Sedgewood
Platinum Member
And to quote MossRoad <font color=green>AARGH!</font color=green>
In the <font color=red>Power-trac fan for hydraulic cooler</font color=red> thread
king-black-shoes posted <font color=green>Does anyone know why PT uses 5w30 for hydraulic fluid? I imagine it's cheaper but are there other pros and cons that anyone knows about? My manual says to use 5w30 motor oil and then to keep things interesting there's a sticker by the resevoir fill cap that says to only use 10w30 or 10w40.</font color=green>
and MossRoad responded <font color=green>Tom, I have the same confusion on mine. All the literature says 5W30 and then there is that huge sticker that says 10W40 right next to the filler cap!! AARGH! I called them and they said 5W30.</font color=green>
With my 50 hour service nearly due I thought I might run 'oils' by Sean at Power Trac while I had him on the line on another matter. He handed me off to Chris who he said is more conversant with oil issues. And naturally what Chris said is at odds with what MossRoad reported above (AARGH!). Lets see if I can get all this straight - I didn't take notes but jotted down what I could remember after we rang off.
For hydraulic oil: He said they put in 10w40 or 15w40 Havoline at the factory and add a quart of synthetic (additive? - I'm not sure what he meant). He said 5w30 is too light for hydrostatics - the lighter viscosity doesn't transmit power as well. He also said the higher viscosity oils don’t break down as fast as lower viscosity oils and hence loose their viscosity. He said it is ok to change to 5w30 if you need easier winter starting. Oil is pumping as soon as cranking begins so lower viscosity aids in cold cranking. He said a magnetic block heater on the hydraulic tank works good too. But be sure to change back to a heavier oil in warmer weather (save the old and put it back in). Ideally ($$$!!) he would use 10w30 Mobil 1 year round.
For engine oil: He said there is some type of breakin oil in the new engine (Again, I'm a bit fuzzy on just what he meant here). He recommended I change the oil but not the filter at 50 hours, then at 75 hours change oil and filter and use 10w30 Mobil 1.
In the <font color=red>Power-trac fan for hydraulic cooler</font color=red> thread
king-black-shoes posted <font color=green>Does anyone know why PT uses 5w30 for hydraulic fluid? I imagine it's cheaper but are there other pros and cons that anyone knows about? My manual says to use 5w30 motor oil and then to keep things interesting there's a sticker by the resevoir fill cap that says to only use 10w30 or 10w40.</font color=green>
and MossRoad responded <font color=green>Tom, I have the same confusion on mine. All the literature says 5W30 and then there is that huge sticker that says 10W40 right next to the filler cap!! AARGH! I called them and they said 5W30.</font color=green>
With my 50 hour service nearly due I thought I might run 'oils' by Sean at Power Trac while I had him on the line on another matter. He handed me off to Chris who he said is more conversant with oil issues. And naturally what Chris said is at odds with what MossRoad reported above (AARGH!). Lets see if I can get all this straight - I didn't take notes but jotted down what I could remember after we rang off.
For hydraulic oil: He said they put in 10w40 or 15w40 Havoline at the factory and add a quart of synthetic (additive? - I'm not sure what he meant). He said 5w30 is too light for hydrostatics - the lighter viscosity doesn't transmit power as well. He also said the higher viscosity oils don’t break down as fast as lower viscosity oils and hence loose their viscosity. He said it is ok to change to 5w30 if you need easier winter starting. Oil is pumping as soon as cranking begins so lower viscosity aids in cold cranking. He said a magnetic block heater on the hydraulic tank works good too. But be sure to change back to a heavier oil in warmer weather (save the old and put it back in). Ideally ($$$!!) he would use 10w30 Mobil 1 year round.
For engine oil: He said there is some type of breakin oil in the new engine (Again, I'm a bit fuzzy on just what he meant here). He recommended I change the oil but not the filter at 50 hours, then at 75 hours change oil and filter and use 10w30 Mobil 1.