Anybody add STP to hydraulics?

[Page2]

I did a search on this and didn't find anything, so let me ask this question. I was reading another Kubota message board and several folks said they added STP to their hydraulics and hydrostat. Has anybody heard of this? This sounded rather odd to me, but these guys swear it's the thing to do,adding 1 can STP to 6 quarts UDT.

 

[Skyco]

Did they say WHY they did that?

 

[Willis Fecon Bushhogging]

I did a search on this and didn't find anything, so let me ask this question. I was reading another Kubota message board and several folks said they added STP to their hydraulics and hydrostat. Has anybody heard of this? This sounded rather odd to me, but these guys swear it's the thing to do,adding 1 can STP to 6 quarts UDT.

I have never heard of using STP in hydraulics, but I do in certain older equipment use Lucas, hydraulic booster. Lucas says it, boost pressure and helps stop leaks. I honestly dont know if it helps or not, I dont think it hurts, but it some way it may help.

I also add one gallon of Lucas engine oil additive, during oil change, in the dump trucks. I hope it helps.

I guess STP is about the same as Lucas, they offer oil additives for everything

 

[David Cockey]

Why would more viscous hydraulic fluid be desirable?

STP is basically an oil thickener.

 

[Harry c]

If the oil needed an additive, rest assured the oil companies would have put it there or the tractor manufacturer would have recommended it. STP is one of the great marketing gimmicks of all time!

STP does however, do one thing exceedingly well! It seperates people from their money and THAT is exactly what it is designed to do!

Read the manual from your car. Almost all specifically recommend that no additives be used.

There! Now this ought'a start a wild round of discussion!

 

[Jimbrown]

I have only found one good use for STP. When I used to rebuild two stroke motorcycles it was excellent for coating pistons and such after/during a rebuild. It kept stuff lubricated untill the oil in the gas could build up.

 

[AndyinIowa]

Why would more viscous hydraulic fluid be desirable?

STP is basically an oil thickener.

Higher viscosity is desireable because it increases the hydrodynamic film barrier between running parts in the hydrostatic system. The challenge is that most of us have seasonal temperatures, which means we also face cold start issues.

Depending on the additive, hydraulic fluid performance can be GREATLY improved. Specifically, I have experience using additives that increase lubricity and sheardown properties in multi-vis fluids. I've also seen the snake oil syndrome, where there are no measurable changes to fluid properties.

Additives are a poor substitute for using a high quality fluid from the beginning. Heat and contamination kill virtually every hydrostatic system in the field. Having a strong fluid is essential, especially in today's machines. Manufacturer's are tightening tolerances to improve efficiency, and as a result, the fluids are taking a lot more abuse.

Tier III and Tier IV engines require higher operating temperatures, which also places a higher average heat load on the hydraulics.

Just my commentary for Tuesday!

IowaAndy

 

[RFB]

Chevron All-Weather Synthetic THF

 

[slan]

I guess the same could be said about mollyslip and how it is supposed to leave a protective film on internal parts to reduce wear on startup.
Any truth to that?

 

[Page2]

Did they say WHY they did that?

Here is a direct quote from one of the posters in that group-- personally I'm not sold on the idea, but thought it an intersting discussion.



"All STP will do is make things a little slippery and it has proven to cut wear on an average of 28%. In some cases it will go higher
as in the UDT oil, it stays relitive clean so
the wear is cut more. It will work in just about
any type oil including Synthetic.
.........I did the same thing, I use 5 cans
STP in 7 gal of UDT also, I intalled it on the
50 hour UDT oil change, People can say what
they wont about it, but when you use it, and it
works great then you know for sure you did correct, been using it for years in my Kubota
Tranny and Engine. STP wont hurt anything "