Hydraulic fluid contamination?

[gduff]

So I have a chance to borrow a Pronovost 5 ton 3-way dump when ever I want. Of course I would have to put a set of remotes on My L3830HST, but I was thinking about that anyway. Then I got to thinking about the possible contamination of the expensive Super UDT that I put in my tractor. (The dump trailer holds 5 liters of hydraulic fluid) Like I said, I can use it most any time I want, but so can a lot of others. Now some of the potential users have old tractors that, in my mind, have questionable maintenance schedules. I was talking to one the other day that said “I’ve have this tractor for 17 years and never have had to put any hydraulic fluid in it.” I kinda think he’s not using super UDT! Some old tractors do not use hydraulic fluid at all, just good ole 10-30 or something. I know the solution is obviously simple, if it bothers me don’t use it. I have read with interest on this forum that some tractor owners report reduced performance when they switched to a less expensive hydraulic fluid. Whether it is real or imagined I do not know, but I have a tendency to believe it. The whole thing got me wondering about rental equipment that uses tractor hydraulic remotes. How do you know what it was hooked to before you rented it? I grew up on a farm and back then hydraulic fluid was hydraulic fluid. We used whatever we had. Not to date myself, but our tractors did not have HST transmissions!
Now to the question, do you think this is a valid concern or much ado about nothing?

 

[Jimbrown]

I think it is a valid concern. In the old days fluid was fluid (oil any kind) mixing a gallon or so of unkown old dirty stuff with your UDT is the same as topping off with used motor oil.

 

[tinytractors]

I would sugest buying/borrowing a pto pump and use it to pump his fluid... you could get a remote valve for it and leave it connected to the pump and match his fittings.

Pete.