Hydro gear transmission fluid for Cub Cadets…

[dieselbob69]

Hi folks! I have a new to me Cub Cadet GTX2154LE 50th Anniversary edition lawn tractor. It has over 600hrs and not sure if any hydro maintenance was ever done. I cannot for the life of me figure out why the Cub Cadet hydro fluid is $70/ gallon or close to $20/quart. I looked up the transmission, which is a Hydro-gear BDU-10. The Hydro gear service manual states that a quality engine oil is acceptable, 20w-50 above freezing, 10w-40 below freezing, and synthetic 15w-50 for operation in all temperatures. Has anyone used engine oil rather than the liquid gold Cub sells?

[ironman]

Anything on the market with the Cub Cadet brand carries a gold standard manufacturers price.
Your question about trans fluid alternatives is a can of worms on this forum that never gets the lid put on it.
Some folks here would sell their children before using another brand, others use cheaper stuff and both camps are happy.
Personally, I use the Traveller stuff from Tractor Supply at about 1/2 the Cub price and have no problems, though I probably change oil and filter more often than some.
The standard reply to your question that you'll get here is.....
"It's your money and your machine.....do whatever you like!"

[3Kseries4ever]

I use Rotella T6 5W40 in all 5 of my 3000 Series Cubs. Has worked flawlessly for years. Be sure and use a REAL hydraulic system filter - NOT an automotive equivalent.

Bill

[Road_Clam]

So i'm planning on changing the trans fluid on my new Cub with the K62 trans somewhere around 10 hrs . I'm in the belief that your most important oil change is the first one on new components. I did a lot of research on "what oil" and there's ton's of opinions on what to run. Me personally bought 3 qts of Lucas SXS 5w-50 synthetic oil. 5w-50 is very tough to find, but I found this oil at a O'Rileys Auto near me. I also attached the Tuff Torq oil spec data sheet. Hope this helps.

[dieselbob69]

Originally Posted by 3Kseries4ever

I use Rotella T6 5W40 in all 5 of my 3000 Series Cubs. Has worked flawlessly for years. Be sure and use a REAL hydraulic system filter - NOT an automotive equivalent.

Bill

Yep, I'll get the Cub filter.

[dieselbob69]

Originally Posted by Road_Clam

So i'm planning on changing the trans fluid on my new Cub with the K62 trans somewhere around 10 hrs . I'm in the belief that your most important oil change is the first one on new components. I did a lot of research on "what oil" and there's ton's of opinions on what to run. Me personally bought 3 qts of Lucas SXS 5w-50 synthetic oil. 5w-50 is very tough to find, but I found this oil at a O'Rileys Auto near me. I also attached the Tuff Torq oil spec data sheet. Hope this helps.

I'm more inclined to use what the transmission manufacturer recommends, not Cub Cadet. However, if it was a new machine like yours, I'd go by what Cub recommends while it has warranty. If you use a different oil than what Cub says, you may get denied a warranty claim if one should arise within the period....

[Ozcub]

Originally Posted by dieselbob69

I'm more inclined to use what the transmission manufacturer recommends, not Cub Cadet. However, if it was a new machine like yours, I'd go by what Cub recommends while it has warranty. If you use a different oil than what Cub says, you may get denied a warranty claim if one should arise within the period....

I use full synthetic 5W50 thats what Hydro-gear suggest/recommend , thats good enough for me
Oz

[Sergeant]

Originally Posted by dieselbob69

I'm more inclined to use what the transmission manufacturer recommends, not Cub Cadet. However, if it was a new machine like yours, I'd go by what Cub recommends while it has warranty. If you use a different oil than what Cub says, you may get denied a warranty claim if one should arise within the period....

His tractor is 14 years Old.
That said I Use the OEM fluid https://www.cubcadet.com/en_US/oil-l...=en_US&start=0 or any 15W40 which is what Cub uses as there OEM fluid in my 2018 XT3GSX which is basically what the GTX2154LE is anyway

[Bryan S]

Originally Posted by ironman

Personally, I use the Traveller stuff from Tractor Supply at about 1/2 the Cub price and have no problems

Yes to Traveller from Tractor supply is what I use in all my old tractors,
my newer stuff 2182 and up I use the Amsoil Hydro Fluid.

Originally Posted by 3Kseries4ever

I use Rotella T6 5W40 in all 5 of my 3000 Series Cubs. Has worked flawlessly for years. Be sure and use a REAL hydraulic system filter - NOT an automotive equivalent.

Bill

Shell Rotella anything is good, diesel oil is better,
as it has a high concentration of ZDDP in it which plays well for the newer hydros.
I'll second the use a Good Hydraulic filter.
If you order stuff from Rock Auto,
they have the WIX 51410 Hydraulic Filters
for about $6.50 versus the same filter from Cub Cadet
I'm guessing double the price? They do charge for shipping
at Rock so if you are just buying a filter, prob not cost effective
unless you buy a few at a time.

[Rex B]

Any local auto parts dealer that sells Wix should have that 51410 Wix filter, or be able to get it from their warehouse within a day or two.
Wix makes NAPA filters also. The NAPA number is 1410.

Here is an interchange https://www.oilfilter-crossreference...vert/Wix/51410

I would trust Baldwin, LuberFiner, CarQuest 85410, and Sundstrand of course.
Probably others are relabeled Wix. Parts Plus PH353 is Luberfiner.

At any rate RockAuto at $6.50 is by far the best price. Everything else starts at $10

Oh, and I'm using the TS hydro fluid or the Walmart brand.