Super UDT vs. UDT

[Ewang207]

This forum seems to provide the best information so I appeal to all of you once again:

Is there an advantage to using Super UDT fluid over the less costly UDT. I can't seem to get a definitive answer from two seperate dealers in my area.

I did a search on Kabota's website and they ultimately say for further information contact your dealer. I understand that Super UDT was installed in my tractor from the factory. Since it is much more expensive, I gotta think there must be a reason for this(?).

I'm pretty particular about the lubricants I use in all my engines, but would like to learn the specific properties and diferences in the two. I'd sure appreciate your help.

 

[Jay4200]

Is there an advantage to using Super UDT fluid over the less costly UDT. I can't seem to get a definitive answer from two seperate dealers in my area.

It is my understanding that the sole advantage to SUDT is temperature consistancy at cold. In your region, you may see a difference, but only in the dead of winter.

Jay

 

[Marcussen]

My dealer and others have said that Kubotas come with UDT from the factory. My owners manual says it was seviced with SUDT from the factory. After my 50 hour service I believe it was UDT I drained out. I refilled with SUDT. I only have 3 hours on it since the change but I can't tell any difference in sound or performance. SUDT is a multigrade oil, 10w-30 or so and UDT is straight 30 that is what I have found from various sources none of them official anything. My dealer recomended UDT and that SUDT was not necessary or required jut more expensive.

 

[ronjhall]

Is there an advantage to using Super UDT fluid over the less costly UDT. I can't seem to get a definitive answer from two seperate dealers in my area.

SUDT is a good oil to use for cold weather. But has advantages for warm weather also. It is suppose to cause less foaming. I use SUDT in lower Michigan. We get a couple of days a year that are below 0 degrees. Hydraulics start working smoothly with the SUDT after a few minutes warm up.

 

[fishpick]

I'm interested in what gave away the UDT vs SUDT in the oil pan, Marcussen... It looks the same to me.
When I took delivery of my BX and when the seat repair happened last week - both time I asked about what should be used for the 50 hour service... the answer both times was the same - use SUDT until after the warranty period expires - then should something happen Kubota can't blame me... besides, here in Upstate NY - it gets cold - so I'll likely always run SUDT.

 

[TGD]

I would also be interested in what gave it away. While they look and seem to feel the same to me, I suspect that my BX2230 was filled from the factory with UDT, heres why. I recently did the 50 hour service on my tractor and have noticed a few things in the way the tractor operates since then. I should say that my dealer had also recommended that I stay with the SUDT (only fluid he stocks in anything over a quart) while under warranty in case there was a problem, with the same reason as your dealer, in that Kubota won't be able to blame me for the failure because I used another brand of oil.

Anyway, I did the service, and later in the week I mowed grass for 2 hours in an ambiant of about 78* - 80*, then put the FEL on to move a few things around. The fel operation at part throttle where I normally set it when attaching the FEL, I noticed that while checking the operation of the FEL it was very jerky when raising the loader in the air, almost like the pump wasn't putting out all the time.

I checked the hose fittings, un plugged them and plugged back in, cycled the loader (in case of air trapped) several times. Hoses were connected properly, fluid levels are where they are supposed to be, and I don't believe there is air in the system anywhere. The correct filter is on the hydro as I checked the number that also.

I also tried lifting the front wheels off the ground at the part throttle setting (above idle but less than half speed which has always worked at that speed setting before the fluid/filter change.) but the FEL would not lift the front end. The 3 point also now bleeds down when the tractor is shut off where it was rock solid before.

Next day when the fluid was cold, (not mowing for 2 hours) the FEL would raise the front end fine at part throttle and there was no jerkieness to it, and the 3 point also stayed up. Today, after mowing for 2 hours and fluid really hot, the FEL and 3 point act the same, no power etc.

It seems to me then that my tractor was filled with UDT from the factory, and I refilled with SUDT which has effectivly lowered the performance level of the tractor greatly, although there is less hydro noise. In my opinion, I think that the SUDT is to thin to start with and thins out even further when hot. almost like it has reverse viscosity.

 

[fishpick]

TGD - that sounds like there is something other than SUDT vs UDT going on there... My tractor with SUDT does not behave any differently - even when the hydro quick-disconnects get really hot to the touch (other than tranny noise). I wonder if there is something else gumming up the works perhaps... did you clean out the hydro screen filter in the 50 hour? What's the level of fluid when you check - is it low? I dunno - but it makes little sense to me - I'd call the dealer - or start a new thread with that question in it... With an ambient temp of 80 - this is just plane "not right" - and I'm thinking there is something else going on here.

 

[SteveA]

Is there a consensus whether or not the new HST units are delivered from the factory with UDT or SUDT? Or, are the filling of the fluids a dealer prep responsibility with regional variations?

 

[Sully2]

Is there a consensus whether or not the new HST units are delivered from the factory with UDT or SUDT? Or, are the filling of the fluids a dealer prep responsibility with regional variations?

Dont know about that...but.. When mine was delivered..after playing with it for awhile I checked the fluid. EMPTY or mighty low? I called the salesman and he told me they had broken a hyd line and lost fluid and "Joe SMOE" in the service center was SUPPOSE TO have topped it off?? Next day ( saturday) they sent the mobile repair guy down and he chipped all the paint off the FEL Zerks ( hadnt been greased at all....geeze...and topped the hyd fluid off with more than 2 gallons of UDT fluid. SO whether is came with SUDT or UDT...it was filled with UDT...and the mobile repair guy told me they didnt even stock SUDT because too many didnt want to pay the extra $$$ for it.?????

 

[ronjhall]

When I had problems with the power steering on my B2910. The Field techs from Kubota told me that all CUT's leave the plant with SUDT. If your tractor is not operating properly after changing trans oil. I would be looking for another problem.

 

[TGD]

Fishpick,

I

 

[texbaylea]

I ran my L3130 this summer at temps near 100 with out any problems with SUDT. Whether it was filled at the factory or not it certainly did not have SUDT in when I changed it at 50 hours. There was a world of difference in the smoothness with which it ran after the fluid change. The only negaive was that hydraulic leak down was slightly more.

I personally think that the dealer filled the tractor and if so it would have been NH fluid since that was all he stocked at the time, he now has UDT but SUDT is special order.

Vernon

 

[fishpick]

Fishpick,

I

It's OK TGD - if you can't say it - I will for the both of us... "I love you too"...

 

[TGD]

Hmm, not sure what happened to the rest of the message.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread either.

I did clean and inspect the sump screen at 50 hours, though it had only a couple very small shavings or whatever on it.

The salesman happened to stop by this afternoon as he saw me in the driveway and was interested in how things were working. Wouldn't you know, I put the loader on, the fluid was nice and hot as I had just cut the neighbors grass (Sears garden tractor wouldn't run) and the problem wouldn't happen. His comment was maybe a piece of trash got in the system when I hooked up the loader and caused a relief valve or something to stick or not close all the way. He did agree that things shouldn't act like that and said if it happens again, to call him and he would send a service tech out, or he would come himself and look for the problem. He also said the 3 point may leak down when there is some weight on it, the fluid is hot and the engine is off. A friend with a larger kubota (forget the model) said the same thing. That his leaks down in a few minutes with hot fluid after using the tiller if he leaves it up and shuts the engine off.

Anyway, everything seems back to normal now and if it happens again and I find the reason I will post what the cause was.