Hi, I recently bought a used 2018 New Holland Boomer 50 and was using a grapple bucket that had a leaking fitting. I Wanted to add some fluid to replace what leaked out and asked the previous owner what type of hydraulic fluid he used so I could get the same stuff. He told me that he used Chevron 1000 THF so I went out of my way to pick some up. It turns out that Chevron 1000 THF is a different color than the stuff that is in my tractor. I already added about a half gallon of it. Should I drain and replace all of the hydraulic fluid or will it be OK? I read that some types of hydraulic fluid should not be mixed but I do not know what kind was in my tractor to begin with.
Mixing hydraulic fluid
- Thread starter Jaredm55
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Bearsixty7
Veteran Member
If you are thinking you should change the fluid, do it. That way you know what's in the tractor and you can have peace of mind. And it will be good for 300 hours until it needs changed again.
4570Man
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You wouldn’t drain but half of it out even if you did drain it. I’d fill to the proper level and keep using it.
shovelmike
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If you don't know when the fluid was last changed it would be good policy to change it.
RalphVa
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Doubt hydraulic fluid has many additives. Should mix fine.
Ralph
Ralph
RickB
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^^^This.
baggio95
New member
I just ran into a very similar situation and wondering the same. I just bought at Kioti CK45SE tractor/loader/backhoe and the previous owner gave me a 5 gallon bucket of Warren Premium hydraulic/tranny oil. I can't find that anywhere around me and was wondering about mixing the Warren with two 5 gallon buckets of premium hydraulic fluid from my ranch supply. I've tried to compare additives and such and they look pretty similar. Just wondering if I should mix the 2 brands or not?
mookey
New member
I been farming a long time, had a lot of different tractors used same hyd fluid in all of them, fluid I bought at a parts store. I don't thank it hurts to mix them.
One thing to keep in mind is there is a dye that can be added to hydraulic fluid that will change the fluid color. I use it to make small leaks easier to spot. Some fluid also comes pre-dyed from the factory. (I know Toro hydraulic fluid does, not sure who makes their fluid). With Bio-degradable fluid you would use food coloring for a dye.
As far as mixing fluid is concerns IMO I think it really depends on the equipment and hydraulic fluid mixed. I have heard stories of mixing AW-46 and Bio fluid or mixing fluids that have slightly different chemical makeup will create gumming / varnish in the system components. Seems as though in my experience when a machine has a few thousand hours and has a lot of electrical controlled valves and pistons and the oil is running at a consistently high temperature that there is a greater chance of having a problem of gumming / varnish in the system. One way to help when changing hydraulic fluids that has worked for me is calling the fluid manufacturer and asking them if the fluid you want to use is compatible with the equipment. Then after I drained the system of the old fluid, removed hydraulic lines, moved pistons purging old fluid then put the new fluid in (Bio) then put the machine back to use is to use. I then used a mityvac and removed the top bit of old fluid from the tank after a few uses and keep changing the filters until you have mostly the new fluid that I wanted to use.
@baggio95 We run two DK45S Kioti tractors here both are pushing 3000 hrs. I use Napa 85-405 hydraulic fluid which has the consistency is like a 10w-30 weight fluid. Seems to work fine in them. Those systems don't run that hot.
One thing I do when changing fluids or hydraulic compentent rebuilding is to disconnect the spark plug or fuel solenoid and run the starter a few cycles to pump the fluid through the system. Not sure if it helps at all just something I do.
I use OEM hydraulic filters unless I get in a jam then use Napa gold.
How To 賎um-Up Your Hydraulic Machine | Brendan Casey's hydraulics blog
As far as mixing fluid is concerns IMO I think it really depends on the equipment and hydraulic fluid mixed. I have heard stories of mixing AW-46 and Bio fluid or mixing fluids that have slightly different chemical makeup will create gumming / varnish in the system components. Seems as though in my experience when a machine has a few thousand hours and has a lot of electrical controlled valves and pistons and the oil is running at a consistently high temperature that there is a greater chance of having a problem of gumming / varnish in the system. One way to help when changing hydraulic fluids that has worked for me is calling the fluid manufacturer and asking them if the fluid you want to use is compatible with the equipment. Then after I drained the system of the old fluid, removed hydraulic lines, moved pistons purging old fluid then put the new fluid in (Bio) then put the machine back to use is to use. I then used a mityvac and removed the top bit of old fluid from the tank after a few uses and keep changing the filters until you have mostly the new fluid that I wanted to use.
@baggio95 We run two DK45S Kioti tractors here both are pushing 3000 hrs. I use Napa 85-405 hydraulic fluid which has the consistency is like a 10w-30 weight fluid. Seems to work fine in them. Those systems don't run that hot.
One thing I do when changing fluids or hydraulic compentent rebuilding is to disconnect the spark plug or fuel solenoid and run the starter a few cycles to pump the fluid through the system. Not sure if it helps at all just something I do.
I use OEM hydraulic filters unless I get in a jam then use Napa gold.
How To 賎um-Up Your Hydraulic Machine | Brendan Casey's hydraulics blog
