Hydraulic Fluid

[Kick]

Hello again. I'm going to drain all the hydraulic oil in my 4630 tractor, and clean the sump screen. I realize I should use JD Hy-Gard, but at $77.28 for five gallons??? On an older tractor like this, would using TSC Traveller Universal Tractor Hydraulic Fluid be safe? I can buy it for $34.99 for five gallons. I can also get oil from my local distributor for the same price. I've included the specs on the oil from my distributor. What's everyone think on this?

 

[tim s]

I don't think it's worth the risk, the wrong fluid will let the brakes come apart,,not maybe, but for sure, as I said in the other post Deere don't make the oil so I would like to compile some fluids that will work,,and list the ones that don't. I get a lot of tractors in here with failed brakes because of the wrong oil,, My Bros. have been using a BP trans oil for 25 years and have had not trouble, I am sure there are others that will chime in with goods and bads.. Deere don't make most of the parts they sell, they merchandise them,double the price and put them in a nice Deere bag for us,, I am all for finding "good" replacement parts to help us cut our cost with out hurting the dependability..

 

[bcoolio]

Spend a little now and you will spend more later. A lot of the oils are not made for common sump applications and don't have the right additives for the wet brakes which causes them to chatter and break apart. That will clog up the sump screen and then you will have more problems. Just my two cents.

 

[bcoolio]

I believe that BP stuff is the same formula as the old Amoco 1000 Fluid. My grandpa used that stuff in his tractors and it worked just fine. But could be wrong, so don't hesitate to correct me.

 

[tim s]

I just checked on the oil we have been using in our Deeres, it's a Castrol hydraulic oil here it's $65.80 for 5 gal. pail,,,$9.60 gal. bulk,,my Bros. get it bulk, and I am thinking about doing it too..

 

[Hay maker2]

Using the correct oils will be much cheaper in the long run. I'm forsure that there are other oils out there that are just as good or better and for a few dollars less. The only way to really know it to have the Hy-Gaurd anyalized and find a comparable brand that offers the same characteristics. Then again, if you ran another brand of oil for 15 - 20 years with no issues I would assume that it's as good as Hy-Guard.

Unless your buying in bulk, I don't think the savings is worth the risk of what might happen to key componets of the hydrualic system.

 

[alfa2]

We have used Mobil 424 for 20 years in all tractors Green and Red with no problems I know I could buy other oil for less but I consider oil and filters cheap compared to transmissions etc

 

[tim s]

Yes I hope we can come up with some brands that are known to work..and not work...

 

[MikeinKy]

Until about 4 years ago, I hauled oil for Chevron in Louisville, Ky. At that time they were making John Deere oils, both hydraulic and engine. I have been buying Chevron in 55 gal. drums and so far, I have not had any problems. I hauled to a company in Indianapolis and they packaged it in drums and buckets. Before Chevron got the contract, Conaco was the supplier.

 

[Kick]

Thanks for all the input everyone! Tim, what is the specific name of the Castrol oil you've been using? The BP oil? MikeinKY, how about the Chevron oil? I think a list of tried and true oils, parts, etc., would be a invaluable tool for all of us looking to take care of our machines, and maybe save a bit of coin as well! Sounds like the Mobil 424 is a good one!

I'm going to drain the oil in the morning, and check how much debris is in the sump screen. I know the guy I bought this tractor from, would never spend the money on Hy-Gard! I've known him for years, and he likes to pinch pennies! I'm pretty sure he used the TSC stuff in it?!? Question is, is the damage already done on a 42 year old tractor, and would I benefit from using the "right" oil now???

 

[bcoolio]

I looked over my papers at work from when I did the last oil bid for our county shop. One of our local distributors used to sell Amoco oils, now they sell Castrol, Chevron, and a few others. He told me that Chevron bought all the rights to Amoco formulas, I even wrote it down on the paper. So when I previously stated that BP bought them was wrong. We ended up choosing TRC (Texas Refinery Corporation) again, been using them for 30 years with out any problems. Because of the quality of their oil we save money by running longer oil change intervals. We run their UTF in our John Deere mower tractors, motor graders and, front end wheel loaders. We have a lot of different brands of equipment we put 4000 hours on our hydraulic oil before we change it, I even sample it in between and we have never had a problem.

 

[Kick]

Deleted

 

[Kick]

Deleted

 

[MikeinKy]

Chevron thc 1000