Tuff Torq K57R 10W-30 or 5-50 synthetic oil?

Brushape · Jun 11, 2022

Hi I have a Husqvarna YTH24V48 with a K57R diff. I changed the fluid at 100hrs and used 5-50 Syn. Now I am seeing it should be 10-30. It has 160 hrs and seems like it ok. I thought I would change the oil at 200 -250 hours. My yard is flat and the only real stress on the thing is in the winter as I have a snowblower that I attach to it and use quite a bit. My question is do I need to change the diff oil at 200-250 Hrs and do I use 10w-30 or 52-50?
Thanks
Tom

RandyT · Jun 11, 2022

You have the issue of Husqvarna recommending 10W30 and the Tuff-Torq OEM recommended oil of 5W50 synthetic. And the truth is either one is fine.

Don't do much with Tuff-Torq but have more experience with Hydrogear. The factory recommended oil is 20W50, and the OEM's that use the hydrogear units recommend 5W20, 10W30,10W40,20W20, 15W40.

stevem5215 · Jun 11, 2022

I would use the 5w-50. It's better for the trans as it can take the heat better in there.

I put the 5w-50 in my K46 about 8 years ago and it's not had a single issue since. It was loosing power on the hills and I followed the advice from here on replacing the oil in it (i did the drive belt while i was at it too) and it's worked perfectly since. Perfectly.

Erbid · Aug 5, 2023

Agreed on the 5w50. You are on top of the game as the maintanence for these is not in any schedules I've seen. A change of oil at 50+ hours and another every 2 or 3 hundred could do wonders for these cheaper "maintanence free" transmissions. Consider replacing the filter if you suspect you have a paper one while you have it out. Plugged filters cause problems too. I don't know that the newer "flat nylon mesh" material plugs up like the paper ones, but they can be cleaned and reused.

I never looked at my trans until there was an issue.