ISO 46 for a tractor/hydraulic fluid

spruce Deere · Apr 30, 2021

Kinda my thoughts on the brakes and pto clutch pack.

The tranny don't care

Diggin It · Apr 30, 2021

Smaller machine, but I did the Traveller Premium Universal stuff from the Tractor and Pet Food supply store. People here said it would be good enough. Then they started talking about Mobil 424 and a couple of others, but I haven't decided if those are worth the higher prices.

Tinhack · Apr 30, 2021

Read the label carefully on the Traveller hydraulic oils. That "premium universal" stuff may not meet manufacturer's minimum specs. I remember reading on one of their 5-gallon pales it was NOT for tractors. It was meant strictly for separate hydraulic fluid use (pumps, valves and cylinders). Basically for wood splitters and such.

spruce Deere · Apr 30, 2021

Diggin It said:
Smaller machine, but I did the Traveller Premium Universal stuff from the Tractor and Pet Food supply store. People here said it would be good enough. Then they started talking about Mobil 424 and a couple of others, but I haven't decided if those are worth the higher prices.

I would use the mobil 424 tractor/hyd. Fluid before anything elts you have listed.

Underdog57 · Apr 30, 2021

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/traveller-premium-universal-tractor-trans-hydraulic-fluid?cm_vc=-10005

I use this, looks like it checks all the boxes to me!

Texasmark · May 2, 2021

Tinhack said:
Read the label carefully on the Traveller hydraulic oils. That "premium universal" stuff may not meet manufacturer's minimum specs. I remember reading on one of their 5-gallon pales it was NOT for tractors. It was meant strictly for separate hydraulic fluid use (pumps, valves and cylinders). Basically for wood splitters and such.

Traveller "Premium" (the word is on the front where you can see it) is for all the fancy stuff...just turn the tub around and read the list for yourself. Included in the list is Kubota UTD fluid, JD J20C which is the one I look for but don't have JD tractors.

Regular trans/hyd fluid is just that, regular fluid for use in your old 1960's tractors, like my '63 Ford 2000 Diesel....JD 303 spec used to be the most popular spec you'd find on a container but there was a big flap about Whale oil and all so some refiners just name their fluid 303 and forget putting the specs on the back.

I have an '88 Ford 3910, conventional this and that except it has wet brakes so I have to use the Premium in that. The newer tractors get the Premium with hydro steering, wet brakes, clutch pack Ind. PTO....and then the newest is a Hydro tranny so it definitely gets Premium.

Tinhack · May 2, 2021

I couldn't remember which one it was. The warning was primarily for all TSC oils and to read the specs on the back and not just the label which says "Hydraulic Oil". I use TSC oils myself so you can get down off your horse.

PCABE5 · May 2, 2021

Texasmark said:
just turn the tub around and read the list for yourself. Included in the list is Kubota UTD fluid, JD J20C which is the one I look for but don't have JD tractors.

Just keep in mind that there is no industry standard for hydraulic oil so that pail can say it is "recommended" for the space shuttle and they don't have to prove their claims. Motor oil has a standard but not these oils.

Texasmark · May 7, 2021

AW46 is a viscosity grade as is AW 46/32 or 30 something. I am coming up on my 50 hour service interval and best I can tell, as others have stated, they have plain hydraulic fluid of a specified viscosity listed in the Op. Manual....well what about all the other manufacturers that insist on premium fluid for wet brakes to prevent chatter and other additives for hydrostatic tranny and hydrostatic steering and lube for clutch packs and all.

Unless the sun doesn't come up, when the time comes I'm staying with my premium fluid I use in my other tractors with similar updated requirements.....certainly won't hurt anything and I have it in stock.