Changing Hydro Fluid??

MikePA · Nov 29, 2003

Did you get your fluid from a local dealer or mail order. 
I ordered from the Amsoil web site. The return shipping address indicates it came from a place about 25 miles from me.

dass · Nov 29, 2003

Ok, Your shipping was more than likely less than mine would be. If I remember right my total would have been well over a hundred bucks. Couldn't find a dealer within 50 miles,so I stayed with the NH stuff.

MikePA · Nov 29, 2003

If I remember right my total would have been well over a hundred bucks. 
I checked my records and I paid $140 for 8 gallons of Amsoil hydraulic fluid (5 gallon pail plus a case of quarts). My local NH dealer is a 50 mile round trip plus, they didn't stock the F200 fluid. Since they're also a Kubota dealer, if someone wanted F200, they used Kubota's Super UDT. They would have ordered the F200 for me but their price (for either Super UDT or F200), while less than Amsoil wasn't that much less, plus I would have had to pick it up. Much easier to order it online from Amsoil. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

jinman · Nov 29, 2003

Mike, what's your opinion of the Super UDT since you've changed to it? Warmup is normally not my problem because we have temperatures above freezing for most of the winter with only a few excursions down into the 20s when cold fronts come through. I'm more interested in whine reduction and how your hydro tranny works with the thinner synthetic; specifically, under heavy pulling conditions. I'm already at about 530 hours on my tractor and at 600 hr it will be time to change the oil again. I just might give synthetic a try.

jinman · Nov 29, 2003

Brad, I believe your tractor is like mine in that it has a hydraulic filter and a hydrostatic (HST) filter. At 50 hours, the Owner's Manual calls for both the HST filter and Hydraulic filters to be changed, but not the fluid. I suspect that they think any small "trash" in the system will be trapped by the filters. I'm sure NHs engineers used their experience to calculate a "filter-only" change as sufficient. I've always been one to change oil and filters at the same time, but that's also been in an engine application. For the hydraulics, after this "safety" filter change, the Owner's Manual schedule calls for a change of both fluid and filters at every 300 hours.

There are plenty of folks who will change this oil much more frequently and probably do the same with air and fuel filters. At some point, you might ask, "How much is too much?" Well, I guess when your garage or shop fills up with containers full of used oil, that's "too much." /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif My point is that too much is an individual thing, but too little is longer than the Owner's Manual schedule. Honestly, if there is one thing I don't do enough, it's change the engine coolant. My owners manual says "Seasonal" for the interval. Does that mean spring, summer, fall, winter? ...or summer and winter? ... or just annually? Do you know anyone who changes their coolant four times per year? Ouch! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I wish they had made that a little more clear. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

MikePA · Nov 29, 2003

Mike, what's your opinion of the Super UDT 
Jim, I went with Amsoil, not the Kubota Super UDT. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 I'm more interested in whine reduction and how your hydro tranny works with the thinner synthetic; specifically, under heavy pulling conditions. 
Other than whine reduction, I have not noticed any difference in performance. When I changed the fluid this past July, I did not notice any difference in the thickness/thinness of the fluid I drained out versus the synthetic I put in.

Bird · Nov 29, 2003

Jim, I changed to Amsoil in my B2710 hydraulics and do believe it slightly reduced the hydrostat whine and the temperature of the hydraulic oil, although the reduction was not drastic. Personally, I think it's good stuff, but not worth what it costs (purely personal opinion, of course).

jinman · Nov 29, 2003

Thanks Mike and Bird, I may also talk to my dealer's service manager. He's a real "straight shooter" and will tell me if he has seen a noticeable difference with the synthetics.

...and an interesting side note. Today I had my oil changed in my pickup and the gas station/garage had a waste oil burning heater installed. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif They said it burned about 10 gallons in 24 hours if you let it run constantly. It sounds like a great use of old motor oil. The reservoir holds 250 gallons and 10 gallons in 24 hours is not too badd for a 4-bay garage (about 4,500 sq ft). That's quite a bit of oil and more than the average person has laying around. I wonder if it will burn hydraulic oil too. ...forgot to ask.

SimS · Nov 29, 2003

I was wondering today, what to do with the 12+ gallons of used hydraulic oil in my shop. Sounds like jinman is going to burn his. What does everyone do with your used hydro oil?
Thanks.

Sim

MikePA · Nov 29, 2003

What does everyone do with your used hydro oil? 
Mine went in the same 5 gallon container where I put my used motor oil. Once it is full, I dispose of it at the oil recycling tank at my local Advanced Auto Parts.