Oil & Fuel Front Diff Oil

[jlsanborn]

Dealer performed my 50hr out of courtesy, less the front axle. When he was here delivering my tractor I asked what to put in there and he said tractor hydraulic oil. I recently got my owner's manual which says gear oil (which I would have guessed). What are the rest of you putting in there?

 

[Gittyup]

The new oil was hydraulic fluid. I was advised to replace it with 90 weight gear oil at the 50 hours service. So, that's what's in it. So far so good, about 450 hours, second 90 weight change out.

Search here. It's been discuss a bunch. Make sure you get it full.

 

[csholler]

90w as well.

 

[Dmace]

I would think tractor hydraulic oil would be too thin. I would stick with the 90w gear oil.

 

[Storm56]

My manuals call for UTF, I guess if it is good enough for the tranny and rear it should work in the front differential.

 

[VictorW]

80w-90 gear oil. Recheck your oil level after moving the tractor a few hundred yards.

 

[jlsanborn]

Gear oil it is! Thanks all.

 

[SunnyJim]

I would think tractor hydraulic oil would be too thin. I would stick with the 90w gear oil.

UTH is typically in the 30 weight range, 80w-90 is in the 40 weight range. The additives would matter more and the 40C viscosity. Normal use will not generate enough heat to reach the higher 100C viscosity.

40C = 104F
100C = 212F

 

[ray66v]

Gear oil with the EP, (extreme pressure), designation offers the highest level of protection. This is also available in a synthetic formulas for a reasonable price.

But, good hydraulic oil also works. That's why the factories are using it.

 

[MichiganIron]

Up here, we use Shell Donax Hydraulic Fluid. There are several small cavities for the front axle fluid to move through. The lighter hydraulic fluid seems to perform better in the colder climates. It doesn't get the benefit of warm-up from the tractor.

 

[ray66v]

There are several small cavities for the front axle fluid to move through. The lighter hydraulic fluid seems to perform better in the colder climates. It doesn't get the benefit of warm-up from the tractor.

That's what I like about the synthetic gear oil.

 

[PointyHairedBoss]

I just changed the front axle lube in my new-to-me 2004 Kubota B21. I'm in a cold climate & a big fan of synthetic - I use it in everthing that is run in the cold.
The local Kubota dealer carries Tutela 75W-90 gear lube so that's what I used.

 

[VictorW]

Up here, we use Shell Donax Hydraulic Fluid. There are several small cavities for the front axle fluid to move through. The lighter hydraulic fluid seems to perform better in the colder climates. It doesn't get the benefit of warm-up from the tractor.

I use the Shell Donax TD hydro oil for the main part of the tractor. It's a 10w-30 weight oil that seems a little thin for the front axle. The 80w-90 I put in the front axle was synthetic and not overall expensive being that you don't need that much. Just my thought but I can see MIE's point if there are small cavaties for the oil to get to. Maybe that's why I had to check and add oil to my front axle twice after the refill.

 

[IslandTractor]

I used 90w gear oil at 50hrs and haven't changed it since. I cannot imagine it makes much difference so long as it is slippery fluid. It's not like these tractors are flying around at 60mph or that the front diff is a precision high pressure pump like the HST. Pretty big gears moving pretty slowly so why wouldn't just about any oil work? When I spill 90w oil it certainly gets into very small cavities. I can see the potential benefit of hydraulic fluid in very cold weather though.

 

[jlsanborn]

I'll go with an EP 90w I suppose. I'd agree with IT in that we're talking low speeds here. Once all the tiny spots are full I can't imagine a need for volumes of lube moving from here to there in any hurry.

 

[mrutkaus]

80-90 ep oil with extra added liquid gear moly.

Mike

 

[Hoosier Hay Man]

I used CountryMark Advantage 80W-90 Multi-Pupose Gear Oil
http://www.countrymark.com/documents/user_assets/lubricants/GO-MPShet-1.2.pdf on my first 50hr service.

I am thinking of using CountryMark Advantage 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Oil next round. http://www.countrymark.com/documents/user_assets/lubricants/GO-SYNShet-1.4.pdf