Generic for John Deere Low Viscosity Hyd. Fluid

JDNineNinety · Oct 13, 2004

I have a JD990. I need to change the hydraulic fluid. Is there a generic hydraulic fluid that I can use that will not be as expensive as the JD fluid but will be just as good?

beenthere · Oct 13, 2004

I don't find the JD oil that expensive. How cheap do you want to go? I prefer not to take a risk.
But if I was going to take a risk, then probably the cheapest (don't know what is generic) hydro fluid would do. Go for it, pour in the cheapest, and please let us know how it works. If the transmission fails, it will be real difficult to pin it on the hydro fluid, I would suspect. But I doubt it would fail without Deere oil. For sure, not wishing you any bad luck.

Deere has some elaborate oil evaluation laboratories (at least they did in the 50's when I visited their oil lab in Waterloo, IA) and I suspect they are pretty particular about the selection and make-up of their oils. Doesn't mean that other oils cannot be the same, but I won't be finding out. My next 200 hours will have Deere oil for sure. But, I'm a Deere nut. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

KiotiJohn · Oct 14, 2004

Warren AW68 is probably a good choice and is less expensive. Warren products are A#1. John

Soundguy · Oct 14, 2004

Does your unit use a hydraulic-only fluid.. or does it use the mutli purpose stuff lik ethe jd303/hygaurd stuff?

If the multi oil.. try any universal transdraulic oil that meets the 303/hygaurd stats. Napa and TSC carry a 5 gallon pail of universal transdraulic for about 25$.. and wallmart carries a 5 callong pail of tractor transmission fluid for about 18$. Just check the specs it meets.

My NH tractors use a 134d oil in everything but the crankcase... front axle.. rear diffy.. hyds.. power steering.. etc.. this 134d oil is the same as the 303/hyduard stuff.

You commonly see this refered to as UTF

Soundguy

dmp437 · Oct 14, 2004

( Napa and TSC carry a 5 gallon pail of universal transdraulic for about 25$.. )

So with HyGuard Low Vis running $35 for a 5 gallon pail (at the honest dealers) you've saved a big $10. TSC is a great store (I was there today /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )selling good stuff but on such a large investment as a 990 I don't understand how that's prudent when $10 don't even refill the tank after day's work.
To each their own /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

MikePA · Oct 14, 2004

Just curious....why do you need to change the hyd fluid after only 90 hours (according to your profile)? Also, no offense intended, why go cheap on the fluid? It's a vital fluid and it's not changed very often. Just trying to understand.

JDNineNinety · Oct 14, 2004

Thanks for all of the chastisement I received about the cheaper hydraulic fluid for my 990. My dealer quoted me a price of $55.00 for 6 gallons of low-vis hygard. I'll bite the bullet and stay with the John Deere stuff. I thought the 50-hour service called for the hydraulic fluid to be changed. Am
I wrong about this. I bought the 990 with 69 hours on it and the owner said he had not changed it. I now have 92 hours on it.

MikePA · Oct 15, 2004

I thought the 50-hour service called for the hydraulic fluid to be changed. Am
I wrong about this. 
My New Holland TC25D doesn't call for this until 300 hours, not sure about JD. Might want to ask this in the JD Owning/Operating forum. I am sure someone there knows the answer. Is the maintenance schedule in the Opertor's Manual?

dmp437 · Oct 15, 2004

Check other dealers for HyGuard prices. In my area one dealer is $35, 25 miles away another dealer is $46 for the same 5 gallon pail.
The 4000 TEN series requires the transmission fluid to be changed at 50 hours. Your 990 calls for a service interval of every 500 hours to "Change gear transmission oil & filter. Clean transmission suction screen and vent tube". That from the online Owner's Manual at deere.com I believe you're set for another 408 hours. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JDNineNinety · Oct 15, 2004

Thanks for the timely info. Sometimes I feel like a fool but I just keep plugging along. I'm lucky to have knowledgable tractor friends on TBN to steer me the right direction.

Soundguy · Oct 16, 2004

( but on such a large investment as a 990 I don't understand how that's prudent when $10 don't even refill the tank after day's work.
)

That's assuming there is a large difference in the quality of the UTF's in question. Of course the choice is yours.. but the TSC ( and others ) UTF does state it meets the hydaurd specs.

Kinda like i like this brand vs that brand type of a discussion?

For what it's worth.. at the GC I work for we have a few million dollars worth of JD and CAT equipment. Fina TF ( bulk tractor fluid / UTF. etc ) goes in them. We get our 30w, 40w, gear oil, and UTF from our fuel dealer. I've seen no obvious problems over the last 13 years due to a tranny lube failure from a generic oil.

Again.. to each his own.

Soundguy

Soundguy

Gatorboy · Oct 16, 2004

JD fulid is nothing special. This kind of discussion always makes me chuckle -- the thinking that because I have a JD (or Kubota, etc.) I should only use their brand of fluids/filters.

I bought a Sony VCR that had Sony batteries in the remote. When the batteries died, I bought Duracell -- I hope the remote doesn't fail because they are not Sony batteries. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

WilliamBos · Oct 16, 2004

Hi,

I agree with you on that one. I buy the filters from the dealer just because they have been a great help to us in the past, and I believe in supporting the local guy, but as far as oil goes, I dont buy it there, usually Walmart!!

Taker easy.

Will

Hambone · Oct 19, 2004

I support my local NAPA. They have everything I need, tractor and truck, never been to the Walmart SC.

Chief1Chief · Nov 5, 2011

I noticed the posting dates on most of these comments are kinda of old. I have a JD 4310 that I just changed the hydraulic filters & fluid. Takes 6.8 ga of the Hyguard Low Viscosity. Best price I could find was $73 for a 5 ga bucket. I have tried to stay with JD products for service but almost $15 per gallon is getting expensive, especially if there are relatively comparable products on the market at a more reasonable price. Any updated info on the generiac market would be appreciated.

thatguy · Nov 5, 2011

I think TSC has a compatible product (ie meet JD specs) BUT I dont know if it is 'low viscosity' or not

brian

Chief1Chief · Nov 5, 2011

Thanks - I'll check it out.

michaelmoten · Feb 16, 2013

I just bought a John Deere tractor (5083E) and have been trying to do a little research for my upcoming services. The dealer when he delivered the tractor said that the Hy-Guard was the only fluid that he would reccomend using from Deere. Everything else he said just use a good quality oil, grease, antifreeze. But was pretty sincere about using Hy-Guard.

Z71 · Feb 19, 2013

Gatorboy said:
JD fluid is nothing special. This kind of discussion always makes me chuckle -- the thinking that because I have a JD (or Kubota, etc.) I should only use their brand of fluids/filters.

I bought a Sony VCR that had Sony batteries in the remote. When the batteries died, I bought Duracell -- I hope the remote doesn't fail because they are not Sony batteries. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

OEM's establish minimum standards for performance and then they go and award the contract for lubricants to the lowest bidder just meeting the specifications. These guys (OEM's) will kill to save a few pennies using made in China fasteners and you can bet they shave a few pennies off a gallon of lube oil as well. Do you really think that the factory oil is the best product available? Its cheap oil designed to make the oem a lot of money.

I bought a new JD X728SE a while back and its filled with the OEM low viscosity hy-guard hyd fluid (half 1/2 gal extra he gave me for top off). According to the dealer it is very best in the cold. But when its below 10 degF the hydraulic system (has JD 47-in snow-blower on it) is making all kinds of moaning and groaning noises and moving very slow compared to when its around 30 degF. Once it been used for about 15-min or so it start to move faster and stopping making the noises. Dealer came and checked it out, claims that perfectly normal and to be expected in the bitter cold. We will see. He is going to change out the hyd fluid this summer with anything I want to furnish.

Deere Dude · Feb 19, 2013

Z71 said:
OEM's establish minimum standards for performance and then they go and award the contract for lubricants to the lowest bidder just meeting the specifications. These guys (OEM's) will kill to save a few pennies using made in China fasteners and you can bet they shave a few pennies off a gallon of lube oil as well. Do you really think that the factory oil is the best product available? Its cheap oil designed to make the oem a lot of money.

I bought a new JD X728SE a while back and its filled with the OEM low viscosity hy-guard hyd fluid (half 1/2 gal extra he gave me for top off). According to the dealer it is very best in the cold. But when its below 10 degF the hydraulic system (has JD 47-in snow-blower on it) is making all kinds of moaning and groaning noises and moving very slow compared to when its around 30 degF. Once it been used for about 15-min or so it start to move faster and stopping making the noises. Dealer came and checked it out, claims that perfectly normal and to be expected in the bitter cold. We will see. He is going to change out the hyd fluid this summer with anything I want to furnish.

The companies have their specifications to work best in their own equipment but the problem is people using things not into spec. because the guy down the road said it should work and it is cheaper. How much does is save over the life of a tractor to use the specified transmission oil? How much grief do we have when we substitute a oil and then we have problems, and then we have to figure out if the culprit is the oil or something else. Stay in spec. or don't use it, would always be my advice.

I have a X740 and had a X595 and a 455 previously. I used hi-guard lo vis and never had a problem even in the coldest days with " making all kinds of moaning and groaning noises and moving very slow compared to when its around 30 degF. Once it been used for about 15-min or so it start to move faster and stopping making the noises." Every time, I start the tractor and let it run sitting for about 2 minutes and then I wail it to her.

I think the dealer is just passing the buck. Of course i use ear-muffs and maybe I don't hear it.