Is hydraulic fluid all the same?

[Dragonslayer]

I have a new to me Kubota BX 2230 that needs some hydraulic fluid. Excuse me if this is a stupid question but is all hydraulic fluid the same or is the Kubota suggested fluid a must?:confused3:

 

[Peter 315]

If your adding i would add the same its kubota utd or sutd do you have the owners manual

 

[/pine]

IMO, if the tractor is no longer under warranty any compatible quality fluid that meets the same specs is fine...many recommend not mixing brands etc....but many have admitted doing so (myself included) without ill effects...

 

[k0ua]

If it has a hydrostatic transmission, I would be putting SUDT2 back in it. That is the "good stuff", I am using it in my Kioti.

 

[hosspuller]

Answer : ... No

Many tractors use the same fluid for the transmission as the hydraulics. This places many different sometimes conflicting demands on the fluid. Tractor hydraulic fluids are thus very different than straight hydraulic fluids that are also very different ... (Non-combustible, hi-temp, lo-temp, bio-degradable, synthetic base, water emulsion, etc.)

correct answer for you... use what Kubota specifies. To do otherwise, could be very expensive later.

 

[Fallon]

SUDT & SUDT2 do work better in HST machines. Much less whining from the tranny. I think the consensus is SUDT2 performs better in the cold & that the pimply big advantage over the other. So a lot of warm weather dealers only stock SUDT. We use SUDT2 here in Colorado.

Other fluid will work, but the Kubota stuff is a bit better. Some the Kubota stuff is synthetic, but I believe only the SUDT2 is semi synthetic.

 

[YLee Kioti]

If it has a hydrostatic transmission, I would be putting SUDT2 back in it. That is the "good stuff", I am using it in my Kioti.

Pardon my dumb question but is this an exclusive Kubota retailed fluid?
I saw three different brands at TSC this morning and none of them had any industry spec labels. Pretty frustrating.
Thanks.

 

[Fallon]

Pardon my dumb question but is this an exclusive Kubota retailed fluid?
I saw three different brands at TSC this morning and none of them had any industry spec labels. Pretty frustrating.
Thanks.

Yes, SUDT & SUDT2 are Kubota brands. Super UDT technically. The U might be Universal, but I'm not sure if it's an acronym or not. Likely to only find it at your dealer or online. It is a bit more than premium fluids & a lot more than the cheap junk, but worth it.

 

[/pine]

Pardon my dumb question but is this an exclusive Kubota retailed fluid?
I saw three different brands at TSC this morning and none of them had any industry spec labels. Pretty frustrating.
Thanks.

Can't remember the brand names but both the (cheapo) black jugs at TSC and the blue jugs at Wally world have "compatible with" listing on the back labels...fwiw...
btw...UDT listed on both...

 

[Dragonslayer]

No it didn't come with any owners or shop manuals. Does anyone have a link to download the manuals for the BX 2230 D?

 

[Fallon]

Kubota Manuals has some. Workshop manuals are a couple hundred from your dealer, but generally worth it.

 

[Peter 315]

You might be able to find a WSM on ebay for your tractor

 

[FTG-05]

At $20/gallon, I cringe when I need to service my Kubota tractor, RTV and/or ZTR. But I think it's worth it. I've never heard of an acceptable substitute.

 

[MHarryE]

You don't have a problem being in the deep south but my dealer told me he learned this winter why I always used Super UDT2. He had been using UDT in all of his Kubota RTV oil changes using machines he took in trade for customers to run around his lot looking at equipment. We have been having an unusually cold winter with many daily lows colder than -30°F. He said they had a few days where they had to tow the RTVs inside to warm up because they wouldn't go due to the highly viscous at cold temp UDT. After changing to Super UDT2 no problem. Using Super UDT2, if my RTV will start it will propel.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

You don't have a problem being in the deep south but my dealer told me he learned this winter why I always used Super UDT2. He had been using UDT in all of his Kubota RTV oil changes using machines he took in trade for customers to run around his lot looking at equipment. We have been having an unusually cold winter with many daily lows colder than -30°F. He said they had a few days where they had to tow the RTVs inside to warm up because they wouldn't go due to the highly viscous at cold temp UDT. After changing to Super UDT2 no problem. Using Super UDT2, if my RTV will start it will propel.

Also improves the stall point on a hill greatly on my RTV1100 and my L3130 GST has quicker shifting along with less whine on the BX2230 and G2160.

David

 

[Volfandt]

The BX2230 is basically he same as the BX23 with the exception of additional subframeing added for the BH. Kubota spec'd SUDT for both and that is what they all had when they left the factory and topped off at the dealers.
SUDT is hard to find now as it's been replaced by SUDT2. IF you want to add fluid by other manufacturers make sure it's compatible to SUDT or SUDT.
Following is a very short description on Kubota's hydraulic fluid designations.

UDT, this is a single weight (20w) "dino" hydraulic fluid. It is usually spec'd for older HST and gear drive Kubota's. Some run it in newer HST models where the temps avg hot to very hot.

SUDT, this is a "dino" multigrade hydraulic fluid (10w20) that Kubota spec'd in all HST models produced after 2000 (maybe even earlier). ALL BX's were spec'd for SUDT and NOT UDT.

SUDT2, this is a synthetic multigrade hydraulic fluid (I haven't found any spec's listed for it but it's believed to be 10w20). Kubota changed to SUDT2 sometime around 2009 (thats the last time I was able to buy SUDT locally).

TSC does carry a hydraulic fluid spec'd for SUDT, I believe it's labeled as Mystik but alot of folks went back to SUDT/SUDT2 at their next HST service. Main complaint was the HST's whined more.

btw, the BX23 was spec'd to have it's hydraulic fluid and filter replaced every 300 hrs and it's the same for the BX2230. If you are unaware of it's past maintenance practices you should go ahead and replace the fluid. These HST's are pretty stout but won't hold up if not properly serviced.

Good luck
Dave

 

[k0ua]

I have been using the SUDT2 since the last change in my Kioti, and have notice a definite cold weather improvement in less noise in the power steering. The noise would go away after the old fluid warmed up, but it is not there from the start with the SUDT2. I figure anything that offers better viscosity from the start on cold mornings has bound to be less wear. It is your choice, and SUDT2 is NOT cheap, but I believe it to be a superior fluid.

 

[YLee Kioti]

At $20/gallon, I cringe when I need to service my Kubota tractor, RTV and/or ZTR. But I think it's worth it. I've never heard of an acceptable substitute.

I used this: AMSOIL Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic/Transmission Oil SAE 5W-3

with the CK4010 it was an acceptable one time cost. But the NX uses 11 gallons so 20 buck per is much better then 32 buck; as much as I love Amsoil but whew.....the $$$

 

[YLee Kioti]

Yes, SUDT & SUDT2 are Kubota brands. Super UDT technically. The U might be Universal, but I'm not sure if it's an acronym or not. Likely to only find it at your dealer or online. It is a bit more than premium fluids & a lot more than the cheap junk, but worth it.

awesome, thanks.....kioti dealer 65 miles and kubota dealer 17 miles well NH dealer is 10 miles away so I may call them and see what HST fluid they use for their machines.

 

[montelatici]

I know a few real farmers that have farms around my place (I am a fake farmer) and they buy the cheapest bulk hydraulic fluid they can find. Go figure.