Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil?

/ Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil? #1  

WinterDeere

Super Star Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
12,903
Location
Philadelphia
Tractor
John Deere 3033R, 855 MFWD, 757 ZTrak; IH Cub Cadet 123
The hydro oil in my 2019 tractor remains so clear and clean, that I almost can't see it on the heavily-hashed dipstick on my 3033r. I see some run hydro oil (probaby ATF) with red dye in it, and I'm wondering, does anyone put some dye in their own hydro oil to make visibility at least a little better?
 
/ Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil? #3  
I use the JD dye. It works, turns the oil red. Does not take much. My L3600 has a sight glass, could not see the oil without the dye. Easy, just pour it in. Might mix with some of the oil to pour easier.
 
/ Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil? #4  
I use the JD dye. It works, turns the oil red. Does not take much. My L3600 has a sight glass, could not see the oil without the dye. Easy, just pour it in. Might mix with some of the oil to pour easier.
Did you get that local or order it online? I have been wanting to add some to my tractors.
 
/ Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
My tractor has a dipstick, so I don't need to dye mine.
I've read here on TBN that John Deere sells a dye specifically for hydraulic systems.
Mine has a dipstick, too! But both sides are cross-hatched, there's no smooth side for viewing the "wetted" line. Just about impossible to see the fluid without walking out to daylight with the dipstick in-hand.
 
/ Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil? #6  
Did you get that local or order it online? I have been wanting to add some to my tractors.
I ordered mine online, but you can find it locally also. I used more than was needed also - just use use a tad bit of it and it works fine.
 
/ Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil? #8  
Did you get that local or order it online? I have been wanting to add some to my tractors.
I got it online from a tractor store. It was silly expensive on Amazon. Little bit goes a long way. My Kubota has the impossible sight glass. It must be a Japanese thing. My Yamaha has one too :rolleyes:
 
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/ Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil? #9  
JD sells it, it's expensive per ml, you might get 2 fills out of it but they suggest it's for 5 gallons (if it's pasty or dried up, add hydraulic fluid and stir!) ... I bought mine from https://www.zoro.com/kingscote-dye-...red-4-oz-506250-r4/i/G5130815/#specifications (I bought some gloves also to bump total up to get "free shipping!")

Wear gloves, I recommend pouring/dripping it into the jug, then pouring into tractor ...

IMG_20240205_160040850.jpg


2 drops per gallon ...

IMG_20240205_161545556.jpg
 
/ Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil?
  • Thread Starter
#11  
A flashlight might make the level on a dipstick easier to see. Might also work for a sight glass
For sure, I sometimes use the one on my phone. But it's a pita with dirty hands while holding a dipstick.

I wonder why they don't just dye the damn stuff at the factory, like ATF! It's so clear it's really hard to see.
 
/ Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil? #13  
I bought some on line, it doesn't take much. My hydraulic guy tells me ATF is just hydraulic oil with dye in it.
 
/ Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil?
  • Thread Starter
#14  
I bought some on line, it doesn't take much.
(y)

My hydraulic guy tells me ATF is just hydraulic oil with dye in it.
In that they're both types of hydraulic oil, sure. But you wouldn't want to run regular hydraulic oil in an automatic transmission. ATF has a compound viscosity designed to vary less with temperature than conventional hydraulic oil, friction modifiers, as well as some detergents.
 
/ Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil? #16  
Mines tax-free even before the dye ... Ag exemption!
You are lucky in MO., In TN. all oil is taxable no matter if it is for tractor or not. They say you could use it in vehicles or mowers. I am Ag exempt also but doesn't help with the purchasing any oil
 
/ Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil? #19  
Instead of spending money on dye, maybe simply put it towards new glasses? 🤷‍♂️
 

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