Oil & Fuel bobcats spendy hyd fluid

[crusty 1]

I,v posted this before but is worth bring up again.From a bobcat feild rep thier fluid is simply a GL4 with wet brake additive[nothing special]. I told the factory rep that if I needed the special b-c only fluid,that the magnusson moss act required them to provide it free.I havent checked for sure but I think this fluid is what most hyd trans use.I see no reason to pay bobcat 4 times the price.:laughing:

 

[Sand_man]

I am with ya on buying more genaric oil. I'm looking to service my hydraulic fluid and it would cost a small fortune to buy 11 gallons. Thanks for the oil specs.

 

[gumshu]

I,v posted this before but is worth bring up again.From a bobcat feild rep thier fluid is simply a GL4 with wet brake additive[nothing special]. I told the factory rep that if I needed the special b-c only fluid,that the magnusson moss act required them to provide it free.I havent checked for sure but I think this fluid is what most hyd trans use.I see no reason to pay bobcat 4 times the price.:laughing:

Crusty, what is Bobcat getting for thier fluid brand? What brand do you plan to use when it comes time to replace? I bought 2 1/2 galons of Mobilfluid just to have on hand and it cost me about $35.00. Not sure what to replace it with when the time comes.

 

[krazsk]

I believe Bobcat is asking about $62 for 2 1/2 gallons of hydrostatic fluid. What's wrong with using the Mobilfluid? Kioti says to use Mobilfluid 424 in your tractor if it's painted orange. Do you suppose the hydrostatic drives need different fluid if they're painted white?

 

[dcyrilc]

I believe Bobcat is asking about $62 for 2 1/2 gallons of hydrostatic fluid. What's wrong with using the Mobilfluid? Kioti says to use Mobilfluid 424 in your tractor if it's painted orange. Do you suppose the hydrostatic drives need different fluid if they're painted white?

That's about double what I've been paying for John Deere fluid.

I am with ya on buying more genaric oil. I'm looking to service my hydraulic fluid and it would cost a small fortune to buy 11 gallons. Thanks for the oil specs.

I feel for you with the 11 gallons. I just went through 30 gallons doing fluid changes on my tractor and boom mower. Starts getting spendy.

 

[gumshu]

I believe Bobcat is asking about $62 for 2 1/2 gallons of hydrostatic fluid. What's wrong with using the Mobilfluid? Kioti says to use Mobilfluid 424 in your tractor if it's painted orange. Do you suppose the hydrostatic drives need different fluid if they're painted white?

My dealer recommended using Mobilfluid, so I bought some to top off if I ran low. I thought Mobilfluid was expensive, but the Bobcat stuff is is way too high.

 

[crusty 1]

I was outraged at cost.30 bucks a gallon.I believe mobil 424 has the right specs and if so its about 6 per gallon.But I paid the high price cuz when I took it in to have mid pto and blower installed they had to drain it,so there I was between a rock and a hard place.Long time till it needs to be changed again.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I don't mind paying a little extra, but that stuff is crazy high and they can't even tell you why. You can get Chevron fluid which, I have been told, among the very best for about $13 a gallon.

 

[dfkrug]

Good THFs should state brand-name equivalences in their specs.
I look for the JD J20 and the Kubota UDT equivalences stated. I was
buying Chevron 1000 THF for a long time, but now have converted to
the UnoCal 76 THF. Some Kubota dealers have decent prices on
UDT in 5-gal bkts, too. All were never over $10/gal and look/smell the same.
Nowadays, I have been able to have my empty 5-gal bkts refilled for
about $8/gal.

There are some THFs I have seen at Walmart and TSC that state no
such equivalences on the labels. Steer away from those and the
straight hyd fluids.

Note that Bobcat/Kioti has some generic clear hyd fluid in their tractors
when imported from Korea. Go to a THF soon in the first service (not
more than 50 hrs.).

 

[MESSMAKER]

I have never seen any T.H. fluid that did not meet Kubota's Or JD specs.

 

[jaford1]

I have had a Bobcat CT235 compact tractor for about 1-1/2 months. I'm almost at the 50hr maintenance for it. We have a Kubota/Bobcat dealer where I live, but they do not deal in Bobcat compact tractors, just Bobcat skidsteers and the like. They told me they use the Kubota UDT oil in both Kubota and Bobcat. Does anyone know if I can use the Kabota UDT in my CT235? I live in Spring Creek, Nevada and bought my tractor in Twin Falls, Idaho as it was the nearest dealer. The dealer told me not to use anything but the Bobcat Hyd/trans/diff oil. I need to change my hyd/trans/diff oil asap so I can get going again, but am afraid to put in the Kubota UDT oil for fear it will damage something and void the warranty. Help!
Thanks,
Jim

 

[gumshu]

I have had a Bobcat CT235 compact tractor for about 1-1/2 months. I'm almost at the 50hr maintenance for it. We have a Kubota/Bobcat dealer where I live, but they do not deal in Bobcat compact tractors, just Bobcat skidsteers and the like. They told me they use the Kubota UDT oil in both Kubota and Bobcat. Does anyone know if I can use the Kabota UDT in my CT235? I live in Spring Creek, Nevada and bought my tractor in Twin Falls, Idaho as it was the nearest dealer. The dealer told me not to use anything but the Bobcat Hyd/trans/diff oil. I need to change my hyd/trans/diff oil asap so I can get going again, but am afraid to put in the Kubota UDT oil for fear it will damage something and void the warranty. Help!
Thanks,
Jim

For my CT235, I used the Super-Tech Heavy Duty Universal Tractor/Hydro Trans fluid that is sold at Wal-Mart when I changed mine (10gal $90 bucks). The specs said it's OK to use as a replacement for Kubota UDT (I have a Bota). It's working fine in my Bobcat CT235. I can't see why UDT wouldn't work in yours... unless you're worried they will come back at you if you have a warranty issue.
When it comes time to replace the Bota fluid, I'll use the same stuff.

 

[jaford1]

For my CT235, I used the Super-Tech Heavy Duty Universal Tractor/Hydro Trans fluid that is sold at Wal-Mart when I changed mine (10gal $90 bucks). The specs said it's OK to use as a replacement for Kubota UDT (I have a Bota). It's working fine in my Bobcat CT235. I can't see why UDT wouldn't work in yours... unless you're worried they will come back at you if you have a warranty issue.
When it comes time to replace the Bota fluid, I'll use the same stuff.

Thanks gumshu for this information. I did read that the use of any but approved Bobcat fluids will void the warranty, so I think I will use the Bobcat hydro/trans fluid until it goes out of warranty then switch over to the Super-Tech heavy Duty Universal Tractor/Hydro Trans fluid you get at Wal-Mart. The Bobcat fluid is $51 for a 2.5 gal jug and that is very expensive. However, if I did need warranty work (I hope I won't ! ) and found they would not honor it because I had a different fluid, I could spend a lot more money.
I love my CT235 so far although a little hard to shift to different gears, but I'm getting use to that. How long have you had yours and have you had any problems with it?
Jim

 

[gumshu]

Thanks gumshu for this information. I did read that the use of any but approved Bobcat fluids will void the warranty, so I think I will use the Bobcat hydro/trans fluid until it goes out of warranty then switch over to the Super-Tech heavy Duty Universal Tractor/Hydro Trans fluid you get at Wal-Mart. The Bobcat fluid is $51 for a 2.5 gal jug and that is very expensive. However, if I did need warranty work (I hope I won't ! ) and found they would not honor it because I had a different fluid, I could spend a lot more money.
I love my CT235 so far although a little hard to shift to different gears, but I'm getting use to that. How long have you had yours and have you had any problems with it?
Jim

Hi Jaford1... I've had mine since 2009. I bought it when they were having a special promotion. The only thing that went wrong... battery acid leaked in the engine compartment. The fan swished it around, When I discovered the problem, it had eaten away at the paint around the front grill and battery area. Some factory paint solved that along with a Diehard sealed battery. I've also noticed that it will occasionally slip out of gear. This can be problematic when I'm working on my hillside. However, it could just be that it wasn't properly seated in gear after shifting.

I've read posts where some owners have experienced hydraulic fluid leaks in the hydraulic oil coolers at about 150hrs. According to them, Bobcat (Kioti) has redesigned the coolers. Last time I checked, the original coolers were being sold on ebay for about $50. bucks new. Good luck.

 

[jaford1]

Hi Jaford1... I've had mine since 2009. I bought it when they were having a special promotion. The only thing that went wrong... battery acid leaked in the engine compartment. The fan swished it around, When I discovered the problem, it had eaten away at the paint around the front grill and battery area. Some factory paint solved that along with a Diehard sealed battery. I've also noticed that it will occasionally slip out of gear. This can be problematic when I'm working on my hillside. However, it could just be that it wasn't properly seated in gear after shifting.

I've read posts where some owners have experienced hydraulic fluid leaks in the hydraulic oil coolers at about 150hrs. According to them, Bobcat (Kioti) has redesigned the coolers. Last time I checked, the original coolers were being sold on ebay for about $50. bucks new. Good luck.

Hi gumshu,
Thanks for the information. I bought mine about 1-1/2 months ago on a special as well. Hopefully I have one of the redesigned oil coolers. I have not had any problem with mine slipping out of gear, just a little hard getting it into gear sometimes. I'll watch the battery, so far no problem with any acid leakage. I have had problems with greasing on both the tractor and the front end loader with some of the fittings being very hard to get grease into. I have pushed in on the spring loaded balls to make sure they were not froze, but this has not helped with some of them. I don't know exactly why this is.
Have a great day,
Jim

 

[RETAF]

Hey gumshu, I also have an 09 Bobcat 235 and have similar problems...my oil cooler leaks(have to spray wash it after 5-10 hours) Did you say Bobcat has changed them and is it a warranty issue. If not I suppose I should just buy one and install it as I'm nearing my 400 hours service. I have also had nothing but problems with the loader hydraulic hoses leaking, had to replace all four...now the female receiver hydraulic couplers(under the tractor) are leaking...very poor design to have them in one of the dirtiest places on a tractor. I also had the battery acid issue...guess I'll get a sealed one, sounds like that fixed your problem . Shifting is a bit sticky, but workable. Now I need to replace the hydro fluid and you're saying there is other fluid that will work for less money? Guess I'll wait for the 400 hour change as I'm only down between 'full' and 'add'. Great forum...nice to know the problems I'm having aren't just with my tractor. Great unit even with the little problems. Only thing else I find had to find and the belly mower blades for the 66" cutting deck!

 

[joshuabardwell]

Hi gumshu,
I have not had any problem with mine slipping out of gear, just a little hard getting it into gear sometimes.

Here are some things that work for me:

If the hydraulic fluid is cold, it's going to be impossible to shift gears no matter what, so I always try to park the machine in the gear I'm going to want next time I start it--usually M.

Sometimes, rolling the steering wheel from full-left to full-right lock and back again while gently applying pressure on the shift lever will relieve the stress in the drivetrain that is preventing me from shifting.

If I have been working in 4WD, raising the front end off the ground with the FEL and tapping the HST pedal forward slightly will relieve the stress in the drivetrain that is preventing me from shifting.

If I'm trying to shift with the engine at high RPM (say, 2k plus), I can sometimes relieve the pressure by dropping the RPMs to just above idle. As soon as the RPMs drop, I can shift.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I think it is against the law to require the special Bobcat fluid. I went with a phillips 66 fluid that my jobber had. It worked fine and my dealer has never questioned it. I had a hydraulic leak when I first got the tractor, so it went to the shop a few times. I now have 500 hours on it and have started using Traveler(TS Brand). It also works fine. I noticed they had another brand that was on sale for $35 for 5 gal. Lot of difference between that and Bobcat fluid.

 

[jaford1]

Hi joshuabardwell,
Thanks for the information, I found if I just work the forward/reverse pedal a couple of times it will go into gear, I'll give your suggestions a try also.

 

[jaford1]

Hi Messmaker,
What is the exact name of the Phillips 66 fluid your jobber had so I can enter it into my information file about this. Where do you get the Traveler TS brand you mentioned and is that the name on the container? I have finished with my 50hr maintenance and did use the Bobcat Hyd/Trans/Diff fluid. However, I don't want to pay their price when I get to my 400hr service if I can avoid it.
I also am now using Rotella synthetic T6, 5W-40 in the engine. I do wish I could find replacement numbers for both the engine oil filter and the bobcat hydraulic and differential filters, but thus far no luck. If anyone knows what they are for a CT235 Bobcat I would appreciate the information.
Thanks,
Jim