Hydraulic Fluid question

[Patiofarmer]

I just got a little Harbor Freight Towable Digger to play around with and I need to get 3.5 gals of "good hydraulic fluid".

My questions is: Wouldn't the Chevron 1000THF fluid I use for my 2015HST work??

Appreciate the help on a "dumb" question

 

[unbidden]

Towable digger? Do you mean the post hole digger?
On the HF site for the towable PHD it states 10w fluid. Get the modle number of your digger and cross-reference it on the HF site to be sure. You'll see clickable tabs under the picture for each product, one of which should be the manual.

 

[Patiofarmer]

I actually got the little backhoe...

The manual says just "use good hydraulic fluid"...and I'm thinking that the Chevron stuff I use in my 2015 Mahindra is what feeds the hydraulic cylinders so it will probably work.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I actually got the little backhoe...

The manual says just "use good hydraulic fluid"...and I'm thinking that the Chevron stuff I use in my 2015 Mahindra is what feeds the hydraulic cylinders so it will probably work.

In today's world, just about any "Universal Hydraulic Fluid" should work. Sometimes it's also called "Universal Tractor Fluid".

 

[Patiofarmer]

Thanks Much
I'm gonna assemble this little toy and have some fun this weekend.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Thanks Much
I'm gonna assemble this little toy and have some fun this weekend.

If there aren't pictures it didn't happen.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. just about any utf.. even the 25$/5g accell 303 fluid would be as good or better than plain iso 32 hyd oil.

soundguy

 

[IceStationZebra]

In today's world, just about any "Universal Hydraulic Fluid" should work. Sometimes it's also called "Universal Tractor Fluid".

"universal hydraulic fluid" is not the same as "universal tractor fluid". Tractor fluid generally is better able to handle water, like what you get from parking a tractor in a shed for 6 months. Another is compatibility with wet clutches and brakes. Plus extreme pressure additives to protect gears and final drives.

Hydraulic fluid on the other hand is specifically designed to reduce friction, oxidation and varnish formation. Another difference is that hydraulic fluids are often straight weight oils, whereas tractor oils are often multiviscosity.

Personally I would go with a tractor oil like your Chevron 1000THF.

ISZ

 

[Soundguy]

i think you are splitting hairs. different manufacturers call their products different things.. UTF, etc...

read the specs.. they are what matters..

soundguy

"universal hydraulic fluid" is not the same as "universal tractor fluid". Tractor fluid generally is better able to handle water, like what you get from parking a tractor in a shed for 6 months. Another is compatibility with wet clutches and brakes. Plus extreme pressure additives to protect gears and final drives.

Hydraulic fluid on the other hand is specifically designed to reduce friction, oxidation and varnish formation. Another difference is that hydraulic fluids are often straight weight oils, whereas tractor oils are often multiviscosity.

Personally I would go with a tractor oil like your Chevron 1000THF.

ISZ

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Should be about time for some pictures of the little backhoe in action.

 

[IceStationZebra]

i think you are splitting hairs. different manufacturers call their products different things.. UTF, etc...

read the specs.. they are what matters..

soundguy

I agree that the specs are what matter and will readily concede that in many, many instances the oils can be interchanged with no ill affect.

But this is similar to saying that all engine oils are the same and can be interchanged. Certainly you will agree that diesel engines should use oils specially formulated for them. In the same vein "tractor oil" is specially formulated for power shift transmissions, etc. So for the machines out there that absolutely require tractor oil this is not splitting hairs and knowing the difference could easily save someone $1000's in repair bills.

ISZ

 

[Soundguy]

I agree that the specs are what matter and will readily concede that in many, many instances the oils can be interchanged with no ill affect.

But this is similar to saying that all engine oils are the same and can be interchanged. Certainly you will agree that diesel engines should use oils specially formulated for them. In the same vein "tractor oil" is specially formulated for power shift transmissions, etc. So for the machines out there that absolutely require tractor oil this is not splitting hairs and knowing the difference could easily save someone $1000's in repair bills.

ISZ

still splitting hairs.

read the specs. buy oil that meets your specs.

deisels require a C rated oil.. get a c rated oil that meets the specs in your manual..

as for the oil.. by a oil that meets the specs in your manual. if it requires utf.. put in a utf that meets the specs...

my dodge has been running a decade on walmart oil and from aor supertech filters. the oil meets the api service spec in the manual.

my tractors are running walmart or TSC tractor fluid that meets the ford M2C134D spec. been doing that for over a decade.

clean oil, meeting the specs, serviced at the correct intervals.

Won't hurt to buy a premium fluid for severe duty applications. my large turbo diesel tractor does get motorcraft oil, not walmart diesel... price different on the 3 gallons it needs amounts to a whopping 6$. not an issue either way. it still gets the walmart or tsc ( warren oil ) utf fluid.

read the specs. period...

soundguy