractor transmission and hydraulic system is a pretty low-stress environment, all things considered.

JayC

 

[Soundguy]

If it makes you feel better buy the expensive stuff. I do for some of my applications then on others I just buy what is on sale. I do about 100 oil changes per year along with tranny fluids, diff fluids, ect. Never had a oil failure.

Its more important to keep clean fluid in it than the name brand.

Chris

ditto that. I buy usualy whatever utf is on sale between walmart or tractor supply. both seem to be a warren distributed oil anyway. for instance.. tomorrow looks like tsc gets my monet as they are a buck 25 per gallon cheaper than walmart.. and i'm buying quite a few pales.. so it adds up.

ditto on clean oil that match yer machines specs and at correct intervals.


soundguy

 

[FF117]

Just so you guys know, I don't own a Kubota, I own a Branson. If my manual listed a particular spec, then I would use any oil that meets that spec. However, my manual lists two specific oils (neither of which are available locally) and they meet many specs. So if I use an oil that isn't listed, which spec should I go by. I made an assumption that J20C was the needed spec, but really don't know for sure. So that left me with the question of whether to use a direct cross-reference (expensive) oil or take a shot on the generic oil that lists several of the same specs. Didn't mean to start any trouble, just thought I would get some opinions. Maybe I just stated my question poorly.

Also, maybe I should go through my warranty paperwork with a fine toothed comb.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Soundguy]

find an oil that meets the same spec as the oils listed in yer manual..

soundguy

 

[nrrd]

Speaking of tractor hydraulic-transmission fluids, the "cheap" brands out there all almost always made from napthenic base crude oils and the premium grade fluids will almost always be made from paraffinic base crude oils. Paraffinic based oils are much better quality and will not "break down" due to oxidation , etc. nearly as quickly as napthenic based oils. If I've got a "leaker", I use the cheap stuff. Otherwise, I go with the good stuff. Hydraulic pumps aren't cheap, so , to me, it is worth the difference.
Just my two cents.

 

[sw03]

Speaking of tractor hydraulic-transmission fluids, the "cheap" brands out there all almost always made from napthenic base crude oils and the premium grade fluids will almost always be made from paraffinic base crude oils. Paraffinic based oils are much better quality and will not "break down" due to oxidation , etc. nearly as quickly as napthenic based oils. If I've got a "leaker", I use the cheap stuff. Otherwise, I go with the good stuff. Hydraulic pumps aren't cheap, so , to me, it is worth the difference.
Just my two cents.

I agree and and the Chinamart oils are wax based. But then again Kubota SUDT is now a Super SUDT...Gee, price is lower too. So Kubota was taking their customers for a ride years ago!

 

[ModMech]

Magnuson-Moss says a manufacturer (Kubota, GM etc) cannot REQUIRE the use of OEM "maintenance items" (lube, plugs, belts etc) to retain the factory warranty.

There are standards, they might be *minimum* standards, but standards none-the-less and as long as the item meets those published standards, you are not doing any HARM by using it.

Manufacturer's "standards" like Mercon(tm), Dexron(tm) etc, are ways for the OEM to collect licensing fees from those that wish to ensure to the retail customer that the item (ATF in this example) meets all the OEM requirements for that item. Kubota, JD, CNH, CAT all have "standards" that have unique identifiers, on occasion you see that OEM standard on a container of oil, which tells you that the oil has been formulated to meet the standard and implies "approval" for that use.

Because each OEM has their own way of administering these standards and they CHARGE the supplier for every quart with the OEM's "ok" on the container, the API and SAE have decided to establish their own "universal" standards. If you read the operator's guide you will see "API" and "SAE" listed, if the lube meets those standards, it will be ok to use, period.

 

[sw03]

Magnuson-Moss says a manufacturer (Kubota, GM etc) cannot REQUIRE the use of OEM "maintenance items" (lube, plugs, belts etc) to retain the factory warranty.

There are standards, they might be *minimum* standards, but standards none-the-less and as long as the item meets those published standards, you are not doing any HARM by using it.

Manufacturer's "standards" like Mercon(tm), Dexron(tm) etc, are ways for the OEM to collect licensing fees from those that wish to ensure to the retail customer that the item (ATF in this example) meets all the OEM requirements for that item. Kubota, JD, CNH, CAT all have "standards" that have unique identifiers, on occasion you see that OEM standard on a container of oil, which tells you that the oil has been formulated to meet the standard and implies "approval" for that use.

Because each OEM has their own way of administering these standards and they CHARGE the supplier for every quart with the OEM's "ok" on the container, the API and SAE have decided to establish their own "universal" standards. If you read the operator's guide you will see "API" and "SAE" listed, if the lube meets those standards, it will be ok to use, period.

I agree and I know a lot of users that are now banned here that brought this up years ago.

Some people like the MM act. Some say it does not work. When I bought a car, higher end, and the dealer said I need to keep receipts on oil changes etc to adhere to warranty. I said that does not prove I install the items. In the end, the dealer will pull a UOA on the fluid and not trust the customer.

To close, that is why I dislike buying OEM fluid since some like Amsoil, Redline etc perform 10X better at < the OEM price.