Hy-Tran Revisited (long)

1) When you go to a dealer to buy bulk hydraulic/transmission fluid, don’t necessarily expect it to be "official" Case/IH Hy-Tran. Of the two dealers nearest me, one used a Citgo product (either Transgard or maybe Mystik JT-5) and the other Shell Donax. They did offer Case/IH Hy-Tran in 5-gallon buckets at the parts counter, but in the shop, it was the bulk stuff. The bulk was about $5.80/gal, the Hy-Tran $8.00/gal in the bucket. One dealer parts guy freely admitted the bulk fluid was not Hy-Tran, and while the other parts guy was a little cagey, one of the wrenches out back had no problem telling me. Both outfits claimed the other fluids were perfectly compatible with the old International Hy-Tran B-6 specifications, while meeting the newer Case/IH standards (Hy-Tran Plus).

2) There is a universal industry specification for Hydraulic/Trans fluid that is compatible with the old B-6 specification, which appears to be nothing special in this day and age. Maybe it once was. All the oil out there for which I could get Product Specification Sheets claimed to be compatible with, or to meet or exceeded this standard. The industry standard tests include oxidation resistance, rust protection, water sensitivity, clutch and brake chatter performance tests, etc. Even the lower priced fluid, such as the Wal Mart Super Tech and TSC Traveller we discussed in the previous posts meet these specs.

3) I did find some "No-Name" fluid out there in a local Farm/Ranch store that just says "Hydraulic/Transmission Fluid" and not much else on the label. It did not claim to meet any manufacturer’s spec. I’d be leery of this stuff and you could find stuff like that elsewhere.

4) I collected, and am still collecting, Product Information Sheets on Hydraulic/Trans Fluid. I can’t go into all of it in detail because of space limits here, but these specs were very much the same on all the fluids. Some had a little more of this or that, but nothing that really jumped out as super. Well, except the Amsoil product. It appears to be great stuff, but it ain’t cheap at $18.70/gallon. This stuff WAY exceeds all specs and performance tests.

5) FYI, I got Data sheets on the following oils I in no particular order), Case/IH Hy-Tran, John Deere Hy-Gard, Universal Torque Fluid (Texas Refinery), Superfilm Universal Tractor Fluid (Amrep), Hydraul (Esso), Synthetic Tractor Hydrulic/Trans oil (Amsoil), Champion #4000, Ultratorque ( Horizon Lubricants), HG Fluid (Phillips 66) Valvoline Premium Universal Tractor Fluid, Castrol UTF, Transgard (Citgo), Donax (Shell), 75 Fluid, Mystic JT-5, Mobilfluid 424 (Mobil).

6) I THINK, I have a Data Sheet for the TSC Traveller (manufactured under contract to TSC, I will confirm), but I haven’t been able to get one for the Wal-Mart Super Tech, though I can get sheets for their motor oils and 90wt gear oils (which show and test well).

7) I found some independent oil tests on two hydraulic oil products, one of which was the John Deere Hy-Gard and it tested very well.

8) CONCLUSION. Though the jury is not fully in on some of the oils, it appears there is nothing super special about Hy-Tran that cannot be met by a brand name, universal hydraulic/trans oil that lists itself as a functional equivalent for, or "meets and exceeds" the Hy-Tran Spec. The Mystik JT-5 even claims to be patterned after Hy-Tran on its Data sheet. Because the Wal Mart and TSC oil is so attractively priced, I will focus more research on these oils to determine if they fit in with the brand name oils and meet a reasonable quality standard.

Your seeking an answer that will be very difficult to come by.

I look at this way, if the tractor had no problems in 6000hrs for 40yrs using Hy-Tran, Hy-Tran must be worth the extra cost just looking at it's track record.

Ya maybe a cheaper oil may have lasted close to the same time, been $500 cheaper over 40yrs too replace but will it keep lubing like Hy-Tran for another 40yrs? I'll never know as I'll be dead and so will you.

It's not like my motor oil post where I noticed something wrong right off the bat and something needed to be changed.

T_Bone

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Because the Wal Mart and TSC oil is so attractively priced, I will focus more research on these oils to determine if they fit in with the brand name oils and meet a reasonable quality standard.

However, I think the easiest thing would just be to use the Hy-Tran and forget about it.

Al

I ran Pennzoil in my engines for the 25yrs and never gave it much thought as that's what my parents used. I then noticed that my engines were using oil all of a sudden from the last change. I then switched over too Quakerstate and the oil usage stopped. 1qt in 500miles with Pennzoil, 1qt in 1000miles with Quakerstate. This for the Dodge as it used 1qt/1000miles since new.

I used Quakerstate for the next ten years without any usage problems. Then on my last oil change before buying my F350, I noticed I was once again using 1qt/500miles.

In the mean time I bought a 2000 Chevy car. Used Quakestate on the first change and noticed my oil was really black and smelled of gas. 3rd change was the same. First change with factory oil was dark amber with no gas smell. I think I have a problem.

Well I bought the F350 PSD and decided Chevron Delo is what I would use as it was highly rated for diesel use.

So I thought I'd try Chevron Surpreme in the Chevy. First change was dark but no gas smell. Second change was dark amber and no gas smell just like the factory oil. I also noticed I picked up 2mpg on the first two tanks and 4mpg from then on.

Fluke on the increase of fuel mileage? Told my son about it and he tried CS in his Ranger. He got 2mpg increase the first change.

I thought this might put a spin on your thoughts if different oils can make a difference although there all rated to do the job. I myself didn't think oil brand was all that important until my experience with Chevron Surpreme oil.

T_Bone

No nothing else was changed. I'm a avid fuel mileage nut, always have been as that one thing I can "help" control my costs. I've always spent the break in period on new vehicles testing for best fuel mileage for that vehicle thus changing my driving style to match that vehicle. For 36k miles we haven't varried much, 1 to 2mpg depending how much we use AC, so were very consistant in our driving habbits.

I disagree that fuel economy is hard to gauge. I just finished a excel spread sheet where I track, single,3,5 and 10 tank averages, trip mileage and life time fuel mileage. Tank averaging is alot closer to true fuel mileage over time.

Back in March or so when everyone was talking about adding acetone to fuel to increase mileage by 20%, sure I tried it as it cost very little to see the results. Results, no increase in fuel mileage, in fact a little loss.

T_Bone