Super UDT or other?

mosseater

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L3600GST
Mar 6, 2016
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Dillsburg, PA, USA
I tried to do a forum search but it wont work on my phone for some reason. Just finished rebuilding all four loader cylinders and fluid level seems pretty low. Since I have no clue of this machine's maintenance history, I'm wanting to change out the fluid. It's an L 3600 GST so do I need to use Super UDT, Super UDT2, or can I substitute something else? I searched on line for a source, but only came up with Super UDT 2, and its pretty spendy at $96 / 5 Gal. Suggestions?
 

hodge

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I don't have an L3600, so I don't know. But, welcome to the forum!

Someone here will have an answer, but it may be opinion more than fact (no offense to anyone). Have you called your local Kubota dealership?

I don't think that there is a general, functional difference between UDT and Super, other than Super is synthetic. If I were forced to guess, UDT would be fine, Super is better because its synthetic.
 

mosseater

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L3600GST
Mar 6, 2016
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Dillsburg, PA, USA
Thank you. Yes, there seems to be more opinion than gact on this issue, and lubticants in general. I read a thread from 2002 and there was quite a hit of discussion about there not being anything that crossed over as an option. A lost of people were saying their dealer doesn't even stock it because it's overpriced. My sense of it is I could probably use any quality oil that has similar numbers, but without gathering info I dont want to risk it. I am calling the dealer tomorrow.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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UDT is fine in a GST
You can use Mystik JT5 if you would like to save some $$$
That all I use and it works perfectly in a GST setup.
 

TripleR

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I will be putting SUDTII in my L5740, but my dealer recommended UDT over SUDT, didn't even keep it in stock. In our other Kubotas, I've used Ambra or other brands. Our BX2200 has had several different brads with no discernible difference.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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I don't think GST's do not run any quieter with different fluid.
People have said that HST's do run quieter on SUDT2, but I think they run quieter on any very good fluid.
GST's are Hydraulically shifted geared transmissions, not hydrostatic transmissions.
GST will run and shift poorly on too thick or too thin of fluid.
Will SUDT2 make it last longer, couldn't tell you.
Will SUDT2 cause you issues with the clutch packs, that I couldn't tell you either.
I do know that cheap fluid will make them perform lousy!
I also know that the clutch pack are very expensive, $1K +, so I don't like taking chances with they fluid that you use with them. ;)
 
Last edited:

TripleR

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It will be smoother and run cooler with SUDT2.
Probably will as SUDTII is supposed to be an improvement over SUDT. I could tell no difference in my tractors from UDT, SUDT, Ambra, Hyguard etc in HST or HST.

As mentioned, I will be putting SUDTII in my 5740 in a few hours to see if it really is as advertised.
 

Bulldog

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My tractors (according to dealer) came with SUDT and when I changed them to Amsoil the difference was night and day.

I'm just guessing but I think the SUDT2 will show improvement in extreme heat or cold. My thought is it will run some cooler in the heat and it should flow a little better in the cold.

TripleR, I think you'll be a good tester since you have several different tractors with multiple uses. It may be a subtle change that only shows a difference doing certain task. Then again it could make a huge difference and be the best move you ever made. I'll be interested in the results either way.
 

TripleR

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My tractors (according to dealer) came with SUDT and when I changed them to Amsoil the difference was night and day.

I'm just guessing but I think the SUDT2 will show improvement in extreme heat or cold. My thought is it will run some cooler in the heat and it should flow a little better in the cold.

TripleR, I think you'll be a good tester since you have several different tractors with multiple uses. It may be a subtle change that only shows a difference doing certain task. Then again it could make a huge difference and be the best move you ever made. I'll be interested in the results either way.
I'm thinking it will be an improvement as well. My local dealer didn't see enough difference in UDT/SUDT to bother stocking SUDT, but he is stocking SUDT2. I will let you know how it turns out.
 

lugbolt

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a direct quote from the Kubota Central division service manager:

"GST transmissions should use Super UDT2, and Super UDT2 ONLY-and Kubota recommends nothing else but Super UDT2 for the GST's".

Expensive it is. But so is having to split the tractor to replace the GST clutch pack. Been there, done that.

Where SUDT shines is in temperature differentials. In our area, we're seeing 100 degree temp differential between summer and winter. Remember many years ago it was almost a requirement for a tractor to "warm up" before the hydraulics would work. UDT used in cold environments still exhibits some of that characteristic. Cold cheap oil has been known (at least blamed by some) to be thicker in colder temps, which can contribute to the GST clutch pack to blow the snap ring out of it's housing-again requiring expensive labor to fix. SUDT does not; it stays more or less the same viscosity from cold to hot (at least it does here).

Also algae can grow in conventional UDT and other cheaper fluids, and I've never once see it in SUDT2...I'm told that it has chemicals to stop algae from growing in it. When I sold John Deere and Kubota together, JD had a bad problem with algae in their HyGard, tractors sitting on the lot would have zero hydraulic functions. JD's rep even told us to drain and then refill with super UDT2 as it was superior to Hy-Gard.

It is also synthetic fluid (SUDT). It maintains viscosity at higher temperatures; though tractors generally don't get that hot.
 

CaveCreekRay

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What is the difference between SUDT and SUDT2?

I bought SUDT for my upcoming hydro service when I first got the machine. Have they come out with an improved synthetic?

?????
 

pendoreille

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I believe that udt is a blend and sudt2 is a full synthetic. It is not in the manual that I have found which fluid comes from the factory. The WSM recommends sudt2 but states udt is okay. My dealer says 2 is a waste of money. They stock it but not out front. I went with 2.
 

CaveCreekRay

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Thanks!

And I thought SUDT was all synthetic. Oh well... there's always next time.
 

1882

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L3800HST with loader and hoe
Mar 16, 2016
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Been lurking for years and just joined for the sole reason of responding to this thread. I just did the 50 hour service on my L3800HST with SUDT2 and there is without question an improvement in hydraulic smoothness, quietness of operation and ease of shifting between L, N, M and H. The machine simply seems to run with less effort now and is quieter and smoother. I did the hydraulic fluid with both filters and the engine oil with synthetic Rotella and she's like a new machine now. I can't see spending $32K on a tractor and putting anything less than what the factory recommends in fluids. Nice place y'all got here by the way!
 

trapperdrew

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All my 3 dealers up here in canada only have "Premium UDT" they tell me there is none other they can order... any idea where that sits on the scale?
 

houser52

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Jul 10, 2015
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My L3600 GST came with Super UDT in it. Whenever I replaced it the first time I put regular UDT in it and could tell a difference between the two. The trans wasn't as quiet and less responsive (slower to shift).

Also, sometime after that fluid change I added a pre-owned front end loader with an unknown fluid in the system. I also replaced a hose or two every year and topped off with a UDT compatable NAPA fluid because it was easily available.

This year when I added a grapple/diverter/hoses I replaced all the fluid with Super UDT. To me, everything about the GST and hydraulics sounds and performs much better when using the Super UDT. I won't be topping off or replacing with anything else from now on.