Oil & Fuel MF 1523 Fluids

[Mutch]

I recently purchased a Standard Gear (NON-Hydro) MF1523. 3 cyl 1.1L Iseki Diesel motor with 4WD & FEL attached. My local dealer said I can use the following fluids:

Transmission: 303
Motor: 15W-40
Coolant: 50/50 green mix
Front Axle: 90W
Power Steer: Shares trans oil(please confirm)?

Anyone find this unacceptable or incorrect? Or thru experience find a better fluid?

 

[Mutch]

Anyone, Anyone, Bueller?

 

[Mutch]

Bump to hopefully get a response

 

[cglaser104]

This all looks pretty standard. My GC1710 (also an Iseki made Massey Ferguson) uses an open center hydro system that powers the hydraulics and power steering so that isn't surprising. Using 303 fluid seems off the mark in terms of hydro but that might just be because mines a hydrostatic driven machine and yours isn't which might result in 303 being an option for you. I use Rotella T5 Diesel approved motor oil which you can buy almost anywhere. My climate is mild enough that I don't have to run 2 different oils depending on time of year. Treat that Iseki diesel right and it'll repay you in spades. Enjoy your new machine

 

[wheelbuilder]

I'd skip the 303 fluid and use something that meets an active standard, like hy-tran or j20d. It should probably also be gl-4 rated for the transmission. Some 303 fluid is pretty poor.

 

[Mutch]

I believe the j20D is for Hydro-static. Mine is standard gear trans. That's why I'm hesitant because most 1523's out there are Hydro. There's not alot of info on them and Shop Books are useless.

 

[wheelbuilder]

I believe the j20D is for Hydro-static. Mine is standard gear trans. That's why I'm hesitant because most 1523's out there are Hydro. There's not alot of info on them and Shop Books are useless.

I am in the same boat with my Bolens/Iseki gear tractor. It calls for 80w oil in the transmission. Some folks told me to use that, then with some reading, I learned that it's up to the operator. Most of these tractors (mine included) use that fluid to run hydraulics like the 3 point as well. Using the 80w oil can make the hydraulics pretty slow if you see cold temperatures. I'm planning a change from what's in there now to something like shell rotella HD, it lists both the gl-4 and the j20d so I should be covered.
Remember that the grade(or weight) isn't always measured using the same scale. Motor oil and gear oil overlap, even though the number is way different.
You can do your own digging, I may well be wrong. I looked here and at bobistheoilguy.com forums to come to that conclusion.

 

[wheelbuilder]

Sorry, that spec should be j20c, it is not the low viscosity version.

 

[Mutch]

I have read this article and believe I will change my trans fluid with J20C next go round. Thank you all for your input.

Perilously Obsolete: The Dangers of 33 Tractor Hydraulic Fluids - TractorLife