Oil & Fuel Motor Oil as the Hydraulic Oil in Power Trac

[Barryh]

Ho hum. I get the feeling everyone missed my point about the differences between hydraulic and UTF oils. Hydraulic, single viscosity (dino or synthetic, doesn't matter). UTF multi-viscosity and don't forget UTF's are hydraulic oils. The only hydraulic oil I know of in the US that is multi-viscosity (other than UTF's) is either biodegradable hydraulic oil and it's usually a 5W/20 or some flame resistant hydraulic oils

I really meant to say 5w-30 not 10w-30. I was thinking along the lines of Amsoil’s Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic/Transmission Oil SAE 5W-30 (ATH), per J.J.'s suggestion.

 

[catsco]

At least most of us agree that there should be some type of oil or fluid used in PT hydraulic systems.

 

[DieselPower]

What, you don't fill them with sand.

 

[J_J]

Just a little more data about hydraulic type oils.

you never want to use a detergent oil in a hydraulic system - it can cause anything from foaming in the oil which will cause cavitation in the hydraulic pump and result in premature pump failure, to it picking up waste/contaminants in the oil and depositing it as sludge throughout the hydraulic system. But according to Texaco EVERY multi-grade oil available in the US is gonna be a detergent oil... Second, and I actually called Komatsu America on this, they DO NOT recommend a detergent oil in the hydraulic system...What is supposed to be in the hydraulic system is either a 10W or a 30W non detergent oil... This tells me that there are a lot of people out there that are blissfully going by the book and slowly killing their machine's hydraulic system. Hopefully at least some of them have asked before they wasted a lot of money and filled their hydraulic system with the wrong oil

It would seem that every technical person that you talk to has something different to say.

The most recent conversation I had with a tech, said that a good pure hydraulic fluid is the best fluid to use in a hydraulic system, for a lot of the reasons that I mention above. He said a SAE-32, which is equivalent to a 40W, is what they recommend to most people. This is from the tech at Bailey's.com, a hydraulics parts manufacture. Now, if the guy above is right about detergent oils, then what in the heck are we running 10w-40 in our machines, which is blessed by the PT enterprise. It would seem that there is no finite answer to the problem. It seems like we are on our own to come up with our own solutions. It pains me to have tell you , not really, that you do what you have to do, to satisfy yourself.

I will add a bit more, the Bailley's tech said that it didn't matter what climate you lived in, The SAE-32 will work for you if you warm the fluid up with whatever it takes to start your engine, After it is running, for a while and the fluid is warm to hot, you will be operating normally, and the viscosity should be about right.

 

[MuncyBob]

Well, one thing I have convinced myself of after reading this thread is that the only place I'm going to have motor oil is in the engine & hydraulic fluid is going into the hydraulic system. I'm about due for a 50 hour filter change soon....I think I'll drain as much of the motor oil as possible and refill with the hydraulic fluid...run a few hours and change the filter again? I don't think I can afford to go totally synthetic on this change out but I think I'll add synthetic as I top off the tank in the future.

 

[Clarke]

So where do you purchase UTF red.

sg

 

[DieselPower]

UTF Red on my website.

JJ. I couldn't agree more about using a detergent oil in the hydraulic system. It just seems that some manufacturers that have hydraulic systems on their equipment don't really know what should be used in them. They may design a excellent machine with a great hydraulic system but that doesn't make them hydraulic fluid experts. Unlike when they purchase engines that go in their equipment they get factory owners manuals for them that spec. what oil should be used. When they get hydraulic components that's all they get, no data on what they should use in the hydraulic system so I think they just kind of swing it.

 

[BobRip]

UTF Red on my website.

JJ. I couldn't agree more about using a detergent oil in the hydraulic system. It just seems that some manufacturers that have hydraulic systems on their equipment don't really know what should be used in them. They may design a excellent machine with a great hydraulic system but that doesn't make them hydraulic fluid experts. Unlike when they purchase engines that go in their equipment they get factory owners manuals for them that spec. what oil should be used. When they get hydraulic components that's all they get, no data on what they should use in the hydraulic system so I think they just kind of swing it.

Before I switched to Mobil 1, I called Mobile and they felt that it would make a good hydraulic fluid. I wish I had seen this post then. I look forward to someone trying the hydraulic fluild (or did I miss that).

 

[J_J]

Well, one thing I have convinced myself of after reading this thread is that the only place I'm going to have motor oil is in the engine & hydraulic fluid is going into the hydraulic system. I'm about due for a 50 hour filter change soon....I think I'll drain as much of the motor oil as possible and refill with the hydraulic fluid...run a few hours and change the filter again? I don't think I can afford to go totally synthetic on this change out but I think I'll add synthetic as I top off the tank in the future.

For those that want to change their fluid and are worried about the remaining oil, should be aware of the amount of oil left in the system after you drain the tank. You can unhook some of the lines and drain them, but there is probably 2 quarts of fluid in the wheel motor circuits because this is a closed loop circuit, and the fluid in this circuit is only replenished when some has leaked out or bypassed to the pump. I don't think it is a big deal even if you have some left over oil in the circuits. Just drain the best you can. For those determined to get most of the oil out, air might be the answer to blow or force the fluid out. There are other ways, but will take some explaining.

 

[Barryh]

I’m also really glad this came up while I still had low hours on my PT. I’m certainly no expert on hydraulics or oils, but it seems to just make good sense to put a hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic system if for nothing else the anti cavitation additives.

J.J. maybe I am looking at this the wrong way, but does the SAE-32 that you say equates to a straight 40-W put any expanded or additional pressure on hoses or seals when you first start the PT at warm up, in low temps like 5-degrees or lower?

Could this do any damage at this short of an interval, or is this a non factor? Quickly looked at Diesel’s Web Site, the UTF Red looks pretty good with the additives and multi viscosity features. I also like the Red Dye, for leak observation. Not trying to put you on the spot, or endorse any sells here, do you care to comment on the UTF Red?