Hydraulic Oil Dye

3GoatHill

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L4400
Sep 8, 2014
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Bath, PA
Has anybody else used hydraulic oil dye so you can more easily see the fluid in the check window? I haven't seen Kubota brand oil, but I did find John Deere oil, part number MT3668. Think it's ok to use it, or will it make my tractor get sick and turn green?
 

85Hokie

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Has anybody else used hydraulic oil dye so you can more easily see the fluid in the check window? I haven't seen Kubota brand oil, but I did find John Deere oil, part number MT3668. Think it's ok to use it, or will it make my tractor get sick and turn green?

any dye will work...as long as it is used according to WHAT it is used for.
SO the JD dye would work fine in a clear based oil, I cannot imagine the dye having any properties that would affect the oil itself.

You would think - that big K would come up with a system that makes their UDT/ SUDT-2 oils have a color so that it can be more easily seen.

Here is some red if you need red.....dayum....most have gold flakes in it!:p

https://www.rrproducts.com/Hydraulic-Oil-Dye-~-16-oz-product23321
 

SidecarFlip

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One reason I switched to Chevron THC Synthetic all Weather. It's already orange colored, Kubota SUDT-UDT compatible.

Not sure about JD Hi Trans compatibality.
 

thedevilyoulove

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One reason I switched to Chevron THC Synthetic all Weather. It's already orange colored, Kubota SUDT-UDT compatible.

Not sure about JD Hi Trans compatibality.
How do you like that fluid? Where do you buy it? I'm not seeing it online.
 

85Hokie

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How do you like that fluid? Where do you buy it? I'm not seeing it online.
Remember .....just cause it says on the outside it is Kubota compatible.....THAT statement from that company is just that ....a statement. ;):)

Be careful what you place in that HST ....... bad things can happen if that sentence is not true - and often it is not 100% true.;)
 
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rentthis

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May 30, 2012
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any dye will work...as long as it is used according to WHAT it is used for.
SO the JD dye would work fine in a clear based oil, I cannot imagine the dye having any properties that would affect the oil itself.

You would think - that big K would come up with a system that makes their UDT/ SUDT-2 oils have a color so that it can be more easily seen.

Here is some red if you need red.....dayum....most have gold flakes in it!:p

https://www.rrproducts.com/Hydraulic-Oil-Dye-~-16-oz-product23321
This dye is phosphorescent to help locate leaks. It might glow under a certain light. At $98.00 a pint, I'm going with gold flakes.
 

rentthis

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any dye will work...as long as it is used according to WHAT it is used for.
SO the JD dye would work fine in a clear based oil, I cannot imagine the dye having any properties that would affect the oil itself.

You would think - that big K would come up with a system that makes their UDT/ SUDT-2 oils have a color so that it can be more easily seen.

Here is some red if you need red.....dayum....most have gold flakes in it!:p

https://www.rrproducts.com/Hydraulic-Oil-Dye-~-16-oz-product23321
This dye is phosphorescent to help locate leaks. It might glow under a certain light. At $98.00 a pint, I'm going with gold flakes.
 

Fido Farms

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L3901, 35 Massey, Summit X 146, Polaris 700 RMK, Yamaha Viking
May 27, 2018
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Here***8217;s a thought. If you know ur oil level once except for engine oil level it can***8217;t change unless it leaks. If u have no leaks ur oil level does not need to be checked. For example. Ur truck rear end. If it don***8217;t leak it can***8217;t go low.
 

SidecarFlip

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Remember .....just cause it says on the outside it is Kubota compatible.....THAT statement from that company is just that ....a statement. ;):)

Be careful what you place in that HST ....... bad things can happen if that sentence is not true - and often it is not 100% true.;)
In as much as I've used Chevron THC synthetic since the initial change years ago in both my expensive M's (125 grand for both) and Chevron not only states it's compatible but exceeds the Kubota lubrication standard and I use them both very hard, I think I'm safe with it. In fact I know I am. I do a spectroscopic analysis on the oil at change time and Blackstone tells me it's just 'peachy'.

Far as purchasing it, I get mine from the local Chevron Jobber. I've seen it online but ship cost is prohibitive. I buy it in 5 gallon plastic pails when it's change time.
 

lugbolt

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ZG127S-54
Oct 15, 2015
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Well what I've seen with aftermarket fluid is not so much metal to metal breakdowns, but leaky seals, hardened seals, hardened o-rings, which then either lets foreign stuff in or lets oil out, or both in some cases. The ones that stick out are the front propeller shaft seals on some of the L series tractors. The shaft runs from the back of the transmission through the bellhousing. In the bellhousing there's one or two seals, a pair of rubber lined seal collars and a support bearing. Seen plenty of them where the collars rubber linings will swell, the collars will move on the shaft, the seals won't seal anymore, then oil leaks out of the weep hole on the bottom. The fix? Split tractor replace collars, seals, usually the bearing. About $1500. I asked what causes this and other issues that really don't have an explanation, and a japanese engineer told a translator that not using the proper fluid and/or lack of maintenance (changing fluids per the WSM) are the #1 causes. One can take that however they please. Matters not to me, I could use the work.
 
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old and tired

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L2800 HST; 2005; R4

Tractor Gal

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BX23D MLB
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I guess if you want to spend $130+ for something that won't be used for the life of the tractor, this would be a good purchase. The JD bottle will treat for multiple hydraulic oil changes, depending on how much is added to the new oil. Just sayin'.

TB
 

Shawn T. W

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'05 L5030 HSTC - '21 MF GC 1725 MB - '18 JD Z960M Z-Trak
Dec 9, 2024
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SW Missouri Ozarks
Just for notes sake ... The JD stuff is actually RED! If it is "pasty" when you open the tiny jar, don't throw it out, just add a little hydraulic fluid to it and stir ... ! It is only good for 5 gallons!

I use the same brand stuff mentioned above, but I bought the 4oz size from ... https://www.zoro.com/kingscote-dye-...red-4-oz-506250-r4/i/G5130815/#specifications (I wanted "free shipping" so added a pair of gloves or three) ... About 2 drops per gallon of hydraulic fluid is plenty ... I suggest you add it to the factory jug, then pour into tractor, because if you drip a drop on your tractor, you will have a red "tail", wear gloves too! 😉

There are other colors available, but I chose RED mostly because it was the cheapest, but also going into my RED tractor! I didn't feel like paying for the UV version, as if the leak is that tiny, I'm not worried about it ...

IMG_20240205_160040850.jpg


IMG_20240205_161545556.jpg
 
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North Idaho Wolfman

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The Ebay add is a scam, what they are selling are leftovers in the jar / bottle from them using the major portion of the dye.
If you notice in the ad they do not list the volume / amount that you will get.

You can buy the dye directly from JD for cheaper and it will be a 12ml in new jar / bottle.
It's still expensive for the amount that you get.


The dye that @Shawn T. W put up is a lot better deal.
 
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Shawn T. W

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'05 L5030 HSTC - '21 MF GC 1725 MB - '18 JD Z960M Z-Trak
Dec 9, 2024
314
577
93
SW Missouri Ozarks
From my understanding ... The JD bottle is small and is not "full" they state 12 mil which I presume is "milliliters" I know it's a tiny amount, and half the jars are pasty ... A little does go a long ways but say it's for 5 gallons ... Lots of dealerships don't seem to even know about it, but if given the number they can order it, this is what I've gleaned over at Green Tractor Talk forum ... I didn't buy it, seemed expensive to me ...

On my Kubota L5030 it has a dipstick, and I don't need the dye to see it, so only use it in my MF, my JD has a translucent tank, and I can see in it there basically clear Hygard fluid in it ...

On my 1st use, I tried to drip it into the back of my tractor, (bottle is FULL!) I had my BH on, and it was challenging to say the least, I have red stains still on the back of my tractor, even though I tried to get it off, I'm guessing if I had tried something like brake cleaner, it may have gotten it clean, but I just used soapy water and a brush, I now have a red stained brush! It did read somewhere that it can be used in water, so I figured water would wash it off, I got "some" off my tractor and fingers with soapy water, some! :cool:

IMG_20240205_160052246.jpg


IMG_20240205_160058910.jpg


I did talk to my Massey Ferguson dealer about it, as they also don't sell a dye ... He said no problem using it
 
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Tractor Gal

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BX23D MLB
Oct 30, 2020
596
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NC
Interesting info, for sure. The JD I have purchased is never "pasty"...totally liquid. That small bottle has treated 2 changes of hydraulic oil in my BX23D. But, if there are other bargains out there, go for it! We know that the green brand is always overpriced. :)

TG
 
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