Gear oil or hydraulic tranny fluid?

[dickfoster]

Anything is possible. None of the brands I have, look or smell any different than 30W motor oil.

Most gear lubes have sulphur compounds in them so they usually have that rotten egg aroma. Never had motor oils smell like they had sulphur in them. I'm in the quality synthetic gear lube camp for front axles.

 

[redinrush]

Thanks to you all. This is such a valuable resource with input from so many. I'm very new to tractors,(50 hours new) and learn something new every time I use or service it. Hopefully, with experience, I might be able to return the favor sometime soon. For now, I would choose to listen and learn, thanks all

 

[ray66v]

Most gear lubes have sulphur compounds in them so they usually have that rotten egg aroma. Never had motor oils smell like they had sulphur in them. I'm in the quality synthetic gear lube camp for front axles.

The heavier heavier gear oils, do have the familiar smell.

From generic, to synthetic, no 80w90 I have used, has had that odor.

 

[ray66v]

We have built literally thousands of these Mitsu tractors over the years, and we put hy-trans in every single front axle on the Mitsu built machines. We clarified that with Mitsu over 10 years ago. We have never seen an oil related front axle failure, except when someone failed to put any oil in! Now that's a problem.

That being said, 80W-90 gear oil works just fine, and since at least some of the manuals show either or both, surely if there was a warranty type problem, nobody could blame an owner for using 80W-90 if the manual suggests both.

Some of the manuals, for years now, have been conflicting. Mahindra has no excuse for not clearing that up. But the good news is that either works. Just keep it under 60 mph and all is well....

Some people insist on gear oil, I'm not concerned either way honestly. Just changing it occasionally and making sure it is at the correct level is probably more important.

The conflict is, because they are basically the same thing.

My GC 2300 manual specs Permatran, or SAE 80 GL-4 gear lube, for the hydraulic transmission.

Both products are light weight gear oil.

The transmission oil is 80w gear oil, with additional additives, for wet brakes, anti-foaming, etc., that straight gear oil will likely not have. Because, the transmission oil has to do more things, than just lubricate gears.

EP gear oil, will have extreme pressure additives, that the transmission oil will likely not have.

Some equipment, such as my Landpride zero turn, even allow you to use 30w motor oil, for the transmission. Because, it's basically what they start out with when they make the transmission oil.

30w motor oil, and 80w gear oil, are the same basic viscosity. Gear oil is not rated on the same scale, as motor oil. This causes everyone to assume the gear oil is heaver. It is not.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I figure if it came with tran fluid, I'll use it... And since I'll have spare fluid on hand, I won't have to buy and keep another product.

 

[k0ua]

I figure if it came with tran fluid, I'll use it... And since I'll have spare fluid on hand, I won't have to buy and keep another product.

That was my thoughts on my previous Kubota's and my present Kioti. The manuals say use either one. So I used the same fluid as the hydro. In mine I used MobilFluid 424.

 

[dickfoster]

The heavier heavier gear oils, do have the familiar smell.

From generic, to synthetic, no 80w90 I have used, has had that odor.

I get it even with 75W90 synthetic gear lube.
You should try getting a crotch load of it sometime at 2AM like I did once. I unscrewed a drain plug instead of screwing it in while laying on my back under a transfer case on a creeper while right under it. Nasty, stinky stuff. Even though it was 2 in the AM it woke me right up. Lucky for me I had a spare pair of jeans and skivvies on hand.

 

[ray66v]

I get it even with 75W90 synthetic gear lube.
You should try getting a crotch load of it sometime at 2AM like I did once. I unscrewed a drain plug instead of screwing it in while laying on my back under a transfer case on a creeper while right under it. Nasty, stinky stuff. Even though it was 2 in the AM it woke me right up. Lucky for me I had a spare pair of jeans and skivvies on hand.

The 140w smell, is the stuff I hate.

Spill some in your shop, and it seems like it never goes away.

 

[DavesTractor]

The 140w smell, is the stuff I hate.

Spill some in your shop, and it seems like it never goes away.

If you then spill some carb cleaner you can't hardly smell the gear oil anymore! Kind of like smashing your thumb so your knee is no longer your biggest pain....