dextron III as tractor hdy fluid?

mark_anthony123 · May 2, 2006

I have a bunch of dextron III tranny fluid that I never used. can I use it in my sump based jinma? It currently has pep boys 303 and on those cool vermont summer mornings it takes a while to warm that stuff up (moaning and groaning). Do you think dex III is thinner than 303? is it ok if there is a little mixing going on of the 303 and dex III from what is left over after draining? Thanks, Mark.

slowrev · May 2, 2006

Not sure about the Jinma, but Dexron is thinner than most all tractor hydraulic fluid I have seen.
I would not recommend the use or mixing of it.

Ben

Soundguy · May 2, 2006

I'm not aware of dexron being rated as a gear oil.... UTF is rated as a gear oil... etc. Also.. I agree with the other psoter.. i imagine dexron is thinner than UTF..

In a pinch I'd use it in a power steering setup.. but not in my diffy...

Soundguy

mark_anthony123 · May 2, 2006

sorry, should have qualified this. I was wondering if I can use it my hydraulics. the jinma has a separate hdy system. Thanks.

Jimbrown · May 2, 2006

If I had a bunch I would not hesitate to use it. It runs in automatic transmissions with gears and bearings plus all autotrans have a pump to actuate clutches and the torque converter is essentially a hydraulic pump also. And it has anti foam and anti oxidants in it. Jeep wranglers and cherokees use it in their 5 speed transmissions as do a bunch of eoropean cars.

YanmarFever · May 4, 2006

Our powershift yanmars arrive from Japan full of atf.
Its been that way for 9 years. 90% of them have it in the hyd. system.
Ernies imports

Soundguy · May 4, 2006

I wouldn't mind it in the hyds.. but are yuo really sure it is atf for the diffy? and not a red tinted utf? I've seen dozens of brands of utf that are tinted red ( and other colors ).

I'm just not real comfortable about using atf in a final drive setup.. utf .. yes.. it's made for thos specific loads.. i know atf does lube for gears.. but tranny gears are a tad different than final drive gears... I'm also not sure what 'ep' specs you could get atf to state that they are rated to??

Soundguy

YanmarFever · May 6, 2006

Soundguy
most of the yanmars I have seen use 1 oil for the diff. tranny
and hyds. 1 fluid does it all, have you seen different?
Ernie

Soundguy · May 7, 2006

No I havn't.. but that was my point.. ATF is not rated for final drives.. since the sumps are common.. using atf in the system doesn't seem like the best deal to me.. Probably great on wet brakes.. we clutches.. trannies, power steering.. etc.. but diffy's and final drives can take a huge beating.. UTF.. sure.. atf??? I'd like to see a manufacturer rate it for final drives before I would pour it in the sump of a few thousand dollar tractor.. especially when 5g pails of UTF can be had for 25$ in most areas... It's one of those deals where I don't want a couple dollars difference per gallon ruin thousands of dollars of cast iron... etc..

Soundguy

YanmarFever · May 7, 2006

Japan is a bit colder than florida, so they use it there because the tractors warm up faster with atf when its cold.
I have been using it in my 2 FX235-D yanmars for around 5 yrs. now with no problems.
I have an FX42 in a container being held hostage at US. customs at the moment & I will also use atf in it also. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Ernie