Super UDT - Not UDT

[Billc]

Wen, when I redid my trannie fluid I was unsure as to which way to go; UDT, Super UDT, or Amsoil. I have a greared 5400. Spent a lot of time searching the archives and asking questions as to what is the difference between UDT and Super UDT. Basically it is this: When the hydros first came out, there was a problem in getting the hydros to work in freezing weather. Kubota came out with the Super UDT as the fix. It is made by Texaco (I think) but Texico won't tell you what is in it...from what Mark C. said it looks like they do now. Anyway, I asked my Kubota dealer (Goss Tractor in Jasper GA) what was best. They are a great outfit and know their stuff. The owner said he would only use Super UDT in a hydro...and then only if the tractor were in a cold part of the country. He said the UDT works great in the south BUT because of the warranty he tells people to be safe and go with Super UDT. All others (gears and GST) he tells to go with UDT. In fact, he told me he wouldn't even sell me Super UDT for my geared tractor. Said I would be wasting my money and he wanted no part of that.

I also considered going with Amsoil. If I were going to keep my tractor a long time (15 + years) I would go to Amsoil. But, I will switch to a hst as soon as they come out with a M series hst...which I bet they do within 7 years.

Plus my neighbor has a tractor he's had since 1964. He likes my Kubota just fine but thinks it is a waste of money. He has kept his tractor parked outside for about 40 years. Yep, it looks pretty rough and his idea of tractor protection is a Glad garbage bag over the seat. He uses UDT from Farm and Country. Says it does o.k. for him. He has about 300 acres. The moral is that I will use UDT in my tractor. I also am strict about keeping up with the maintainence, think that is the key.

I don't think the UDT will be a problem, especailly since you are in Texas. But you may want to consider the Amsoil (after about 150 hours of use...think Mark C. told me this) if you plan on keeping your Kubota for a very long time.

 

[MChalkley]

Billc - I switch the transmission oil at the first maintenance, but wait till 150 hours to switch the engine.

It would be very interesting to see an HST M-series. I might be interested, myself, in a small one if the turning radius was pretty close to my L4310.

BTW, it was a different Mark who first found the contents now printed on the side of a new pail.

Mark

 

[Mark]

Super UDT additional info-

Besides content description, it gives no indication of viscosity or other details. The basic description of purpose of the fluid states:

1. Extra protection for cold weather operation.
2. Reduced warm-up time in cold weather.
3. Improved efficiency in synchro and GST transmissions.
4. Fully interchangeable with standard UDT.
5. Provides high performance protection at high operating temperatures.

I have been using standard UDT in my L3600DT but have noticed significant foaming in the transmission sight glass and increased gear noise when mowing pastures in warm weather for significant time periods at 540 PTO speed. Thought I would try what the owners manual and workshop manual recommend, Super-UDT. I paid about $60.00 out the door for a 5-gallon pail.

Mark M.

 

[MChalkley]

Mark M. - Thanks for the additional info. I sure wish they listed a viscosity on it, though.

I'm going to mention a couple things at this point, for two reasons: 1) Everybody else on this board expects me to (/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif) and 2) I think you need to know.

As you pointed out yourself, Super UDT is not primarily synthetic; it may be a partial synthetic, but I don't know enough about the rest of the stuff in the contents to be able to tell. That being the case, it will not offer much in the way of extended heat protection and will most likely be almost as adversely affected by heat as UDT. Additionally, that means that the efficiency and cold weather benefits they list must be obtained by lowering the viscosity. For one of the reasons you gave (increased gear noise in hot weather), you're likely moving in the wrong direction by going to a lighter viscosity. This is, of course, based on an assumption that the viscosity of Super UDT is lower than regular UDT. But that's pretty much a sure bet, and it's in harmony with the vague jargon touted in Kubota's SAE paper on Super UDT.

All of which is to say that I'd still watch it closely and if you don't notice any improvement, I know how you can fix it. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif If you do notice an improvement, I'd sure like to hear about that, too.

Mark

 

[Anonymous Poster]

MarkC
Which particular Amsoil product would you recommend for a GST model. Thanks in advance

 

[W5FL]

I asked my dealer to confirm that they have removed UDT from the latest service manuals for the M6800S, M8200, M9000 series. I would like to know if there is a real reason or they just left UDT out of the recommended fluids by mistake.

 

[MChalkley]

GregH, I used ATH, which is what the Amsoil folks themselves recommend, in my previous GST's. It worked very well.

MarkC

 

[MChalkley]

Wen - It would be very interesting to know...

Mark

 

[_RaT_]

Mark, while we are on the topic of Amsoil, I called Amsoil to get information about their product and a dealer in my area. That was over a month ago. Still no word. I went to NAPA to get some info and they (he) stated that its almost impossible to get around our area. He has since quit using Amsoil and gone to a similar substitute called RedLine Oil. Any ideas why it is so hard to find here in Northern California? I was going to use Amsoil or Redline in my GearVendors Overdrive but they adamatly suggest you not use semi or full synthetic oil. It even will void the warranty. Any clue as to why? The oil used in the newer GV's is a 75W type gear oil made by GM, the older style used ATF. The GearVendors uses a planetary gearset. Thanks, Rat...

 

[Bird]

Aaah, Rat, you bring back fond memories. I had a Gear Vendors overdrive put on my 1989 Chev., 1-ton dually, 454 engine and 4.10 rear end, and it was a pleasure to drive, and pull a 32' fifth wheel travel trailer with./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird