545 hydraulics and transmission fluid

Given the changes in oil quality since the owners manual was published, what are people using in the hydraulic reservoir and transmission for the their 545 or similar vintage tractors. I am considering using one of the hydraulic/transmission fluid. Particularly the CaseIH hy-trans since it has better additives than the cheaper hy-trans fluids. Is anyone else using similar fluids for both reservoirs? How has the performance been?

CaseIH HyTran doesn't have the same viscosity profile that New Holland 134 oil has. Use 134 or its equivalent. NH 134, Deere HyGard, etc. HyTran is based on a 10wt oil the others are a 10w-30 base.

For the rear axle/differential, you'll want to use a UTF that meets or exceeds the Ford New Holland M2C134D specification, as that fluid serves multiple functions, including hydraulic fluid if it has a 3 point lift, plus gear lubrication for the differential and reduction gears and coolant for the inboard brakes, and you want something that has the correct additives so that it works well for all 3 functions.

If your transmission is the auto reversing torque converter trans, then you will want to use an M2C134D compliant UTF in there as well, but if you have a manual reverser or a straight manual transmission, then you can use gear oil or 134 compliant UTF.

If you have power steering, you should use 134 compliant UTF in there as well.

If your 545 has a loader with a front mounted pump and the reservoir for the loader in the frame of the loader, then any regular hydraulic fluid will work fine for that system, but you can run 134 compliant UTF in there as well.

Many folks use the 134 compliant UTF in everything except the engine crankcase as it makes it easier to only have to keep one kind of fluid on hand and you don't have to remember which one goes where.


EDIT: - SORRY. Meant to say IF the Case Hy-Trans says on the label that it meets or exceeds the 134 specification you should be fine with that in everything.

Use the oil that was always specified... 134D or it's equivalent. As Rick has noted... Hy-Tran is a lighter base stock and that's not going to work so well in the Ford. As far as I'm concerned it's far more important to use an oil of the correct spec than it is to use a name brand oil of the incorrect spec...

Rod

That's where I have a problem with the old "meets or exceeds" line. A 10 wt oil won't act like a 10W-30 oil, period. Too thin.
CNH's new MasterTran Ultraction oil that replaces both 134 and HyTran Ultra for all but a few applications is most definitely NOT a 10W base oil. It has the same viscosity profile as 134 with the additive package similar to HyTran Ultra.

Hytran Ultra (and the identical New Holland branded MasterTran) are perfectly fine for IH tractors and I stock it and sell it to my red tractor owners, but I don't sell it to go into Blue or Green tractors.

Exactly... correctly spec'd for the application.

Rod

I never thought of using a 10 wt oil in the engine. Keep in mind the "10W" in 10W-30 does not stand for 10 weight. The w = winter, meaning the oil has the viscosity of a 10 weight but has the protection of 30. I plan to run SAE 30 monograde, diesel rated oil in the motor.

I have no issue with the "meets or exceeds" specs. I highly doubt CNH is producing the exact same lube now that they did in 1979 when the tractor was produced and manual printed.

Therefore, that is what I am curious about now. What is the currently in production oil that is the replacement?

Here is an interesting chart put out by CNH. 134D for everything except the engine, which they recommend 15w-40 (depending on climate).
Lubricant Recommendations by CNH

(quoted from post at 08:19:55 07/07/13) Here is an interesting chart put out by CNH. 134D for everything except the engine, which they recommend 15w-40 (depending on climate).
Lubricant Recommendations by CNH

Click to expand...

Good find! Thanks for sharing!

My discussion was strictly limited to hydraulic oils for your tractor's various reservoirs. Your findings validate my recommendations.

I talked to my local CNH dealer and they don"t carry the NH Ambra, just the Case version (same stuff, different label). He said Hytran Ultra is the replacement for the 134D. Nexplore is used in the modern tractors.

Wait wait wait, I think I mistyped. I think Hytran and Nexplore are the same. I wish Case and NH just called everything the same thing. Their website is useless too. I want a spec sheet on the oils so I can read them myself. I keep getting conflicting info from various sources.

After looking at multiple UTFs, it looks like HyTran (and whatever NH calls it) is the replacement for 134D, as you stated. If I wanted Deere fluid it would be Hy-Guard. My local dealer also recommended HyTrans since they don"t carry the NH labeled fluid since its all CNH anyways.