Anyone DIY dye their hydro oil?

[dadohead]

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.

I retired from Deere in '16. I remember corporate saying then that the new J20D coming would have a florescent dye in it that would glow under black light. A check station was going into all the assembly lines to look for leaks? Not sure if it happened though.

 

[Runner]

Whatever type of red dye JD puts in from the factory sure smells good. Looks and smells like Grenadine. I wonder if the DIY dye Deere sells smells like the factory stuff?

If so, I might put some in just for the sensory experience during handling.

 

[WinterDeere]

How’s it taste?

 

[Runner]

How’s it taste?

I would try some in a Rum Runner but Grenadine is cheaper...

 

[Fallon]

I used half the JD dye bottle in my L3200 years ago & it worked well. I made sure to tell the guy I sold it to it wasn't ATF.

I went to use the last half of the bottle a while later, couple years maybe, & it was all dried out. I tossed it rather than try to scrape out the residue. I've been meaning to get more for my now 6 ish year old L4060, but never have.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

If/when it dries out, just add a little hydraulic fluid ... Good as new!

 

[CliffordK]

Would it hurt just to add some ATF? It is rather similar to hydraulic oil, or may well be a grade of hydraulic oil.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I'm not sure what you're asking, but ... No, I'd not use ATF in either reconstitution or the dye, or just to color the hydraulic oil ...

I'm not an engineer, but I'm guessing there is a good reason they make both ATF and hydraulic fluid ...

What I don't understand is why the JD stuff dries out? Is it water based? If so it's surprising to me that you would intentionally add that to your hydraulic system! (Maybe it's not enough to matter?

 

[Shawn T. W.]

This is strange ... This is a screenshot of the above post ... Why does it need moderator approval?

 

[WinterDeere]

This is strange ... This is a screenshot of the above post ... Why does it need moderator approval?

View attachment 4281689

Advertisers have forced the forum management was forced to add word filters that flag potential hot-topic posts. Since AT_ = Alcohol Tobacco F-arms, the software is going to flag your post... as it probably will mine.

 

[anomad]

Advertisers have forced the forum management was forced to add word filters that flag potential hot-topic posts. Since AT_ = Alcohol Tobacco F-arms, the software is going to flag your post... as it probably will mine.

I'll quote it to see if that makes any difference.

 

[WinterDeere]

I'll quote it to see if that makes any difference.

Not a big deal, either way, unless it's on a fast-moving topic. A moderator usually sees and approves within a few minutes.

 

[Runner]

Not a big deal, either way, unless it's on a fast-moving topic. A moderator usually sees and approves within a few minutes.

Reminds me of this:

 

[jjeff]

Recently bought uv dye and a uv light looking for leaks on my new tiny tractor it's actually considered a subcompact
Anyways it was leaking out the fill cap when fluid heated up cuz it was overfilled. I ended up checking all PTO seals, rigid lines and hoses corresponding hose connections. ended up draining about a gallon of hydraulic hydrostatic drive fluid out of it. It's a new subcompact the fluid and reservoir was very clean and hard to tell where the fluid was in sight glass and corresponding red dot. I can now easily tell where fluid is in sight glass holding a uv light to it.
cuz the hydro reservoir holds 3 gallons I added an extra small bottle of uv dye. I guess if you go the dye route uv or colored id make sure it's oil based. I'll probably change all fluids when I do my 50 hr service including hydraulic cuz initially thought it was low and bought a 5 gallon pail of premium hydraulic hydrostatic fluid. I will problaby go with colored non uv dye from JD. First time using uv dye in my experience it works good to isolate where the leaking fluid is coming from and checking fluid levels in a new tractors sight glass.

 

[404nouser]

1. The Deere tractors come with UV dye oil and it looks milky like it has water in it but it's good.
2. The JD red dye dries out not because of water but because it's using a solvent to liquify it.
3. you can just buy the dye in your choice of color. rekhaoil dye is what you search for.

A little goes a long way, I recommend putting some in a bottle of oil then adding that to the tractor.


I used green for my hydraulic fluid as I don't have anything else that has green fluid.

 

[alpacalips]

I use Triax Agra UTTO Supreme. Synthetic fluid that is dyed red.

 

[jaybrad]

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?

I haven’t tried it yet, but a local shop suggested adding 1 cup of ATF to a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[Robfnk]

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?

either rough up your dip stick or paint it and you will be able to see the level better. then you won't have to add die every time you change oil.

 

[POGuy]

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.

I have found that when I have trouble seeing the level if I turn the dipstick completely horizontal, more oil builds on the bottom side of the stick and makes it much easier to see the correct level. The trick is of course keeping level!

 

[walnutman]

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.

So does his if you read