UDT vs SUDT vs Synthetic

tsterkel · Aug 14, 2005

Hi!
"new" L275, want to look at replacing the hydraulic oil to get a baseline. I am proficient at reading motor oil specs, but am having difficulty on hydraulic oil. need help.

Q1. What is the difference between UDT and SUDT?
Q2. What is the non-Kubota commerical equivalent spec
Q3. What are good brands of SYNTHETIC (NOT blends) hydraulic oils?

thanks!

background:
I am a big enthusiast of Synthetic Oils and have converted all vehicles long ago to them. Never saw any of the "bad effects" and have seen significant benefits. Replaced the "high grade Kubota oil with Mobile 1 T&SUV and got major cleanout of sludge in 3 hours.

v8dave · Aug 14, 2005

Kubota Super UDT is a synthetic hydraulic fluid.

Chevron THF-TTF is a Tractor Hydraulic Fluid that is listed as a replacement for SUDT. Attached is a PDF specification sheet.

N80 · Aug 14, 2005

Thanks for the info. I found it odd that the manual for my L4400 did not list any alternatives or specs for using anything but the Kubota UDT or Super UDT.

JoeL4330 · Aug 15, 2005

Best thing about it seems to be that it is orange, and should be easily readable on the dipstick!

tsterkel · Aug 15, 2005

thanks for the highly useful response!

( Kubota Super UDT is a synthetic hydraulic fluid.
Chevron THF-TTF is a Tractor Hydraulic Fluid that is listed as a replacement for SUDT. Attached is a PDF specification sheet. )

Mike_C · Sep 2, 2005

Dave,
Where can I buy Chevron All-Weather-THF ? Does tractor supply carry it? Any web site where I can purchase it and have it shipped to me?

v8dave · Sep 3, 2005

I haven't bought any Chevron. What I did was go to my two local Chevron fuel oil dealers and get a quote from them (amazing, the only two fuel oil jobbers in this area are both Chevron dealers). I can't remember what the price was now. I vaguely recall it wasn't enough cheaper than SUDT to cause me to switch. Since this isn't big farming country, neither dealer had any in stock, but could have it at their shops in several days. But neither of my two closest Kubota dealers had 5 gallon pails of SUDT in stock either.

Unlike a lot of dealers other TBNers have found, both local Kubota dealers did have SUDT in stock in 1 gallon and 2.5 gallon jugs. But the 5 gallon pails are cheaper by about 20% per gallon over the 2.5 gallon jugs.

So, since I had to wait for a shipment anyway, I bought my SUDT by calling my Sacramento dealer and had them drop ship a 5 gallon pail from Kubota to my house (which is what Tractor Smart will do).

v8dave · Sep 3, 2005

I should mention that a few months ago there was a discussion on SUDT prices here on TBN. I dicscovered that my Sacramento Kubota dealer's price for SUDT was among the lowest (if not the lowest) price posted. So, check around don't assume SUDT will be cheaper than Chevron THF in your area.

Mike_C · Sep 3, 2005

Thanks for the info. My local Kubota dealer went out of business due to health issues, so I don't have a close kubota dealer any more. I've been buying all my kubota parts off tractorsmart.com.
Rumor is there is a kubota dealer about 20 miles from me but I haven't tried to find it yet. I should start a whole 'nother thread about how Kubota would not allow my local dealer to sell the business even when he had a buyer. I could not believe the story.
Kubota seems to be very "pushy" when it comes to dealers...

sneaky_pete · Sep 3, 2005

( I should start a whole 'nother thread about how Kubota would not allow my local dealer to sell the business even when he had a buyer. I could not believe the story.
Kubota seems to be very "pushy" when it comes to dealers... )

Not defending the practice, but I think it may be fairly common among big-name franchise operations. I ran into the exact same thing (on the buyer's side) ten years ago with a Harley-Davidson franchise in a small rural town. Owner wanted to sell, we agreed on a price, but corporate headquarters put so many conditions on the transaction (requiring re-location, new building, etc.) that it was economic suicide to do and the deal fell apart, to the chagrin of all parties except corporate h-d.

gsxr1100 · Sep 3, 2005

This topic (UDT and SUPER UDT) has bee beaten to death here...big time.

Use the search function on this board and spend a little time. There has been lots of threads on this topic

The below link took about 15 seconds using the search functionality.

Link

tsterkel · Sep 3, 2005

( This topic (UDT and SUPER UDT) has bee beaten to death here...big time.

Use the search function on this board and spend a little time. There has been lots of threads on this topic

The below link took about 15 seconds using the search functionality.

Link
)

in the future, before insulting the questioner, read the question

gsxr1100 · Sep 3, 2005

( ( in the future, before insulting the questioner, read the question ) )

I did....... and 100% of the questiones asked have, again been talked about more time then gas prices.

In the future do a search and save the topic.

Ps. It is not "insulting" as you described it, it is called "educating the users since this tool is power when utilized" ; but 50% of users never use it & jump right to posting.

I have been out here for a few years and see the same threads/topics asked over and over when the search function is there to use & and free .

Plus I am not stating what has been posted 100's of times. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif We can make it 101 now if you want.

N80 · Sep 5, 2005

Well, I've gotten the "do a search" post several times. Did the search and came up with nothing. Other times I've found an answer.

What strikes me as ironic is taking the time to tell someone to "do a search" when it usually takes less time to just answer the question. Its even easier and less likely to cause problems to just ignore a redundant post if such posts are irritating.

But it seems even worse to post "do a search" once the question has already been answered.

Just my .02

gsxr1100 · Sep 6, 2005

Again, I have been out here for a few years and see the same topics and posts A LOT. When a simple and easy search comes up with 99% of them. If it does not come up chances are you are not “opening” your search field or some other options. Basically, you are doing it wrong. It does not happen like a yahoo search….But then again, I know kids that are better then me at searching. I can spend about 10 minutes and come up with pages and pages )on TBN) of Super UDT, UDT comparing etc.

In other forums I go to the mods or admins are cracking down for a long time & big-time on re-posts; and I agree 110% because it gets flat-out ridiculous.

To keep people happy, I have posted “do a search”, people still chine in with there answers, which is ok but where do you draw the line? 100 of the same posts? Nothing like taking server space for nothing and answering the same question time and time again.

If me telling someone to use the search functions cause problems, well that is a problem in itself.

I can post a reply with a cookie cutter answer from the previous posts/topcis already talked about but why? Not my post and let the poster look for it. Plus it is very simple here. But then again, why not post the same topics over and over and over and over and over and over.

Again, it is like the warm up time on a thread here. Been there done that over 4 times here. This has been covered more times then the space shuttle going around the moon, or synthetic oil (or what people think some are), or UDT vs SUPER or is rotella good, is Power service good, or is 15w-40 ok….blah ..blah..blah.

Again most threads have already been covered in the 724,000 posts and the over 21,000 users here . We are all not dumb members here and chances are no one is breaking new ground here.

From now on, just for some people I will say, “Use the search functionality since this topic is old and already has been answered”.

All this since someone can’t use a search or learn something new..hmmm

Mike_C · Sep 6, 2005

Amsoil has a fairly new synthetic that they claim is equivalent to Super UDT. I don't have the numbers for Super UDT, but I did compare the viscosity of the Amsoil to the Chevron, and they are close. Here's the amsoil press release:

web page

I'd be interested in any comments from the group...

Oh, and for the record MIKE, I did do a search on amsoil synthetic and only found talk about motor oil not hydraulic.
But I do admit I did not spend a lot of time searching since this thread exists.

Mike_C · Sep 6, 2005

(
re: do a search )
If the question has already been answered, I think the best solution is to post a link to the other post, so people are directed there.

gsxr1100 · Sep 7, 2005

you are going to hate me here, but this topic has come up before and was debated like crazy.

This fluid only passes UDT and NOT Super UDT. It only passes UDT and not Super UDT since the spec's and applications on the super go farther then just an hyd oil.

gsxr1100 · Sep 7, 2005

here is the link that took a whopping 8 seconds to find.

8-second find

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I agree, posting a link to the other post, so people are directed there. But then on the other end of it, I can't hold everone hands all the time. the search is simple and effective.