oil/fluid testing places

[namesray]

getting tired of changing my kubota trans/hydraulic fluid (sudt2) every 300/400 hours and seeing it come out clean and clear looking at the recommended hour change time and time again. was wondering if anyone out there knew of a way or place where i could send in a sample of the oil and test it to see how it compares to specs, thinking i would be fine leaving the sudt2 oil in there for 500 hours or more and still be fine, just change the filters, maybe??. and does anyone else out there do this with their oils or do you all just stick with the recommended oil changes by the hour meter?

 

[bakerg]

We used a company call Wear Check to test our hydraulic oil at work. Probably cost you around $40 to 50. I think for what it costs to change the oil at recommended intervals is worth the cost.:2cents:

 

[Diamondpilot]

What does it cost to change it?

Chris

 

[Baby Grand]

What does it cost to change it?

Chris

Cost would depend on whether your hydraulic system takes 2 or 12 gallons of oil, I'd guess.
One of mine takes 12 and it would sure be nice to change the oil when it really needs it, rather than just when the clock says it's time.

 

[PRF]

Try these folks..

Tests

We use them for motor oil analysis on our milk trucks.. We've gone from 10k-15k miles between changes, and they can let you know how much life is left in the oil..

 

[Z71]

One I have used in the past. Oil Analyzers

 

[MHarryE]

I use my local Caterpillar dealer. Costs $20 per sample. I don't get an extensive analysis for this cost - wear metals, viscosity, oxidation, water or antifreeze present, stuff like that.

 

[kenmac]

One I have used in the past. Oil Analyzers

I still use them:thumbsup:

 

[namesray]

What does it cost to change it?

Chris

tractors (b7800 and b3200) use about 4 gallons each (transmission/hydraulic sump only) and rtv 900 takes about the same if i remember right with the power steering, transmission, and hydraulic dump. each goes through a recommended change about once a year. tractors average about 300 hours per year each and rtv about 200 hours. 5 gallon bucket sudt2 is $115 plus tax. so i go through about 10-12 gallons a year. kubota filters (hst and hyd) cost around $30-$40 per change per piece of equipment, so i spend roughly $375 to $400 per year on the sudt2 trans/hyd and filter changes. both tractors have strainers in the trans/hyd system and never have i seen more then around 20 little metal shavings on strainer (if even that many) and the oil comes out clear each time (b7800 has 1200+ hours, b3200 has 400 and rtv has 800 hours. one time the oil came out milky (condensation) from the b7800, just a little bit and that was with the regular sudt oil that was not the synthetic sudt"2" oil. thought if i tested each piece of equipments sudt2 at the books reccommended change hours and compared it to specs i could start to set a change schedule based on oil condition and not hour meter and save some money. just wondering how true the book reccommended change intervals are to real life conditions and i want to try to make the best of that. am i nuts? have heard stories of owners never changing hyd oil and not having any problems even up to some high hours. almost would equal out to the amount put into regular hour changes you could save and just put that money into a repair fix if hyd system even broke down.

 

[sdef]

Try these folks..

Tests

We use them for motor oil analysis on our milk trucks.. We've gone from 10k-15k miles between changes, and they can let you know how much life is left in the oil..

I also use Blackstone on a personal basis. Have had quite a few samples for my cars testing various synthetic engine oils. Now I have a new tractor and will test all fluids at 50 hours and then change everything. Then will test at all recommended intervals. In the end I will build up a history that will be useful when the tractor goes out of warranty.

Since the volume of oil is so much greater in the tractor, I will probably not use synthetics due to the cost, whereas my autos get synthetic engine oil.