Hydraulic Fluid vs Transmission Fluid (2024)

Mar 16, 2022 / Hydraulic Fluid vs Transmission Fluid

Digityman

Member

Joined: Jan 26, 2022

Messages: 41

Tractor: TYM T474 (2021)

I own a T474. I'm going to ask a really dumb question, is the hydraulic fluid the same as transmission fluid. In the manual the names are used interchangeably.

The reason I ask is I punctured a line and lost some fluid. I bought hydraulic fluid at Napa and started looking for the fill location, started reading the manual and then got confused.

Mar 16, 2022 / Hydraulic Fluid vs Transmission Fluid

Root Cause

Platinum Member

Joined: Jun 28, 2021

Messages: 783

Location: North Carolina mountains

Tractor: Mahindra 2638

I don't know about your tractor but it is very common to have the same fluid for tranny and hydraulics.
Below is a commonly used oil but again, do your own research to verify what is correct. It does matter.

See if this oil meets your manual's requirements.
Google your tractor and this oil, see if it leads you a site where you can verify that it is ok for your tractor as a last resort.

A few tips:

Get familiar with your manual, it will save time and money. I left mine at home (115 miles away) when I started and learned the hard way.

Use the search button at the top, right corner. You may find the answer faster than starting a new thread.

Facebook probably has a TYM group. Join it. I found that it is sometimes the fastest way to get an answer in the middle of the day when many here are outside.

People typically are more quick to respond when you made some attempt on your own to find the answer first.

Good luck.

Last edited: Mar 16, 2022

LouNY

Super Star Member

Joined: Jul 4, 2015

Messages: 10,934

Location: Greenwich, NY

Tractor: Branson 8050, IH 574, Oliver 1550 Diesel Utility (traded in on Branson) NH 8160. Kioti CK2620SECH

Most tractors for the last several decades use hydraulic/transmission fluid, a multi-purpose fluid.
The fluid pictured above is only a hydraulic fluid it is not a mulipurpose fluid.
The proper fluid for most tractors will state that it is good for wet brakes and clutches.
Such as IH Hy-trane, JD Hy-Guard, Kubota UDT and multiply similar fluids, Shell, Castrol, Valoline, Cen-Pe-Co
all have good multi purpose tractor fluids.

Mar 16, 2022 / Hydraulic Fluid vs Transmission Fluid

RjCorazza

Elite Member

Joined: Apr 6, 2000

Messages: 3,101

Location: Maryland

Tractor: Kubota L4060 Cab, ZD1211, ZD326

The manual I found online calls for :

Tractor Hydraulic Fluids - API GL-4 Grade
- Below -4°F(-0°C)
ISO VG 32
- Above -4°F(-0°C)
ISO VG 46

The hydraulic oil photo above has this to say:
"This product is not recommended for transmission, differentials, wet brakes or final drive gears"

On edit: I do not intend to sound critical of Root Cause's posting of the picture, the post was very clear about the need for finding the manufacturer's requirements, and using the correct oil.

Last edited: Mar 16, 2022

Mar 16, 2022 / Hydraulic Fluid vs Transmission Fluid

Thread Starter

Digityman

Member

Joined: Jan 26, 2022

Messages: 41

Tractor: TYM T474 (2021)

I contacted the dealer and they're going to come out and do the 50 hour service. I'm going to watch over them to see what they use and I'll report back

Mar 16, 2022 / Hydraulic Fluid vs Transmission Fluid

Root Cause

Platinum Member

Joined: Jun 28, 2021

Messages: 783

Location: North Carolina mountains

Tractor: Mahindra 2638

RjCorazza said:
The manual I found online calls for :
Tractor Hydraulic Fluids - API GL-4 Grade
- Below -4°F(-0°C)
ISO VG 32
- Above -4°F(-0°C)
ISO VG 46
The hydraulic oil photo above has this to say:
"This product is not recommended for transmission, differentials, wet brakes or final drive gears"
On edit: I do not intend to sound critical of Root Cause's posting of the picture, the post was very clear about the need for finding the manufacturer's requirements, and using the correct oil.
Click to expand...

Thanks for correcting this. I went to tractor supply and typed in premium oil and didn't see that this was even available. I corrected the picture and sorry for the distraction.

Mar 16, 2022 / Hydraulic Fluid vs Transmission Fluid

3gunr

Veteran Member

Joined: Apr 17, 2018

Messages: 1,178

Location: wentzville mo

Tractor: mahindra 2538 mahindra 2810 cub cadet 7260 massey 255

tractor supply carries traveler brand , Get the premium trans hydraulic fluid it will work fine,

Mar 24, 2022 / Hydraulic Fluid vs Transmission Fluid

jigs_n_fixtures

Platinum Member

Joined: Jul 31, 2021

Messages: 865

Location: Salmon, Idaho

Tractor: TYM T233

Any good Universal Tractor Hydraulic fluid will work. The two TYM dealers I called, because I couldn’t figure it out from my manual, both said to use the same thing: Universal Tractor Hydraulic Fluid. They both emphasized that it had to be the Tractor version, not just Universal Hydraulic Fluid. The local tractor repair place, (the dealers are both over three hours away), so anything I can’t do gets done by the local shop, which isn’t associated with any of the brands, also said the Universal Tractor Hydraulic Fluid.

Mar 25, 2022 / Hydraulic Fluid vs Transmission Fluid

Thread Starter

Digityman

Member

Joined: Jan 26, 2022

Messages: 41

Tractor: TYM T474 (2021)

Thanks @jigs_n_fixtures. That's exactly what my guy said. I took a picture of what he recommended and attached it here.
He also recommended the following:
Gear Oil (for front axle): 80w-90. It's about 2-2.5gal for both sides
Oil - 15w-40. He likes the Rotella by Shell --- No matter what the manual says this should be changed every 50 hours
Hydraulic Fluid below. Has to be Universal

Tractor

Hydraulic Fluid - it's about 10gal for the whole system but about 7-7.5 on the change.
He also recommending greasing every 8-10 hours depending on what you are doing. If your are going hard, every time might be needed.

If anyone needs to know, the T474 has a sight glass for the hydraulic level which is down next to the PTO. There's a red dot in the middle and the level should be about there.

Mar 27, 2022 / Hydraulic Fluid vs Transmission Fluid

#10

joeyd

Platinum Member

Joined: Jul 22, 2010

Messages: 995

Location: North Idaho

Tractor: TYM 353HST

My TYM dealer recommends the premium fluid vs just universal fluid.

Hydraulic Fluid vs Transmission Fluid (2024)

FAQs

Is hydraulic fluid and transmission fluid the same thing? ›

Transmission fluid is enriched with additives to improve lubrication, minimize friction, and shield against wear and corrosion. In contrast, hydraulic fluid incorporates additives for anti-foaming, anti-rust, and anti-oxidation properties, along with viscosity stability under diverse conditions.

Learn More Now ›

Can I substitute hydraulic fluid with transmission fluid? ›

Automatic transmission fluid: Automatic transmission fluids are among the most popular hydraulic fluid substitutes because they have an extensive operating temperature range and can maintain optimal performance in diverse environments. Vegetable seed oils: Most vegetable oils have higher flash and fire points.

Can I use transmission fluid in a hydraulic jack? ›

In case of any other unavailability Automatic Transmission fluid or ATF as it is commonly called proves to be a much better substitute for the power steering fluid in hydraulic jack. Automatic transmission fluid can also be used in other hydraulic systems as a substitute for hydraulic oil.

Discover More Details ›

Can you use ATF for hydraulic lift? ›

► Q) Can I use ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) in my lift? A) Yes. The use of Dexron III ATF may affect the warranty on certain lift manufacturers hydraulic components and power units. However, some manufacturers allow Dexron III ATF as an AW32 / ISO32 equivalent.

Find Out More ›

Can I use hydraulic fluid in my transmission? ›

Even though the transmission will still shift when using hydraulic fluid, there are some shortcomings to this — the primary being that these fluids aren't designed to be exposed to high levels of heat and are prone to oxidation.

Get More Info ›

What is another name for hydraulic fluid? ›

Firstly, hydraulic fluids for hydrodynamic applications are called power-transmission oils. Secondly, hydraulic fluids for hydrostatic application are called hydraulic oils. Moreover, in the latter application, applied pressures are high and the flow rates are low.

Discover More Details ›

What can I use as transmission fluid? ›

Commonly recommended manual transmission fluid formulations include SAE 80W, 75W-90, 80W-90 and SAE 90. In some cases, a multi-grade engine oil or automatic transmission fluid may be recommended. However, a manual transmission fluid is typically the most optimal for manual transmissions.

See Details ›

Can you use any fluid in a hydraulic system? ›

Most hydraulic systems can operate using many different fluids, including multigrade engine oil, automatic transmission fluid and more conventional antiwear (AW) hydraulic oil. Which oil or fluid you choose depends on your equipment and how you plan to use it.

See Details ›

Can hydraulic hose be used for transmission fluid? ›

Using the wrong type of hose with transmission fluid can lead to premature hose failure, leaks, and safety hazards, such as fires and system failure. Therefore, it is always recommended to use hoses that are specifically designed and rated for use with transmission fluid to ensure maximum safety and reliability.

What is a substitute for hydraulic fluid? ›

"It is a common practice in the construction and mining industries to use engine oil SAE 10, SAE 20 or SAE 30 with the lowest API rating as a substitute for hydraulic oil ISO 32, ISO 46 or ISO 68, respectively for hydraulic systems of heavy equipment.

Read On ›

Is there a difference between hydraulic fluid and transmission fluid? ›

Transmission and final drive fluids are related to but distinct from hydraulic fluids. They may technically be used in dedicated hydraulic systems but are typically designed for compatibility with seals and other components within transmissions.

What kind of fluid can I use for hydraulic? ›

There are three basic types of hydraulic fluid: water-based, petroleum-based, and synthetic. Each type has its own special characteristics that make it ideal for certain applications. In addition, there are some fluids that are preferred for applications that can affect the environment.

Read The Full Story ›

Can transmission fluid be used for power steering fluid? ›

The answer is “in most car models, yes, you can use automatic transmission fluid to fill in the power steering system.” It is recommended to use automatic transmission fluid that meets the quality standards and viscosity range specified in the manual for each vehicle model.