HST Oil Change: Fact or Fiction?

[IslandTractor]

Is there a special test for hydraulic oil or do you submit it with the same kit as engine oil? I'll check the Blackstone site later.

 

[newbury]

Is there a special test for hydraulic oil or do you submit it with the same kit as engine oil? I'll check the Blackstone site later.

The "kit" is just a sample jar that goes inside a bigger jar which holds a card you fill out and some padding. It's the same for all oils.

 

[IslandTractor]

The "kit" is just a sample jar that goes inside a bigger jar which holds a card you fill out and some padding. It's the same for all oils.

Thanks.

 

[drizler]

In many of today's cars auto transmissions may have a lifetime fill, but the oil doesn't last that long. If you own one, change the fluid and filter, regardless of the recommendations, if you want the transmission to last...

So true I guess. It's hard to find a car that died at 200k miles that wasn't on it's second tranny. Add to that the new ones with their dependence on electronics don't seem to be as reliable as the old tried and true hydraulic / vacuum type. They are all ohhh and ahhhh for mileage but beyond that forget it. Sadly, standards are becoming a "special order" item and get this.......they cost MORE:thumbdown:

 

[ray66v]

It's hard to find a car that died at 200k miles that wasn't on it's second tranny.

Both of our previous vehicles, have well over 200k on the original transmissions.

One is at 243k, and the other is at 270k.

 

[IslandTractor]

Both of our previous vehicles, have well over 200k on the original transmissions. One is at 243k, and the other is at 270k.

People complain about transmissions but only because the rest of the vehicle is lasting so much longer than they used to. Engines are essentially good for the life of the car these days. Who's had a valve job or needed an engine rebuilt in a vehicle since about 1990? Transmissions in 1971 Chevy Impalas probably didn't last more than 100-150 thousand miles either but we won't know because the Impalas rusted away or had multiple engine failures before hitting 200,000. Of course there were exceptions but I'd say cars are both more reliable and longer lasting today than in "the good old days".

 

[Gary Fowler]

Heat and wear particles from the oil bath disc brakes would be enough to make me change every time, whole lot cheaper than a new hydro!

Other than parking, I rarely use the brakes on my B26 so I wouldn't worry too much about that. I really doubt that a properly stored (inside enclosed structure) tractor would ever wear out the oil or additives in hydraulic oil. There is not outside contamination on tractors with no remote outlets and if you don't use equipment from neighbors, even with remotes there is not much likelihood of cross contamination of oil. That being said, the changing of fluids in most folks CUTs every 400 hours or so is not that great of an expense that it couldn't be done on the recommended interval especially if doing it yourself so the only expense is the materials used.

Personally I put maybe 75 hours per year on my B26 so an oil change every 5 years or so is not going to break the bank.

 

[ray66v]

People complain about transmissions but only because the rest of the vehicle is lasting so much longer than they used to.

I completely understand that.

However, every machine will always have a weakest point.

 

[IslandTractor]

I completely understand that. However, every machine will always have a weakest point.

And I agree that economically it is the transmission that often is the last straw that send a vehicle to the junkyard. $7000 for a new transmission will kill just about any budget.

 

[ray66v]

If the possibility of some low level of contamination, that is too small in particle size, or of a type that is unable to be caught by the filter, is a good reason for changing the transmission oil, even in a case where there is no reason to believe there is any. Consider, that even after you change the HST oil, some of that contamination is still going to be in there somewhere. Because you can't get it all out.

So, now what are you going to do? :confused3:

I'll bet you, any dealer can tell you of a tractor that was traded in with many many hundreds of hours on it, that still had the original filter on the transmission. And, it still worked fine.

There doesn't seem to be threads, all over TBN about transmission failures, which could suggest there should be extra attention paid to this.

Again, if it was working hard, and getting dirty, or sitting outside all the time, by all means, I would change it.