front differential fluid question

[driver444]

I hate to sound stupid but...

I have a Mahindra 2015 4x4. I'm gonna be doing the first service on it this weekend, and will be replacing the front axle fluid.

I know there's a big dispute on all 4x4 tractors on whether to use hydraulic oil, or gear oil, but here's the thing...

The owner's manual says to replace the front axle fluid after the first 50 hours, and every 200 hours thereafter, with 85w140 gear oil. The thing is, When i pulled the oil level-check plug, it was clearly NOT gear oil that oozed out. It was hydraulic fluid.

I called the local Cub Cadet dealer since my mahindra dealer closed early that day (this mahindra is identical to a Cub 7200), and he said that either can be used.

So what should I do? I find it odd that the owner's manual would suggest a different lubricant that what was actually in the tractor from the factory.

 

[DieselPower]

Don't forget, owners manuals are usually created by people that have never even set in a tractor. A large number of tractor manufacturers spec. either UTF or gear oil in their front axles.

My personal opinion as a lubricants consultant is that if you just use your tractor for light to moderate 4WD use then the UTF is fine. If you tend to use it for heavy to severe use go with the gear oil. The gear oil will provide a greater film on the gear teeth then the thinner UTF will. Occasional snow plowing in the winter, pulling the occasional tree, mowing and mainly flat ground plowing, go with the UTF. Frequent use for plowing on steep grades, heavy FEL (as a dozer blade) and other heavy 4WD use I would go with the gear oil.

 

[George2615]

Driver,
When I did my 50 and 200 hr service in my 2615 I used UTF in the front axle. I've had no problems with it.

 

[driver444]

Thanks to both of you.

I don't really use the tractor for anything considered extreme, and I fear that 85W140 will turn into a brick during the winter months. I'll probably do the udt thing.

 

[Soundguy]

I'd like to point out 1 distinction here... there is a HUGE difference between HYDRAULIC oil, and UTF / TRANSDRAULIC oil.

You go putting straight hydraulic oil inthe front end.. I suspect you will be back here positng eventually asking how to make some repairs... UTF has an add package that makes it compatible in final drives.. gearboxes.. etc..

Soundguy

I hate to sound stupid but...

I have a Mahindra 2015 4x4. I'm gonna be doing the first service on it this weekend, and will be replacing the front axle fluid.

I know there's a big dispute on all 4x4 tractors on whether to use hydraulic oil, or gear oil, but here's the thing...

The owner's manual says to replace the front axle fluid after the first 50 hours, and every 200 hours thereafter, with 85w140 gear oil. The thing is, When i pulled the oil level-check plug, it was clearly NOT gear oil that oozed out. It was hydraulic fluid.

I called the local Cub Cadet dealer since my mahindra dealer closed early that day (this mahindra is identical to a Cub 7200), and he said that either can be used.

So what should I do? I find it odd that the owner's manual would suggest a different lubricant that what was actually in the tractor from the factory.

 

[IH3444]

Use a good quality synthetic gear oil such as Mobil 1, 75w-90, or for more protection, Amsoil Series 3000, 75w-140. It will flow well down into the low temps.

 

[driver444]

I didn't mean to confuse the issue. When I said hydraulic oil, I meant the kind of fluid the rest of the tractor takes, ie. transmission, hydraulic system, etc.

 

[Soundguy]

I didn't mean to confuse the issue. When I said hydraulic oil, I meant the kind of fluid the rest of the tractor takes, ie. transmission, hydraulic system, etc.

Commonly refered to as UTF, universal tractor fluid.. transdraulic fluid.. etc.

Saying /hydraulic oil/ typically leads people to think of 'plain' hydraulic oil.. IE.. r&o type fluids and jack oil..e tc.

Soundguy

 

[big bubba]

So....what's the consensus here regarding 80/90 GL5 gear oil at, say, 25 degrees F for the front axle 4WD? Granted it is not high speed or extreme pressure, but will it have good flow characteristics at that temp and below? Straight synthetic gear oil is way to costly, a synthetic blend 75/90 is close to $4.00/qt. Your thoughts? Guess if the manual (Kubota) states conventional GL4/5 it's okay. Your take? bb

 

[Soundguy]

I tend to prefer 'real' gear oil in gear boxes nd 4wd axles.. however have had applications that called fro utf. my ex-NH1920 called for utf in the front axle.. never had a problem with it.

soundguy

 

[RexB]

Dumb question i searched for: This CK30 being a 4WD, so can I use Limited Slip gear oil (80/90W) like in my trucks, though it is a different gearing material setup?

the shop manual specs 80/90W but no mention of LS additive and i've got an extra gallon of API/GL5 LS

 

[dfkrug]

Dumb question i searched for: This CK30 being a 4WD, so can I use Limited Slip gear oil (80/90W) like in my trucks, though it is a different gearing material setup?

the shop manual specs 80/90W but no mention of LS additive and i've got an extra gallon of API/GL5 LS

My CK30 specs gear oil, but came new with hyd oil of some unknown type and
brand. My Kubota specs UDT OR gear oil. Quite a difference there. I prefer
gear oil for diff gears, and I think that 80 or 90 weight gear oil with LS
additives would be OK. Doesn't the container say it is OK to use with
conventional diffs?

 

[Soundguy]

If I bought a machine and it came with plain hyd oil in a gear sump.. I'd never let the driver leave who unloaded it.. it would go right back...

UTF or gear oil would be different.. but 'jack oil'.. no thanks...

Soundguy

 

[RexB]

My CK30 specs gear oil, but came new with hyd oil of some unknown type and brand. My Kubota specs UDT OR gear oil. Quite a difference there. I prefer gear oil for diff gears, and I think that 80 or 90 weight gear oil with LS additives would be OK. Doesn't the container say it is OK to use with conventional diffs?

The gear oil container big or fine print both doesn't mention conventional differentials, it says "Limited Slip API/GL-5 Plus Gear Oil SAE 80W90. For complete fill or topping off of: manual transmissions, hypoid type differentials, limited-slip/twin grip/trac-lok/sure-grip differentials. Performance equivalent to Ford M2C197A, Chrysler MS9020, Mack GO-H, G, & F.

A hypoid gear is a type of spiral bevel gear like in this front end, so this gear oil ought to be Ok in this front axle when both wheels are pulling.

As far as conventional differentials go, a manufacturer (Red Line) claims its "75W90 Gear Oil provides excellent protection in nearly all differentials, conventional and limited slip" so I agree with you that a LS additive ought to be allright to use in either.

Web pundits have it both ways - some say don't use LS in conventional diffs, some say it doesn't matter. This tractor shop manual doesn't say one way or another.

 

[DieselPower]

Yes, the gear oil that is limited slip compatible will be fine for conventional gear sets. The additional additives are friction modifiers used for the clutch disc in limited slip differential's.

 

[RexB]

Thanks for the answers, the new 80W90 LS gear oil is in and drove it in 4WD figure-eights yesterday to work the oil around the gears and listen for any chatter/binding. (The wife drove it while i walked by the front axles.) Then took off the fill plugs to see if there was any foaming. The new 80W90 LS works fine so far.

Back to the woods work. But first I gotta' get the wife off the tractor!

 

[Brimstone10x]

anymore it seams that gearboxs in cars trucks and tractors are calling for thiner oils . in deeres mfwds that used to call for 80w90 now call for hygard . I think in all but the most extrem cases the thiner oils are just fine and may be beater at cool temps.