PENNZOIL® HYDRA-TRANZ

[Harv]

I seem to have developed a slow hydraulic fluid leak (I think it's at the loader control valves), so I need to top off the "tank", so to speak.

When I changed my fluids a few months ago, I filled the transmission with the Kubota UDT Hydraulic Fluid. Of course, I used up the whole 7.5 gallons that I had bought, so I have nothing left for topping it off now. The plan was to swing by the dealer (not very close to home) to grab some more on the way up to the property, but our weekend trip has now been pushed back to a Sunday/Monday trip, and guess what? The dealer is closed on Sundays. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Sooo.... when I talked to that dealer on the phone, I was told that Penzoil HydroTrans oil meets the exact same spec as the UDT, and can be mixed right in without concern. I'm on my way to NAPA Auto Parts right now to pick up a gallon or two, but I thought I'd ask the TBN brain trust if they know anything about this product.

Can it be used interchangeably with the UDT? What kind of risk am I taking here? /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: Penzoil HydroTrans?

Harv, I don't think you'll be taking any chance at all. I don't know why Kubota started only specifying UDT or Super UDT (except to sell more of it), but in 1995, the manual for my B7100 listed 6 to 8 others by brand name. I think the dealer probably told you right.

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Penzoil HydroTrans?

Harv,

I agree with Bird. PENNZOIL® HYDRA-TRANZ is a major product in our neck of the woods... who knows maybe they even make it for Kubota... {somebody has to}

I don't think it would be any different putting Mobil oil in your car on the West coast, visit me on the East coast and topping it off with Quaker State... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

You know most of this stuff is all marketing hype now anyways... especially Amsoil... /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif {I'm going to Europe on vacation now... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif}

 

[Harv]

Thanks, Bird and John --

I'm hoping you'll say the same thing about the product I wound up actually buying.

Now, I've had good experiences with NAPA so far, but I think I'll register this one as an official gripe. /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif After talking to the Kubota dealer, I called NAPA and asked specifically if they carried PENNZOIL® HYDRA-TRANZ fluid (thanks for the correct spelling, John). The guy asked if this was for a tractor, to which I answered, "Yessir. A Kubota". He said he had it in one or five gallon containers and invited me to "come on down". So I did.

When I got there, he remembered the call and showed me to the product, but it wasn't PENNZOIL at all! It was NAPA's own brand of Universal Tractor Fluid! The label on the back does claim it to be a replacement fluid for Kubota UDT, but that ain't the point! I had asked about the PENNZOIL product and he said in no uncertain terms that he had it. If he had simply said, "No, but we have an equivalent product", that would be fine. Strictly an ethical/moral issue, but I was mildly ticked off.

Not wanting to spend the rest of my day running around looking in other stores, I bought the dang stuff and brought it home. Hope what's in the jug is what it says on the label. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Pennzoil Hydra-Tranz?

Harv,
I went to Napa's site to search for the spec's on "Universal Tractor Fluid"...

Very quickly it asked the year...

Then it asked the make... Acura, Chevrolet, Ford...etc...

Hummm... I love my Acura's... but didn't think they started making tractors yet.../w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Yeah, that would tend to torque me a little as well... to add insult to injury... you're up against the gun and bought it because your options were kinda running out for the weekend...

If you have a Super Walmart in your area, they should sell a major brand or worse comes to worse under their own brand of "SuperTech...", probably cheaper than NAPA... then Monday AM you can stick it in Napa's nose.../w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: Penzoil HydroTrans?

Yep, Harv, things like that do tend to annoy me. I agree with you; the guy should have said he had an "equivalent." However, at least I think what you bought will do just fine in the tractor.

Bird

 

[glennmac]

Re: Penzoil HydroTrans?

<font color=blue>I thought I'd ask the TBN brain trust </font color=blue>

Harv, I guess none of them logged on today.

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>I guess none of them logged on today.</font color=blue>

And clearly, they still haven't. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I'm not sure what you call this, but I think familiarity breeds it. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[glennmac]

Touche! (Nice legalistic, albeit changed, subject line.)

 

[JRP]

Re: Penzoil HydroTrans?

I found on the Penzoil wedsite that Hydra Trans is suppost to meet the requirements of UDT.

I have 5 gallons of Hydra Trans from Wal mart ($30) and can tell you the color is silghtly brown compared to UDT.

As pricey as Kubota parts are, UDT is possibly a lower quality fluid than Hydra Trans, at a higher profit margin (price).

I will probably be putting in Hydra Trans at my 50 hour service.
Wal Mart is also open 24 hrs here.