"Universal" Tractor Fluid - Depends on your transmission type?

[MrEvilPirate]

@scootr look at the kubota page:

Kubota | Parts - Lubricants - Farm Equipment

Learn about Kubota's lubricants, including hydraulic oil, engine oil, gear oil, grease, break fluid, and product videos. Read our lubricant descriptions now.

www.kubotausa.com

It appears that the part number difference is only in the size jug it is packaged in. I don't have a kubota though confirm what I have said.

 

[Raul-02]

"Universal" Tractor Fluid - Depends on your transmission type?​

I should think you'd have to have a universal tractor.

 

[scootr]

Thanks for your help. A dealer confirmed the size of the jug was the part # difference.
Would not have been confusing had they not used a different picture and label color on the bigger jug.

 

[RidgeHiker]

I happened to call my Kioti dealer yesterday to get a recommendation for hydraulic/transmission fluid for my DK5010. He said as long as it is labeled as "Premium" it would be fine for my tractor. He happened to mention O'Reilly's Premium Tractor Fluid would be fine which was good since there are not a lot of options for hydraulic/transmission fluids in my area. My manual recommends the Kioti brand, Shell Donax-TD, Exxonmobil Mobilfluid 424 or Exxon Hydraul 560, etc., none of which is available around here.

 

[nyone]

There is no standard 3rd party testing of hud fluid. It's not like engine oil. Use the manufacturers oil. Its alot cheaper than replacing a single component.

 

[5030]

Far as I'm concerned, the terms 'Premium and Universal' mean NOTHING other than sales buzzwords. I agree, use what the manufacturer recommends or a fluid that meets or exceeds the manufacturers published standard. Their engineers know way better than some retail seller that slaps a label on a fluid that says Premium or Universal. In today's global world, just because you cannot get a specific fluid locally, don't mean you cannot order it from an online seller and have it delivered to your door.

 

[MrEvilPirate]

@RidgeHiker My mahindra calls for the same fluids. I did some research on the shell fluid. The Shell Donax, from what I can tell, is the same as Shell Spirax and the Shell HD Tractor Fluid.

Most importantly, and this may not apply to you if you have a hydrostatic machine, all the fluids you mention meet GL-4. If your manual calls for a fluid with GL-4, make sure what you get has that rating.

I was able to get shell HD Tractor fluid at local autoparts store $105/5 gal pail.

Match your manuals weight and specs you should be fine. I would not trust "universal" fluid unless it explicitly meets all the SAE / API requirements.

 

[5030]

I look at it this way. my tractors cost many thousands of dollars so why cheap out on things like filters and lubricants. Makes no sense to me.

 

[dlinde31]

I have a 2018 MX5200 HST. What is the difference between Kubota Super UDT2 70000-40201 and 70000-40202?
Which one is best for my tractor in warm climate?

40201 is 1 gal and 40202 is a 2.5 gal container

 

[geargle]

I have a Mahindra 3650 with a shuttle shift, recently broke a hose and lost most of my fluid, been looking for replacement fluid.
This machine has shared fluid for transmission, hydraulics, and wet brakes.

-Manual calls for SAE 80w UTTO (Universal Tractor Transmission Oil) that also meets API GL-4 which is a standard for gear oil.
-SAE ratings for gear oil and motor oil are different. An 80w gear oil has similar viscosity to a 20w motor oil
-GL rating has to do with oil additives so oil can stand up to high pressure when in between gears in gear box and not break down.
-Universal Tractor Fluid (UTF) 10w30 is correct weight for my application but I have found that a lot of brands do not have GL-4 or GL-5 ratings. Specifically the Tractor Supply Traveler line, which I have seen recommended for Mahindra tractors.

My concern is that people with shuttle shift or straight up gear shift transmissions (Mahindra or not) should NOT be using UTF that does not have the GL rating as well.

Is this correct? Maybe "Universal" is not so universal. The TSC fluid is 60 bucks / 5 gal which is a lot better than Rotella HD at 110 / 5 gal. There are people who have said they talked to the manufacturer and it is good for Mahindra, but I would think the GL4 would be on the bucket if it had that rating, and I think based on your transmission you may need a GL rated fluid.

While at my John Deere dealer for other things, I asked about hst oil for my Kubota b1850. Dealer sent me to my Kubota dealer 30 miles away saying that he would only use OEM transmission oil! Too many varibles to risk damage and if not using OEM oil and no recourse if problems arise.