UTF vs 80W90

[R Barger]

An old topic but has anyone ever had any problems in replacing the 80w90 in the transmission with UTF? I have lots of UTF on hand and thought if nothing else it would be good to run it a while to flush the trans/rear out on the Farmpro 2420.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Do so at your own risk. UTF isn't formulated to replace 80w-90 gear oil. It does not have an AGMA rating.

 

[Wa11banger]

Additionally UTF is not formulated to handle the pressures placed on the fluid between the gears etc and will prematurely break down leaving you without sufficient lubrication for those parts.

 

[aczlan]

Additionally UTF is not formulated to handle the pressures placed on the fluid between the gears etc and will prematurely break down leaving you without sufficient lubrication for those parts.

How do you figure; there is certainly pressure between gears when it goes through a gear pump and gets pressurized to 2500PSI. There is also pressure when it runs between the gears of a manual transmission or the rear end.

Aaron Z

 

[Bob Rooks]

How do you figure; there is certainly pressure between gears when it goes through a gear pump and gets pressurized to 2500PSI. There is also pressure when it runs between the gears of a manual transmission or the rear end.

Aaron Z

There are highly educated and experienced people that make entire careers in the lubrication industry. You can second guess them if you want to, but I trust their knowledge. If the manufacturer specifies UTF then good, go ahead. If you have doubts and want real answers, consult a lubrication engineer.

 

[Bob Rooks]

And Robert Heinlein is science fiction.

 

[aczlan]

There are highly educated and experienced people that make entire careers in the lubrication industry. You can second guess them if you want to, but I trust their knowledge. If the manufacturer specifies UTF then good, go ahead. If you have doubts and want real answers, consult a lubrication engineer.

How about the UTF blends that are API GL-4 rated?
From Texas Refinery's UTF page:

UTF RED offers many important benefits,
including exceptional anti-wear protection. The slightly
tacky nature of the product helps it cling to gears
extremely well and absorb shock load produced by
variations in load and drive, engine torsional activity
or vibration, shifting, and wheel slip. UTF RED will
also reduce the impact caused by the meshing of
gears, particularly on start-up.
In fact, it has passed the CRC L-20 axle test
used to define the API GL-4 high torque requirement.
UTF RED showed no pitting in gear testing, while
the test allowed two to four inches of pitting length.
Axle test showed less than 5 micrometers wear with
UTF RED even though the test allowed up to 86
micrometers of wear.

And Mobil's Mobilfluid 424:

Applications requiring API GL-4 or SAE 80W grade lubricants in all gear applications except hypoid gear designs

Costal:

Gulf Universal Tractor Fluid provides outstanding wear protection for gears and hydraulic pumps, and meets API GL-4 performance requirements.

Shell-Rotella UTF:

API Gear Performance: API GL-4

And Robert Heinlein is science fiction.

Are you saying that you cant learn lessons from sci-fi books? Its a excellent genre to explore human reactions to varying situations.

Aaron Z

 

[Bob Rooks]

How about the UTF blends that are API GL-4 rated?
From Texas Refinery's UTF page:

And Mobil's Mobilfluid 424:


Costal:


Shell-Rotella UTF:

Don't ask me I'm only an engineer, but I would say ask those manufacturers if their oils can be used in applications where only gear oils are specified.

 

[Oldpath05]

What is gear oil doing in todays tractor transmission, I thought that went out in the 70s

 

[Bob Rooks]

What is gear oil doing in todays tractor transmission, I thought that went out in the 70s

Hahahaha! Not hardly. Caterpillar still uses gear oil, for one.

 

[R Barger]

My question is what is different about the design of the trans/diff that allow the use of UTF vs the ones that don,t? The only thing I can think of is the fact that the hydro pump is circulating the fluid all the time.

 

[RalphVa]

Think UTF is more like 10 wt oil vs. 80w90 gear oil.

Having said that, I've wondered why some manual transmissions in the past had gear oil and others ATF (which is about the same weight as UTF). In one of my cars, the manual said either could be used. I put gear oil in it once and could hardly shift it. Drained it and put ATF in.

For your tractor, I'd use what the manual recommends. In automobiles, gear oil has always been used in separate rear differentials, but ATF is usually put in combined manual/differentials of front wheel drive vehicles. Never could figure that one either.

Ralph

 

[Bigkrank]

I had a new Steiger and 2 Magnums a few years ago and they had Hytran in them same as the tractors they replaced. Haven't seen gear oil in a tractor since the Super M Farmall. Even my 60's something Farmall 460 has hytran in the rearend.

 

[R Barger]

I wasn't planing to use UTF indefinitely, just to run it for awhile doing light duty mowing to flush it out good.

 

[Bob Rooks]

I performed a viscosity comparison awhile back for some other folks. Is this relevant?
Viscosity Comparisons - YouTube

 

[Bob Rooks]

I wasn't planing to use UTF indefinitely, just to run it for awhile doing light duty mowing to flush it out good.

If you want a knowledgeable answer instead of wives tales and guesswork, I would contact your local petroleum distributor. After all, it is your investment we're talking about.

 

[Bob Rooks]

I had a new Steiger and 2 Magnums a few years ago and they had Hytran in them same as the tractors they replaced. Haven't seen gear oil in a tractor since the Super M Farmall. Even my 60's something Farmall 460 has hytran in the rearend.

All well and good, but the discussion doesn't include your aforementioned machines.

 

[TTTTTT]

My DF Chinese tractor has a common/combined gear transmission/ hydraulic so I use UTF with out issues. Are the gears that much different than other Chinese makes that are tranny only? I don't know.

 

[Oldpath05]

My DF Chinese tractor has a common/combined gear transmission/ hydraulic so I use UTF with out issues. Are the gears that much different than other Chinese makes that are tranny only? I don't know.

I thought all new-ish tractors were like my L3400dt, using UDT fluid or similar for the internal hydraulic pump, because all tractor loaders require it, no yes maybe don't matter....

 

[aczlan]

I thought all new-ish tractors were like my L3400dt, using UDT fluid or similar for the internal hydraulic pump, because all tractor loaders require it, no yes maybe don't matter....

Kubota says:

FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY - KUBOTA Universal Dynamic Tractor (UDT) or Super UDT2 Fluid recommended, or SAE 80W90 (GL-4) Gear Oil

(Most UDT meets the GL-4 spec)

Aaron Z