Another Trans/Hyd Oil Post

The trans oil in our TO30 is kinda milky, low on the stick, and have no history on being changed. We're gonna change it out. We have read on the forums multi weight is the way to go. I was in Walmart and picked up 6- Shell Rotella T Triple Protection Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oil 15W-40 1 gallon containers.
A gallon of oil goes for around 12 - 15 bucks in these parts. Just checked prices online here and there, nothing that much cheaper.
We are in Northern Maryland and it doesn't get that cold, normally.
So, the question is, is the above mentioned oil ok for the trans, hyd?
Thanks I know it's been beat to death.
 
If you would have looked in the archives you would have seen some post that says do not use diesel oil and you would have seen others that says diesel oil is okay however John (UK) always posts do not use Diesel oil. So I guess it is up to you and what ever the others may post and say about diesel oil. I do listen to what John (UK) says.
 
if you ask 10 different people here you may get ten different opinons on what oil to use in your machine.

i have always used what the manual calls for and buy it at NAPA at about 60 bucks for five gal. it may cost a little more but i have no worries.

i do enjoy the controversey and opinions about the gear oil though.
 
The main thing I have read as far as using engine oil, is that it is better to use a non detergent oil because of the lack of a filter on the hydraulic pump. A non detergent would let any dirt or particles settle to the bottom where it will lay until the pump gets removed and cleaned. A detergent oil will keep the particles in suspension and keep running them thru the pump and these old tractors are full of particles. The only other thing I could think of is that some engine oils have higher levels of sulfur than others depending on the refinement and the additive package. If you were to use oil that had higher levels of sulfur then you might as well have bought modern non yellow metal safe hydraulic oil. It is the sulfur in it that eats away at the yellow metal, so if the engine oil has it also it could do the same thing. Personally I use GL1 in mine, but that is because at the time I couldn't find a 5 gallon bucket of 10w30 non detergent.
 
Yep, I found John(UK)'s info and I'm glad I did. When I was checking the archives I found the reference to not to use the diesel oil, I rechecked what I bought and it was diesel oil. We went to a Walmart today and they have 5 gal of heavy duty trans and hyd oil. I didn't have time to get into the specifics on the label. When I take back the Rotella I'll check in the mean time I will look into the G1.
Trying to figure out which oil to use is frustrating. Not just for the tractor but even for bike trans. Apparently, Gear oil and motor oil are classified differently. Say, if it calls for GL1, hypoid, lube, gear oil, etc. At least that is the way I understand it. I'm probably wrong. But I got all confused trying to but a simple quart of oil for our CR 125 transmission. Gear saver that's the one I was thinking about.
 
What Walmart sells isn't the GL1. It also is just a modern hydraulic oil. You can get a 5 gallon bucket of GL1 at NAPA and you can also get 2 gallon jugs of it at TSC. It's called Ford mineral oil or something like that. But that is what GL1 is, it is a straight mineral oil.
 
it's always been my understanding:
it is not the hydraulic system that is the issue and requires the GL-1 oil.

It's the yellow metal bushings and bearings in the transmission that you are trying to protect using the mineral oil.

but, since these old tractors are not used hard like they were 50 years ago, you should get by with the car motor oil.

however, as long as I can still buy GL-1 oil for my old 1957 TO-35 tractor, I will use the mineral oil.

The lift still works good and the gears still shift fine in my old tractor.

That oil you bought, Shell rotella 15w40, is great oil, I use it all the time in my dodge diesel truck and also use it in the motor of my old fergy tractor as it still has the zinc additive to protect the valves.
 
My 52 To30 has Rotella T in it .
It works fine , in all temps.. I live in upstate N.Y. . In the motor , it protects the cam , and lifters , and anything elsr that rubs , because it still has the zinc additive . It suspends the impurities that are found in the motor , because of the byproducts of internal combustion , that find their way into the crank case .
These byproducts are not a concern in the transmission , and the , so called detergents in the oil will not harm anything in the trans . .
 
I think I found it at Tractor Supply. Posting pic.
a110422.jpg
 
GL1 is 90 weight. http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=FHQ65205_0006545685

http://www.external_link/en/store/travellerreg%3B-ford-tractor-all-mineral-90-transmission-fluid-2-gal?cm_vc=-10005
 
The TSC Ford oil is what is in mine. It works fine. I went to our NAPA here but they had sold out of the GL1 and I needed my tractor to rake hay that day so I went to TSC and bought the Ford oil instead.
 
So far I read, studied, and still had doubts about the oils I paid too much for, and ended up finding an excuse to replace them with something I felt more comfortable with.
Hey, in reality? I think the old timers that taught me how to be an unprofessional hack were right. ANY oil is better than no oil. A wrong oil is better than no oil.
And I will bet most of our tractors would out live most of us even if filled with the wrong oil!
Now, in an attempt to be more professional, I will say that there is a leader out there to pay heed to. John UK has been working on fergies since Harry was alive, so if there is a guru of grey, it's him.
According to John and other Britons(poms), the UK fergie owners are happy with the way a 10W30 engine oil deals with the bronze bushings and hydraulic parts in the transmission. So that is fine with me.
When I farmed with AC's and old cars and trucks, I bought #30 in bulk, and used it in everthing...'cause I was too poor to do anything else. Now... still just as broke, with even more engines and 'arsends' to maintain, I was comfortable with JohnUK and his friend's findings on 10W30.... but I want a W40 for my other cars and trucks in our much hotter summer. So I bought a small drum of 10W40, and have my eyes open for a 50 gallon source.
If you can find it at a TSC in 5 gallons- hey you need 2 jugs just to fill the tranny, so you got hardly enough left to change the motor oil, no waste of over a hundred bucks there. I would rather buy at autozone, but they rarely stock even one jug of what I want. Any smaller containers is no money savings at all. So go window shopping!
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top