Fifty Hour Fluid Change Questions

[JMC68301]

I see several threads on this already but none that recent I had also had a question on oil weights.

Mahindra mpower 75p first fluids change. My dealer is too far away for Mahindra specific fluids but getting filters through them.

Several Oils listed that of CJ4 type that can be used Citgard 600, Delo 400 LE, Mobil Delvac Elite, Shell Rotella T3. Recommendations from these?

Related question is that manual also calls for other grades as temperatures vary which includes a 5W30, the 15W40, and a 10W40. Why should I not just use a 5W40 to cover my temperature range winter and summer, that is if that grade is availble in the oils listed above?

Next question is the hyd/trans fluid options: Shell Donax TD (now Spirex I guess), Mobil Fluid 424, GULF UTTF, Tractelf BF 12, Tractelf C4 100, Hydro Clear Power Train Fluid Any suggestions?

Thanks for the information.

 

[Clipse3GT]

Engine Oil - Rotella T6 5w-40 (CJ-4) rating is the latest standard for Tier 4 machines. You can see the reviews and oil analysis results on BITOG forums. Easy to get most anywhere even Walmart. Usually sales on it couple times a year. A lot of high performance cars use it with great success as well. Get a decent synthetic media filter and you should be set. Oil change should be less than $30 bucks and probably easily go 1-2 seasons or double the hours manufacturer recommends as long as air filter is clean.

Hydraulic oil if you operate and either extreme - very hot or very cold go with a synthetic. Most people here seem to favor Amsoil 5w-30 Tractor Hydraulic oil. It is designed for wet brake, wet clutch, HST type transmissions. Most say faster warm up, quieter hydraulics / HST and longer run interval. Probably double of conventional. Cost is $200 for 5 gallons.

 

[bp fick]

Just a suggestion on the hydro fluid. A local Kubota or John Deere dealer will also have top shelf products, if spendy. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these re-branded synthetic HST fluids.

As for the oil, any local discount house, truck stop or auto parts store will sell T-6 Rotella or comparable Delo oil. The full synthetic 5w-40 is tough to beat for all season oil. Good filters are also readily available from Wix, NAPA, Baldwin, etc. OEM filters are readily available online and will be on your door step in less than a week. No need to drive all over burning fuel looking for them.

No real need to sweat this to the degree some folks do. Those Mahindras are worked hard all over the world and goodness only knows what lubrication/filtration products goes into them. We're blessed here to have great products, at good prices, at our virtually our finger tips. Just get it done and enjoy the holidays and the New Year.

 

[JMC68301]

Thanks BP and Clipse3GT for the information.

Upon further reading in the fine print I see in the manual that "was factory filled with 15W40"...and "from first service onwards 15W40 CJ-4 is to be used.

So to keep my decision making simple thinking of using Shell Rotella T5 15W40 year round? and Shell Rotella HD for the Hyd/Trans. Both are readily available to me. No problems with this is there? Just trying to make sure I keep to specs. for 5 year warranty.

Thanks again.

 

[arrow]

Thanks BP and Clipse3GT for the information.

Upon further reading in the fine print I see in the manual that "was factory filled with 15W40"...and "from first service onwards 15W40 CJ-4 is to be used.

So to keep my decision making simple thinking of using Shell Rotella T5 15W40 year round? and Shell Rotella HD for the Hyd/Trans. Both are readily available to me. No problems with this is there? Just trying to make sure I keep to specs. for 5 year warranty.

Thanks again.

You'll have easier start ups with the 5w-40. For running, you have the same protection as both oils are measured the same at higher temps so you should receive no guff warranty wise. When I was looking to change out my Mahindra fluid, I did the same as you and tried to find the alternative oils as stated in the manual. I couldn't find anywhere convenient to buy the alternative oils and they were comparatively priced to the Mahindra stuff.

One thing that did surprise me was that the initial oil put in at the factory was thicker than the recommended Mahindra replacement hydraulic oils. It also had a purplish tinge to it. Any other
top rated factory hydraulic oil will work in the Mahindra. I can understand your point about the hydraulic oil and Mahindra warranty. That is the main reason I stuck with the Mahindra hydraulic stuff.

It was very tempting to buy the $45 Tractor Supply stuff over the $85 Mahindra oil. The TSC can even stated it was suitable for Mahindra but the Mahindra manual stated nothing about that it was ok to use the TSC oil.
Right or wrong, I went with the Mahindra hydraulic. I use my tractor hard and the last thing I want is for some factory rep stating that they won't cover me if some little gear breaks because I didn't use the factory recommended stuff.

My manual also states the Shell Donax TD (Spirex) is ok. The Rotella HD seems to be a different blend. Some TSC stores carry the Spirex.
My overall recommendation is to go by what Mahindra is stating as suitable hydraulic oil.

 

[Clipse3GT]

I would still use a Rotella T6 (CJ-4) 5w-40 oil over a 15w-40. Much easier start up with a thinner oil and most of the wear on a engine is during start up not during operation. I read in my manual for the Iseki 1.1L - 15w-40 can be used if you plan to operate the equipment in 14F or greater temp range.

 

[LD1]

Yep, T6 5w40 will work any time a 10w40 or 15w40 oil is specified, and will work better.

T6 full synthetic dont cost a whole lot more than 15w40 non-synthetic. Well worth it IMO

 

[bp fick]

Any or all of the "stuff" will work, as it keep oil sloshing around. BUT?

In this day and age? It's kinda nuts (to my way of thinking) not to use sythetic or synthetic enhanced oils. The cost is minimally more and the features are so far superior in both cold winter start ups and blazing summer heat protection. I change the engine oil, what? Once a year? 18 months? I'm not gonna scrimp and why should we when Wally World sells Delo, Mobil, or Rotella synthetic engine oils at very affordable pricing.

Same with the hydro. I change that, what? Every three years? Goodness, the operational superiority of synthetic technology in the hydro is detectable. Less whine, faster, smoother operations, etc. The cheap stuff works, but the good stuff? One and done and no worries and you're doing what's right for the longevity of the machine and enabling top performance for you right now. After spending what we do for these machines, we sometimes then get all kinda goofy over a few bucks on putting in top fluids and start thinking that stuff in a bucket at TSC is gotta be as good as the top shelf stuff at the Case-NH, Kubota, JD or Mahindra dealership, right? Even says it meets the minimum spec on the container. Yeah, right. Tried the cheap generic stuff in the past and never again. Simply not worth the small savings in getting poorer operational performance.

The price point of where quality begins on hydro fluid doesn't need to be $300 a pail, but you're sure as heck not gonna get that same quality at $49 a pail either. There's a sweet spot on the quality/price ratio. Just gotta find it and then done, and be done with it.

 

[JMC68301]

Thanks again everyone for the good information. Uncle!:banghead: I'll be using Rotella T6 5W40 (SYNTHETIC) and Shell Spirax S4 TXM (SYNTHETIC) or MOBIL 424 (SYNTHETIC) if I can find a source. If not I'll be going to a local JD or Case dealer and getting their primo syn hyd/trans fluid.

 

[JoeyDude]

Next question is the hyd/trans fluid options: Shell Donax TD (now Spirex I guess), Mobil Fluid 424, GULF UTTF, Tractelf BF 12, Tractelf C4 100, Hydro Clear Power Train Fluid Any suggestions?

I recently went through this with my Mahindra MAX28. My selling dealer is over an hour away but I have a Tractor Supply 5 minutes away and Wal Mart 20 minutes away so it's a lot easier if I can find something at one of those stores.

Mahindra specifies Hydraulic Fluid that's GL-4 rated and I noticed that several of the brands sold at Tractor Supply do not say they are GL-4 rated on the container, so I did some internet research.

First, GL-5 specifications meet and exceed GL-4. So acceptable non Mahindra branded fluids that can be used include:

Shell Donax TD
Citgo Transgard Tractor Hydraulic Fluid
Exxon Torque Fluid 56
Chevron 1000 THF
Mobil Fluid 424
Texaco THD Special
Shell Rotella HD
Lucas Universal Hydraulic


The engine oils that meet the Mahindra spec include:

Mobil Delvac
Shell Rotella T
Texaco Ursa Super Plus
Chevron Delo 400
Exxon XD3Extra
Citgo Citgard
Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel


In the end, I went with Shell Rotella HD from Tractor Supply and Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel from Wal Mart.

My front axle calls for 80w GL-4. Again, GL-5 specs meet and exceed GL-4. Acceptable fluids there are:

Mobil 1 75w90 (GL-5)
Mobil 1 75w140 (is GL-5 but says GL-4 use in axles is ok but NOT in transmissions)
Lucas Heavy Duty Hugh Performance (GL-4)
Mystik JT-7 multi purpose (GL-5)
Traveller 80w90 (GL-5)
Traveller 85w140 (GL-5)
Valvoline 80w90


Interestingly enough, I happened across a different Mahindra dealer in my travels (that's also a big Polaris dealer) and thought it a stroke of luck that I might be able to pick up fluids and filters. Well, not so much. They didn't have *any* of the Mahindra Filters in stock and would have to order them but they said they did have hydraulic fluid in stock. When they brought it out, it was some off brand oil (I don't recall the name but I had never heard of them) and in checking the specifications listed on the pail, it made no mention of meeting either GL-4 OR GL-5. The dealer said that it was fine and they used it in all of their hydraulic equipment. That just didn't sit well with me so I didn't take it but I did take the last 3 or 4 gallons of the Mahindra brand Hydraulic Fluid they had on hand.