I'm working on an old Roadrunner crane...I think it's 10 ton. I need to add fluid to the hydraulic reservoir. The hydraulics run the winch, boom, outriggers, and steering. The vehicle drive is mechanical. Can anyone tell me what fluud to use, ie a tractor trans hydraulic fluid, or a motor oil, or something else? Thanks.
What to use for hydraulic fluid
- Thread starter Believer
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PILOON
Super Star Member
I once knew a petroleum engineer that told me hydraulic oil was 'bottom barrel' product.
He claimed best was to use SAE 10 or 30 non detergent oil.
Some earlier equipment people agreed with him I might add.
LOL, oil is oil and none can be compressed either so they all will work!
Just some cheaper than others with 'hydraulic' being the cheapest.
He claimed best was to use SAE 10 or 30 non detergent oil.
Some earlier equipment people agreed with him I might add.
LOL, oil is oil and none can be compressed either so they all will work!
Just some cheaper than others with 'hydraulic' being the cheapest.
MossRoad
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- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
My PowerTrac uses 10 gallons of 10W40 motor oil for hydraulic fluid.
That feeds:
- the variable volume tram pump that turns 4 wheel motors.
- the steering
- the FEL
- the PTO that powers all the hydraulic motor implements: mower, brush cutter, etc...
- the AUX PTO that runs the quick attach and any implement cylinders like the power angle snow plow.
I've been adding a quart of Mobil1 at each 50 hour hydraulic filter change, so over 19 years, that 10 gallons of 10w40 has had 4-5 gallons of that diluted into it.
Seems to be working fine so far.
On the other hand, I had a mid 70's IH2500b hydrostatic tractor loader. 50PTO HP 8000 pound machine. It used Hytran. That thing had over 4000 hours on it when I got it, and I ran it another 10 years, so who knows. While just about everything on that machine was wearing out when I got rid of it, the transmission was still going strong.
That feeds:
- the variable volume tram pump that turns 4 wheel motors.
- the steering
- the FEL
- the PTO that powers all the hydraulic motor implements: mower, brush cutter, etc...
- the AUX PTO that runs the quick attach and any implement cylinders like the power angle snow plow.
I've been adding a quart of Mobil1 at each 50 hour hydraulic filter change, so over 19 years, that 10 gallons of 10w40 has had 4-5 gallons of that diluted into it.
Seems to be working fine so far.
On the other hand, I had a mid 70's IH2500b hydrostatic tractor loader. 50PTO HP 8000 pound machine. It used Hytran. That thing had over 4000 hours on it when I got it, and I ran it another 10 years, so who knows. While just about everything on that machine was wearing out when I got rid of it, the transmission was still going strong.
def38
Platinum Member
What about ATF? Automotive automatic transmissions are both hydraulic and mechanical systems, similar to the hydraulics on construction machinery. If you want more details, I would visit the BITOG website.
After some research, Borderson seems to commonly use low viscosity hydraulic oils in their equipment. Most of theses products are probably obsolete, and or superseded. But, they will give you a starting point.
"HYDRAULIC OILS FOR IC-80 AMBIENT TEMP RANGE: -40ｰ to 75ｰF -15ｰ to 110ｰF 50ｰ to 130ｰF (-40ｰ to 24ｰC) (-26ｰ to 43ｰC) (10ｰ to 54ｰC) POUR POINT: -40ｰF MAX -15ｰF MAX 0ｰF MAX (-40ｰC MAX) (-26ｰC MAX) (-18ｰC MAX) VISCOSITY INDEX: 140 MIN 95 to 100 95 to 100 VISC. SSU @ 100ｰF: 200 MAX 230 MAX 340 MAX (38ｰC) SSU @ 210ｰF: 44 MIN 47 MIN 53 MIN (99ｰC) EXAMPLES: MOBIL DTE-13 MOBIL AW-46 MOBIL AW-68 MOBIL UNIV.-ATF MOBIL DTE-25 MOBIL DTE-26 TEXAMATIC TYPE F CONOCO SUPER 46 CONOCO SUPER 68 TEXACO HD 46 TEXACO HD 68"
They say you can add 20W motor oil, if needed to top off. But, not to run straight motor oil.
Many of these seem to be ISO 46 hydraulic oil, which is still commonly available.
"HYDRAULIC OILS FOR IC-80 AMBIENT TEMP RANGE: -40ｰ to 75ｰF -15ｰ to 110ｰF 50ｰ to 130ｰF (-40ｰ to 24ｰC) (-26ｰ to 43ｰC) (10ｰ to 54ｰC) POUR POINT: -40ｰF MAX -15ｰF MAX 0ｰF MAX (-40ｰC MAX) (-26ｰC MAX) (-18ｰC MAX) VISCOSITY INDEX: 140 MIN 95 to 100 95 to 100 VISC. SSU @ 100ｰF: 200 MAX 230 MAX 340 MAX (38ｰC) SSU @ 210ｰF: 44 MIN 47 MIN 53 MIN (99ｰC) EXAMPLES: MOBIL DTE-13 MOBIL AW-46 MOBIL AW-68 MOBIL UNIV.-ATF MOBIL DTE-25 MOBIL DTE-26 TEXAMATIC TYPE F CONOCO SUPER 46 CONOCO SUPER 68 TEXACO HD 46 TEXACO HD 68"
They say you can add 20W motor oil, if needed to top off. But, not to run straight motor oil.
Many of these seem to be ISO 46 hydraulic oil, which is still commonly available.
WranglerX
Super Member
Just got a old used log splitter (that's another story), and actually found manual online and it states Dexron II 10W ATF, non detergent!...
Dale
Dale
def38
Platinum Member
Motor oils have additives specific for high heat, combustion by-products and low ash content. These additives are not meant for hydraulic service. I would not use them in hydraulic applications.
Tinhack
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Times change and oils change. The safest, although not always the best, is to use what the manufacture specified. If it's still running today, it'll be running tomorrow. 
The old Ford Model-T cars used ~10w oil. It was not uncommon for old timers and farmers to use Kerosene for oil during the winter. Antifreeze was alcohol--Whatever was available. Do I need to give you details on that too?
The old Ford Model-T cars used ~10w oil. It was not uncommon for old timers and farmers to use Kerosene for oil during the winter. Antifreeze was alcohol--Whatever was available. Do I need to give you details on that too?