Any hydraulic machine gurus here?

[Stifko]

I have to replace the hydraulic fluid in a machine. In my area hydraulic fluid is $50 for a 5 gallon can. Someone told me that tractor fluid is the same thing. AutoZone has tractor fluid for $30/5 gallon.

Is tractor fluid the same oil as hydraulic fluid? Will the machine run just as good w/tractor fluid?

thanks

 

[Zach]

Do you want to treat your machine like an old tractor? Might work.

It's like house paint v. barn paint. They are both paint....

 

[Stifko]

The guy that gave me this advice only runs his machines on tractor fluid. He has a backhoe and a bobcat. Anything is better than what is in the machine now. The oil is all milky with water and I don't know when we changed it last. I am going to need around 50 gallons at least, after draining the whole system.

 

[Old Hippie]

I worked with hydraulics in the steel mill for 30 years. There are some differences in the fluids, usually with seal compatabilities. If yours is that bad, I'd say "Go For It". The worst case scenerio would be seals ( "O" rings) starting to leak.

 

[Stifko]

Thanks Old Hippie, the tractor fluid can't be worse for the seals than what the machine is running on now. I appreciate your advice.

 

[Old Hippie]

Believe me, I'm glad somebody can use all this useless info running around in my brain. I wish I coulda "downloaded" it to a few of my apprentices. :laugh:

 

[BoomerD]

Gotta be careful when using a different oil in the hydraulics than it was built for. Seals may leak, excess wear may occur in pumps and cylinders, etc. MOST tractor fluids are designed to, not only serve the hydraulic system, but also as transmission fluid IIRC...
Check the machine specs against the oil specs. you won't save much money, if the cheaper oil causes more wear or damage to the system. It MIGHT work. Can't tell you without knowing what the particular machine is, nor the specs of the tractor fluid you're considering.
I worked for several years doing heavy equipment lubrication, and we carried several different hydraulic oils on the truck for different equipment.

 

[Stifko]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Gotta be careful when using a different oil in the hydraulics than it was built for. Seals may leak, excess wear may occur in pumps and cylinders, etc. MOST tractor fluids are designed to, not only serve the hydraulic system, but also as transmission fluid IIRC...
Check the machine specs against the oil specs. you won't save much money, if the cheaper oil causes more wear or damage to the system. It MIGHT work. Can't tell you without knowing what the particular machine is, nor the specs of the tractor fluid you're considering.
I worked for several years doing heavy equipment lubrication, and we carried several different hydraulic oils on the truck for different equipment.

Thank you, I have no specs on the machine. It is very old and I don't even know how much hydraulic fluid is needed. I will probably spring for the correct oil, what is a couple of bucks when safety is at hand?

Originally posted by: Old Hippie
Believe me, I'm glad somebody can use all this useless info running around in my brain. I wish I coulda "downloaded" it to a few of my apprentices. :laugh:

I wish I could have that knowledge downloaded into my brain too, or we could do a vulcan mind meld.

 

[Old Hippie]

I will probably spring for the correct oil, what is a couple of bucks when safety is at hand?

Since you're gonna bring out the checkbook, get the numbers off the filter(s) and buy those also.

PS.

Gotta be careful when using a different oil in the hydraulics than it was built for. Seals may leak, excess wear may occur in pumps and cylinders, etc.

Of course, that is the correct answer, but if he's running the machine with "milky fluid", I seriously doubt even incorrect fresh fluid is gonna hurt anything that hasn't been hurt already. That's commin' from 30 years of mechanical maintenance experience.

 

[Stifko]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie

Since you're gonna bring out the checkbook, get the numbers off the filter(s) and buy those also.

I will need the whole housing for the filter. It has not been changed in a long time and it will be hard to open. I doubt I will be able to close it again with a new filter inside. I need a good hydraulic repair guy to help me out. I gotta figure out how to bleed the whole system too. Can the pump be run at all when the main tank is drained?

 

[Old Hippie]

Can the pump be run at all when the main tank is drained?

You sure you weren't one of my apprentices? No fluid, No Pump. The fluid is also a coolant and lubricant.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie

Can the pump be run at all when the main tank is drained?

You sure you weren't one of my apprentices? No fluid, No Pump. The fluid is also a coolant and lubricant.

ROFL!! Gotta love apprentices...dumb as a box of rocks most of em...tough to train many of them...but...(hopefully) they DO learn...and it's a good thing, they are the future of the trades...

I'll agree to a point that even the wrong hyd. oil is better than none, or one that's water infused, but if he's gonna replace it, it would certainly be better to get the RIGHT one at the start...


OP, how about some machine info? Make and model for starts...year of manufacture if possible...

You CAN always call the local dealer for it, give them this info, along with the serial number, and get the necessary information, along with any parts needed...

 

[Stifko]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

OP, how about some machine info? Make and model for starts...year of manufacture if possible...

You CAN always call the local dealer for it, give them this info, along with the serial number, and get the necessary information, along with any parts needed...

You guys know what a Travelift is? They are no help and will not reseach the machine for me. I could call the outfit that serviced it last year. He replaced some brass bushings and clipped my dad for a bundle of money. They would know the model and specs, and I should probably call them for some info. Our machine is ancient, like from the 50s.

BTW, the same guy who told me that he runs tractor oil in all his machines, also told me to run the pump to drain the system. I said that you could run it for a long time before burning the pump out. I guess he is full of it now.