Correct fluids for Mahindra Max 28XL

[Billy the T]

Howdy -

I have a 2013 Max 28XL. I have the owner's manual and service manual. The service manual contradicts itself and is a bit confusing regarding the correct fluids to use in the transmission/hydraulic oil for the shuttle trans. Last year, I wanted to replace the fluids, so I called the local Mahindra dealer and spoke with their service guy. He was actually very helpful and he agreed with me that the service manual was confusing and unclear. He told me that the front axle uses 80/90 gear oil, and the transmission uses universal tractor fluid.

So I bought Tractor Supply universal tractor fluid and put that in the transmission. And yes, I changed all filters.

The hydraulics seem to me to be slower and weaker than they used to be - which in fact was one of the reasons I decided to change the fluids and filters. But it doesn't seem to me that it got any better.

I just went to the Mahindra website and sent a message via the "contact us" link and asked the question.

The reply I got back says "The Max 28XLT requires universal/hydraulic tractor transmission fluid in both manual transmission and front axle." Well, I am 100% positive that is WRONG. The front axle uses gear oil, not universal hydraulic fluid. So that tells me that whoever this person is, giving out technical advice on behalf of Mahindra, doesn't know what he's talking about.

I also had asked him SPECIFICALLY what fluids it uses - and that's all he gave me.

I saw a YouTube video today where a guy had an old Kubota where the three-point hitch was slow and wouldn't stay up. He ended up using a heavier grade hydraulic oil in the transmission, and that fixed it. So that's making me wonder if I need a heavier weight oil than the Tractor Supply stuff, which supposedly is a 10W-30 weight universal hydraulic oil.

I love my little Mahindra tractor - it's been great in general - but it seems that Mahindra's support is terrible.

 

[RjCorazza]

It is actually quite common for the front axle to take 80w90 gear oil OR Universal Tractor Hydraulic / Transmission Fluid. The viscosities are very similar.
My preference in the front axle is gear oil, but Kubota specs either gear oil or UDT.

 

[Billy the T]

It is actually quite common for the front axle to take 80w90 gear oil OR Universal Tractor Hydraulic / Transmission Fluid. The viscosities are very similar.
My preference in the front axle is gear oil, but Kubota specs either gear oil or UDT.

Thanks.

The manual is terribly unclear, and it's made worse by the poor translation into English.

 

[RjCorazza]

Thanks.

The manual is terribly unclear, and it's made worse by the poor translation into English.

It's not just poor Mahindra manuals... All brands seem to be poorly documented in the manual. Capacities, oil types, coolant, grease points, etc...
There are better Universal Tractor Hydraulic / Transmission oils than TSC premium UTF. Many users here on TBN use TSC UTF Premium fluid with good results though.