I'm looking for COLD weather hydraulic fluid recommendatoins

IXLR8 · Feb 18, 2015

My DK40SEH is starting to drive me nuts with this cold weather. I've been using it to move snow banks and clear the driveway to my shop. The FEL is painfully slow to dump. After picking up a load of snow, when I go to dump it, if I move the FEL control fully to the right... it takes over 20 seconds for the bucket to fully 'dump'. If I just move it to the first position to curl the bucket down... I stopped timing it when it got over 35 seconds. After an hour or two of running, the 'dump' times are cut in half. The other issue, when I go into a pile I am trying to pick up, that is large enough to cause the tractor to stop, and I take my foot off the forward pedal, the tractor keeps driving for 3-8 seconds, time seems fluid temp dependent. If I am in Medium range... it stalls, if I am in Low range.. the wheels just keep spinning. If I press on the reverse pedal, it won't move until the tractor stops driving forward. I have the same issue going from reverse to forward. Again after a few hours of use the times are reduced but still an issue. So right now I have to take my foot off the forward pedal 2-3 feet before I get to the pile and then creep into the pile. Due to this, the DK stalls all the time on me, I never stalled the CK30 that I had. This is getting very frustrating. Especially when I am out in 3 degree weather with 30 mph winds trying to open up our road when the plow trucks cant move the snow. Because the issues are reduced after an hour or two when the fluids get warmed up some. I am assuming if I put in a thinner synthetic fluid I that these problems will be reduced from the start. Presently I have just over 50 hrs on the tractor so it still has the original fluid in it and I am looking for recommendations on what fluid to put in when I do the 50 hr service so hopefully I won't have these problems next winter.
The other issue I am having, not sure if it is related, the FEL seems to be way down on lifting power. Last summer when I tried to lift something too heavy, the rear tires came off the ground. Now, with the same ballast on the back, when I try to lift something 'too heavy', nothing happens. FEL does not lift, rear tires don't lift.. nothing moves.
The other issue I have... I am now getting the DK40 reverse whine! The more I use this tractor, the more I wish I had my CK back.

oosik · Feb 18, 2015

Your tractor is still under warrantee. It really sounds like the problem is more than hydraulic fluid viscosity. I would call the dealer and allow them to work on this situation. And I would bet that both situations are related. You should have full function, speed, lifting capacity after the tractor has operated 10-15 minuets or sooner.

IXLR8 · Feb 18, 2015

oosik said:
Your tractor is still under warrantee. It really sounds like the problem is more than hydraulic fluid viscosity. I would call the dealer and allow them to work on this situation. And I would bet that both situations are related. You should have full function, speed, lifting capacity after the tractor has operated 10-15 minuets or sooner.

Dealer has been contacted, so far... very unresponsive.

tcartwri · Feb 18, 2015

Are you hearing the system go into bypass? Or is it just non-responsive.

IXLR8 · Feb 18, 2015

tcartwri said:
Are you hearing the system go into bypass? Or is it just non-responsive.

To be honest, I don't remember. Normally I run the tractor at about 1400 rpm and it would be fairly obvious. I was running it about 2000 rpm to try and get things done in a semi reasonable time frame and I don't think I could hear if it was in bypass or not. I won't be home again to verify until Friday.

TJP89 · Feb 18, 2015

IXLR8 said:
To be honest, I don't remember. Normally I run the tractor at about 1400 rpm and it would be fairly obvious. I was running it about 2000 rpm to try and get things done in a semi reasonable time frame and I don't think I could hear if it was in bypass or not. I won't be home again to verify until Friday.

I run my CK at about 2200 rpms, and it has great response times after the first 20 or so minutes in the current negative temps. I have to check what my hydro fluid is when I get home, no problems with it.

tcartwri · Feb 18, 2015

Well, unfortunately 1400 is not enough... That's what I idle the machine at when it's cold. It sure will bog the motor down if you try and do anything at that motor speed. Still, it doesn't sound like it's happy. Do you get a whining sound from the hydraulics when it's first started?

Phil48 · Feb 18, 2015

During extreme cold wheather, in your Kioti reference book they do recommend at least 20 minutes for warm up time (hydro). When it's arctic cold, even for idle, I leave it at 1800rpm minimum otherwise the engine dont warm up (pumping too much cold air). And during normal running time 2200 or 2400 rpm. It does help a lot to have a block heater (cut in half warm up).

liberty2701 · Feb 18, 2015

I have a dk50seh I just purchased in 2014 and have the same climate as you (lakes region NH). You are running way to low rpm. I run mine at least 2k rpm up to 2500 rpm to get the right performance. I also use Amsoil ATH which is a 5w30. I have no trans whine and it is smooth in the cold. Is it possible you have your rear remote lever on?

George2615 · Feb 18, 2015

I use synthetic diesel oil in the engine and all season universal hydraulic fluid (supposedly designed for cold weather use) from Advance Auto. I also run tractor around 2000 RPM for snow removal. 1400 would be too low (tractor idles at 1000). Just yesterday I moved back some snow banks to make room for more snow and noticed my loader relief valve maxed out. Several times I'd go into a bank and try to lift and nothing happened. Apparently the hard and heavy snow banks weighed more than what my loader can lift. Taken smaller bites got the job done. Hydraulics do work slow for the first 20 minutes until it warms up. I've been meaning to plug a gauge into the hyd. to check what the relief is set for. I think I'll do that this coming weekend to make sure it's set where it should be. I thinking it should be set correctly from the factory and this is the first time I've ever had it not lift. Even when cold mine does not take 35 or even 20 seconds to dump so you may want your dealer to check that for you. No HST whine fwd. or rev.
As mentioned, check your rear remotes to make sure the levers are in the right position.

Shield Multi-Trac Tractor Hydraulic Fluid STHP25/42909: Advance Auto Parts