Any recommended or suggested substitutes for Kubota branded hydraulic oil to use in an L4330? I'm getting ready to service mine, which requires changing out almost 12 gallons of fluid. Any cheaper alternatives to the Kubota branded stuff?
Hydraulic oil
- Thread starter Jason280
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you might also post this on "oil, fuels, lubricants" as well, to once again, start the oil wars & prejudice one way or another....lots of opinions on the subject...
is yours hst? how much will you actually save going cheaper? are you a light or heavy sleeper? best of luck
is yours hst? how much will you actually save going cheaper? are you a light or heavy sleeper? best of luck
bp fick
Super Member
You'll get everything from
a) if it meets Kubota UDT, as stated on rear label, it'd work fine.
to
b) Never use anything other than Kubota branded UDT. Usually this is expressed in terms of warranty concerns, etc. and because if it wears the Kubota label, even though it is contract made by a half dozen different oil companies around the world, it must be the best.
Similar discussions often include Kubota branded filters and Kubota branded air for the tires too.
a) if it meets Kubota UDT, as stated on rear label, it'd work fine.
to
b) Never use anything other than Kubota branded UDT. Usually this is expressed in terms of warranty concerns, etc. and because if it wears the Kubota label, even though it is contract made by a half dozen different oil companies around the world, it must be the best.
Similar discussions often include Kubota branded filters and Kubota branded air for the tires too.
TripleR
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- Kubota M8540HDC, L5740HSTC, BX2200, BX2660, John Deere 425&1025R, Case, Massey Ferguson, Ford
big bubba and bp fick pretty well have it covered. I personally have used several different brands in our Kubotas, Ambra, Case, Sinclair as well as Kubota UDT and SUDT and probably one I have forgotten.
I am no longer allowed to wear Kubota hats in public or attend officially sanctioned meetings, but our tractors seem OK. Of course I have been warned:
1. It will blow up any minute then you'll be sorry.
2. Yeah, but it would have lasted "longer" if you had used Kubota oil.
3. I used xxx and yyy happened.
4. I won't risk a $???? tractor to save a few bucks.
6. Cheap insurance/peace of mind.
7. Well if you...
I am no longer allowed to wear Kubota hats in public or attend officially sanctioned meetings, but our tractors seem OK. Of course I have been warned:
1. It will blow up any minute then you'll be sorry.
2. Yeah, but it would have lasted "longer" if you had used Kubota oil.
3. I used xxx and yyy happened.
4. I won't risk a $???? tractor to save a few bucks.
6. Cheap insurance/peace of mind.
7. Well if you...
I'll speak with the dealer today and see what they recommend. I would imagine the Kubota stuff is simply rebadged from another manufacturer, but finding out exactly who will be the difficult part. It seems foolish to think that another brand of hydraulic fluid would not work, assuming it meets the same industry standards as the Kubota brand.
Oh yeah, the tractor is a GST model.
Oh yeah, the tractor is a GST model.
TripleR
Super Star Member
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- Kubota M8540HDC, L5740HSTC, BX2200, BX2660, John Deere 425&1025R, Case, Massey Ferguson, Ford
The last I heard Ashland provides the oil. Since your dealer sells Kubota oil, I am pretty sure he will recommend Kubota though one Kubota dealer recommended Ambra to me and didn't stock Kubota.
We have Kubota, Case, John Deere, Massey Ferguson and I am not going to stock several different brands.
Use what you are comfortable with. Price is not really a consideration with us.
We have Kubota, Case, John Deere, Massey Ferguson and I am not going to stock several different brands.
Use what you are comfortable with. Price is not really a consideration with us.
David_Kb7uns
Veteran Member
When I did the 50 hour on the L3130 I had better and quicker shifting with the GST. I had bought a used backhoe from dealer and had it mounted on the new tractor. I do not know what they had in the tractor from set up and what was in the hoe from before but there was a noticed improvement when it was filled with Super UDT.
Also had a bit of a chirp from the wet cluches when shifting into the higher gears at 400 hour range and it also went away when it was changed after being in there for 6 years. so the fluids do age and pick up moisture over time. To me it does make a difference and while 13+ gallons is not cheap it was worth it.
Think the HST would matter also but the FST you could probably put anything in it. People have said before that there are other oils that equal Super UDT but they are not much cheaper.
Have some Cenex QWIKLIFT HTB and it does list meeting the Kubota Super UDT spec also.
David Kb7uns
Also had a bit of a chirp from the wet cluches when shifting into the higher gears at 400 hour range and it also went away when it was changed after being in there for 6 years. so the fluids do age and pick up moisture over time. To me it does make a difference and while 13+ gallons is not cheap it was worth it.
Think the HST would matter also but the FST you could probably put anything in it. People have said before that there are other oils that equal Super UDT but they are not much cheaper.
Have some Cenex QWIKLIFT HTB and it does list meeting the Kubota Super UDT spec also.
David Kb7uns
Jay4200
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- Hudson/Weare, NH
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- L4200GST w/ LA680 & BX2200D w/ LA211
FYI - I'm running Sam's Club universal tractor hydraulic & transmission fluid (label says UDT-compatible) in my 2600-hour L4200GST. It's 10W20, I think. No issues except a bit of start delay while very cold during snowblower season, which would probably occur with name-brand UDT too. Goes away in a couple of minutes.
JayC
Grateful11
Veteran Member
You've had it for how long and want to save a few bucks, stick with Kubota. My wife has plenty of CaseIH HyTran Ultra but I've already been told it's not compatible so it's going to be Kubota Hydraulic fluid. They're putting 175 hours per year on the L3940 so it's going to need to be changed about every other year. I think the filters will cost more than the fluid.
outoftractorluck
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...interesting. My Kubota dealer recommended Case HyTran Ultra over the UDT for my L3400. He said they always use the HyTran since it has better water resistance (or words to that effect) and was designed for tractor transmissions. He sells nearly all Kubota tractors, not many others. I checked his shop and sure enough that was what he was using. The Hytran seems to meet Kubota spec from what I could see...
yooper jim
Silver Member
Just changed fluid in a BX2660. Used Mystik JT-5 and it seems fine. I'll let you know what happens. $89 SUDT2 vs $70 JT-5 So not enough to worry about, but I didn't have to drive 90 mile each way to pick some up. I know around here, I'm probably going to he** for it. :laughing:
Jim
Jim
Grateful11
Veteran Member
Outoftractorluck: Shoot the Messick Equipment guy a message he can explain it better than I can. They sell both brands, I think they would better than the rest of us. I wanted to know just for convenience as there's not much difference in the price of the two. We have a Kubota dealer one mile away but my wife keeps HyTran in her equipment shed all the time. Is your L3400 gear or HST?
outoftractorluck
Member
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Grateful11: Standard gear - not HST. I don't remember the dealer asking if I had an HST...but he might have. His repair shop is full of tubs of Hydro but he did have SUDT and UDT for sale. He's not a small dealer, he has a handfull of salesmen, a couple of people on the parts counter. If he's wrong I'll......
Grateful11
Veteran Member
Grateful11: Standard gear - not HST. I don't remember the dealer asking if I had an HST...but he might have. His repair shop is full of tubs of Hydro but he did have SUDT and UDT for sale. He's not a small dealer, he has a handfull of salesmen, a couple of people on the parts counter. If he's wrong I'll......
Being a gear drive I personally don't think you'll have any problems at all ;-)
I spoke with a service manager today, and he recommended the UDT for the GST in my L4330. I asked him if there were any other fluids that could be used, and he stated Shell Donax TD could be used. Anyone have any experience with this particular fluid?
MessickFarmEqu
Super Member
We stock most oils by the tanker load, yet we still get pails of SUDT2 because we can tell a performance difference in HST tractors and RTV's. In gear drive stuff, it does not matter as much. The service intervals on the newer tractors are also based on SUDT2 which is synthetic, if your not running a synthetic (or standard UDT) the unsaid recomendation is to half your chage intervals.
bp fick
Super Member
No, it likely means that it goes from 300 to 150 if you don't.
