ISO 46 for a tractor/hydraulic fluid

[spruce Deere]

I did the 50hr. Service not That long ago on my XR 3140h. When I did the hydro and hydraulic filters I noticed the fluid looked and smelled very much like regular iso 32 or 46. Odd it seemed to me at the time, because iso fluid has not the additives like a quality tractor/hydraulic fluid for brake chatter, or the EP ratings.

Then it was pointed out to me, iso 46 is what LS uses in this model of tractor for trans/hydraulic fluid....

I know there is different additives between the oils, but just reg. ISO hydraulic fluid for a common sump for trans and hydraulic instead of a tractor trans/hydraulic seems lacking with wet brakes on the LS and potentially higher pressures and temps with a hydrostatic Tractor tranny.... Especially when some other hydrostatic systems call for a 10w-30 oil

What is your thought of ISO hydro fluid for a common tractor sump oil?

 

[RickB]

Not in my tractor if it has wet brakes or wet clutches. But Kubota does spec it for all of their excavators, skid steers and CTL's.

 

[Tinhack]

ISO 32/46 has nothing to do with what additives are in the oil. It's simply a weight rating like 10W or 15W is to motor oil. You can buy plain hydraulic oil just like plain motor oil. The usage/service specs will determine what additives are in the oil. You can get vegetable oil in ISO 32/46.

Use what your manual says to use.

 

[spruce Deere]

Kinda my thoughts too rickB. My LS has wet brakes and the pto is hydraulic operated, with clutch a clutch pack..... I figgered a tractor hyd fluid, not plain hydraulic fluid.

But like tinhack says, use what the manual says to use. LS built it, they gots to warranty it.... With an oil for pumps, pistons, cylinders and high pressure, not clutch packs.

I will look up the 'ISO' grade of tractor hydraulic fluid.....

 

[PCABE5]

Yep ISO 32/46 is the viscosity.

I think the manual may be playing a word game on you because the factory oil is not plain hydraulic oil but rather a tractor hydraulic fluid.

Most off the shelf oils probably won't meet the viscosity of 32/46 as they will be thicker. Two very good ISO 32 fluids are JD Hy-gard Low viscosity and Kubota SUDT2 and nothing to worry about with either additive package.

I haven't found a LS dealer yet that sells the factory fill oil. If you track the oil to the manufacturer it's pretty good oil from the factory.

 

[spruce Deere]

Thanks PCABE5

The owners manual does have some odd 'wording' through out it. i will just chalk it up to ''lost in translation''.

The dealer I bought the LS from did not have any LS transmission/hydraulic fluid neither, but had LS paint and Yanmar factory transmission/hydraulic fluid.... They sell Yanmar tractors also.

Must be some what good oil to go 500 hours after the first 50hr. Filter change before changing oil in a hydrostatic drive tractor tranny.

 

[spruce Deere]

I did a web search of the brand listed in the owners manual. The 'caltex' name traced back to a kixx brand, a Korean oil company. They do make a 'tractor hydraulic' fluid... good luck buying any.

All the discription in the owners manual could be shortened to tractor/hydraulic fluid after finding the caltex/kixx oil info to me...

 

[PCABE5]

I watched an LS oil change video where the fella, a dealership, is recommending AW46 and not tractor hydraulic fluid. Wondering how long their hydrostatic transmission lasts or the brakes.

 

[ptsg]

I watched an LS oil change video where the fella, a dealership, is recommending AW46 and not tractor hydraulic fluid. Wondering how long their hydrostatic transmission lasts or the brakes.

The hydrostatic transmission won't care, however the wet brakes and PTO clutch pack might take a hit.

 

[PCABE5]

Agree.