Transmission fluid

[hmeadowsjr]

I have a 2012 L3800 Kubota HST tractor with front end loader and would like to know if I have to use the Kubato super udt-2 fluid or can I use another brand?
Thanks

 

[Peter 315]

Any hydraulic fluid that meets utd specs will work. I use mobilfluid 424

 

[hmeadowsjr]

I live close to a Tractor Suppy and they sale Super S SuperTrac 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid. Is this a good one to buy?

 

[Peter 315]

If it says on the label that it meets kubota utd

 

[Peter 315]

Do you have the book on your tractor
Traveller Premium Universal Tractor Trans/Hydraulic Fluid might be ok read the label

 

[marchanna]

Lots of discussion on this. In SC you don稚 need as wide of a spread multigrade, so you can save a few bucks. Almost any universal tractor fluid will do. Spirax from your local TSC will do and be a good price. I use a full syn because I can get a 0W30 grade that works well in low temps but then we get a lot deep freezes here in Nova Scotia.

 

[Grateful11]

The L3940 here gets used 365 days a year regardless of the weather for feeding the herd. They made the mistake of going with Kubota Universal UDT. It was ok when it was changed out in the Summer but come Winter it was like a bucking bronco. It was a costly mistake as it was changed again to Super UDT2. Not trying to start an oil war but that's first hand experience. If it were a gear drive I wouldn't worry about it but being an HST I'd go with Super UDT2. The L3940 HST here has still never been as smooth as it was before the change to UDT and back again.

 

[MHarryE]

In your location probably no difference. SUDT2 has improved cold flow properties which helps at cold temps and a tractor equipped with a suction filter. Many here have talked about reduced whine during warm up when using SUDT2 vs UDT or the discount store substitutes.

 

[marchanna]

It痴 hard to find info on the Super UDT but what I could find was from Kubota's SDSs. Super UDT is 70% synthetic, so I would expect is would have much better flow properties in a range of applications. I couldn稚 find a technical data sheet, and that痴 what I normally use to compare.

For hydraulic oil, the oil that maintains a more consistent viscosity throughout the range of operating temperatures is the one that is going to functionally work best. This is especially the case in a hydrostatic transmission. In a gear transmission the most you are going to notice is that the hydraulics are slow if you do not have a decent multigrade.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Think about it this way. You bought an expensive tractor, why use cheap oil? How much are you really going to save over the life of the tractor when oil changes are made every 400 hours?

Although this doesn't apply to a tractor purchased in 2012, you can void your warranty by using non Kubota oil in newer machines.

 

[marchanna]

I don稚 disagree. Normally I use Amsoil, but to fill up my tractor with their UTF would cost well over $600. In my case I used the Klondike full syn, which has a slightly better spec than the Amsoil, and it it only cost me a little over $200. Using a non-Kubota branded oil will not void your warranty, so long as you are using the correct spec. There are in fact better UTFs out there than the Kubota branded stuff which will perform better, give equal or better protection, and that is likely cheaper (depending on where you buy it from). It痴 not about cheaping-out, it痴 more about not paying more than you have to. Just because it costs more, it doesn稚 mean it痴 better.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I don稚 disagree. Normally I use Amsoil, but to fill up my tractor with their UTF would cost well over $600. In my case I used the Klondike full syn, which has a slightly better spec than the Amsoil, and it it only cost me a little over $200. Using a non-Kubota branded oil will not void your warranty, so long as you are using the correct spec. There are in fact better UTFs out there than the Kubota branded stuff which will perform better, give equal or better protection, and that is likely cheaper (depending on where you buy it from). It痴 not about cheaping-out, it痴 more about not paying more than you have to. Just because it costs more, it doesn稚 mean it痴 better.

Hey, do as you wish. It's your tractor. Perhaps Kioti has a more lenient policy. Once it's out of warranty though, the risk is entirely yours.

I know a guy in town who will differ on your Kubota warranty statement though. He used non Kubota oil, I don't know the brand, which exceeded specs according to the label. He wound up on the hook for a $4000 repair bill when he had transmission trouble with his L3430 HST. Even though he produced the receipt for the product, Kubota claimed they tested the oil and found it grossly under spec. An isolated incident? Maybe.

There has been a great deal of discussion and controversy on this subject here with many different opinions. In your case, a $400 savings is significant. Here in the states, the price difference between Kubota SUDT 2 and similarly spec'ed products isn't that great. I don't know Kioti service intervals or how many hours you put on your machine per year so I can't estimate your annual savings. In my case, with usage on my two tractors, the savings is less than $200 / year. To me, it's relatively cheap insurance.

 

[marchanna]

I suspect that guy didn't give you the whole story. In the USA and Canada, it's illegal to void a warranty for not simply using the brand of oil the manufacturer or dealer recommends or insists on. I'm sure another member here can actually site the actual bill name. This is pretty well known though. I am aware though that many dealers try to claim it will void your warranty, and will actually try to deny warranty claims, but these dealers in my opinion are crooks - they know the law, and they are intentionally breaking it to affect their bottom line.

I don't think it's entirely fair to suggest that there is a risk. Oils that meet the OEM spec, and are changed at the prescribed interval should all be good. Notice I said "should". Apparently, there are a number of private label and off-brands out there that are falsely labelled. That's why I think it is best to stick with reputable brands, such as the ones that actually make and package Kubota's branded oil.

ExxonMobil
Shell
BP
Petronas
Irving
. . . and many others

 

[bdhsfz6]

I suspect that guy didn't give you the whole story. In the USA and Canada, it's illegal to void a warranty for not simply using the brand of oil the manufacturer or dealer recommends or insists on. I'm sure another member here can actually site the actual bill name. This is pretty well known though. I am aware though that many dealers try to claim it will void your warranty, and will actually try to deny warranty claims, but these dealers in my opinion are crooks - they know the law, and they are intentionally breaking it to affect their bottom line.

I don't think it's entirely fair to suggest that there is a risk. Oils that meet the OEM spec, and are changed at the prescribed interval should all be good. Notice I said "should". Apparently, there are a number of private label and off-brands out there that are falsely labelled. That's why I think it is best to stick with reputable brands, such as the ones that actually make and package Kubota's branded oil.

ExxonMobil
Shell
BP
Petronas
Irving
. . . and many others

There are many excellent, less costly, brands of hydraulic oil on the market that meet or exceed Kubota specs. Kubota didn't deny the warranty claim because their oil wasn't used. That is indeed illegal. They denied it because it didn't meet their specs or so they claim. I don't pretend to know the whole story here but it was verified by a Kubota service rep.

I haven't heard of anyone who has had a warranty problem using Kubota products but at least one that has using another brand. As small as the risk might be, based on what I've seen, I think it fair to say it exists.

I'm not telling tractor owners what to do here, I'm just voicing an opinion based on my experience. I repeat. It's your tractor, use whatever oil you wish.

 

[KennyV]

I suspect that guy didn't give you the whole story. In the USA and Canada, it's illegal to void a warranty for not simply using the brand of oil the manufacturer or dealer recommends or insists on. I'm sure another member here can actually site the actual bill name. This is pretty well known though. I am aware though that many dealers try to claim it will void your warranty, and will actually try to deny warranty claims, but these dealers in my opinion are crooks - they know the law, and they are intentionally breaking it to affect their bottom line.

I don't think it's entirely fair to suggest that there is a risk. Oils that meet the OEM spec, and are changed at the prescribed interval should all be good. Notice I said "should". Apparently, there are a number of private label and off-brands out there that are falsely labelled. That's why I think it is best to stick with reputable brands, such as the ones that actually make and package Kubota's branded oil.

ExxonMobil
Shell
BP
Petronas
Irving
. . . and many others

You are Absolutely Correct ... here it is 2018 and there are Still some that don't care enough to check into law before they make claims about it...
the one you are referring to is :Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act, and it Clearly states that a warranty can NOT be denied because of a failure to use any particular brand of lube or other expendable.
also the idea that Kubota brand UDT or SUDT is somehow 'superior to any other oil meeting the same spec has been talked to death on this and other sites. For some time the idea that SUDT was synthetic based on it's price was the common misinformation, then after some time it discovered that it was infact just a multi viscosity blend Priced like a synthetic...
Kubota has since came out with a SUDT2 that seems to be a synthetic blend, (semi synthetic) still priced like a full synthetic.
You will be Fine using Travelers Premium from Your local Tractor Supply Many on these forums have used it for decades, and yes there is always going to be someone that will claim that using an over priced oil is somehow a type of "insurance" against a possibility that can not legally happen.
Happy Tractor'ing KennyV

 

[marchanna]

I don稚 have a Kubota, but if I did, the Klondike oil I use specifically states that it meets Kubota痴 UDT and Super UDT2 spec. If Kubota claims it doesn稚, and indeed can prove that it doesn稚, then Klondike would be on the hook for damages. You may also be covered under your insurance policy for having been defrauded.

 

[moship]

The Klondike's web site for the Universal Full Synthetic fluid does NOT state it meets SuperUDT2. Here's what it has listed.

"John Deere: J-20C, J-20D, J20 A/B, J21A, J14C, JDT303,
Komatsu: AXO 80
Kubota: UDT, Super UDT
Landini: Tractor Hydraulic Fluid"

The above can be found here: https://klondikelubricants.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/KLONDIKE-Universal-Tractor-Fluid-Full-Synthetic-PDS.pdf

I have yet to see any fluid for any manufacture that states it meets Super UDT2 in their literature.

Just curious, what is the price difference between Klondike and Kubota UDT2 when purchased in a 5 gal pail?

Does anyone actually know the details of the Kubota Specification for Super UDT2? I couldn't find them published anywhere. Is the specification for Super UDT and Super UDT2 from Kubota different? I'm thinking they likely list minimum, maximum or ranges for each requirement. Looking for hard published facts.

The 5 Gallon pail of Super UDT2 purchased Summer of '17 from Messick's states it is Full Synthetic on the label.

For reference Messick's sells Regular UDT for $79.26/5 gal and Super UDT2 for $101.35
Kubota Fluids

 

[marchanna]

The Klondike's web site for the Universal Full Synthetic fluid does NOT state it meets SuperUDT2. Here's what it has listed.

"John Deere: J-20C, J-20D, J20 A/B, J21A, J14C, JDT303,
Komatsu: AXO 80
Kubota: UDT, Super UDT
Landini: Tractor Hydraulic Fluid"

The above can be found here: https://klondikelubricants.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/KLONDIKE-Universal-Tractor-Fluid-Full-Synthetic-PDS.pdf

I have yet to see any fluid for any manufacture that states it meets Super UDT2 in their literature.

Just curious, what is the price difference between Klondike and Kubota UDT2 when purchased in a 5 gal pail?

Does anyone actually know the details of the Kubota Specification for Super UDT2? I couldn't find them published anywhere. Is the specification for Super UDT and Super UDT2 from Kubota different? I'm thinking they likely list minimum, maximum or ranges for each requirement. Looking for hard published facts.

The 5 Gallon pail of Super UDT2 purchased Summer of '17 from Messick's states it is Full Synthetic on the label.

For reference Messick's sells Regular UDT for $79.26/5 gal and Super UDT2 for $101.35
Kubota Fluids

Youæ±*e right only lists Super UDT. My mistake.

 

[marchanna]

Finally found this:
https://www.kubotausa.com/parts/kubota-parts-products/lubricants

 

[marchanna]

One thing I can say, is that they SUDT2 has a very good viscosity index 199, just a little better than Klondike's full synthetic Arctic grade 191 and a fair bit better that the regular full synthetic 161. However, it's pour point and -40 cP is a mediocre -42 and 16,000 respectively, which is surprising given its high viscosity index.

It is generally slightly more viscous oil than the Klondike also.