Originally Posted By: MolaKule
Originally Posted By: cronk
Hygard is a hydraulic/transmission fluid. Otherwise known as "tractor fluid", it will function as hydraulic fluid and transmission/differential lubricant.
It comes in regular or low viscosity flavors.
Low viscosity is the recommendation for most of the garden tractor hydrostats. I'm not familiar with the OP's specific transaxle, if it was spec'ed by Deere for Hygard, I'm sure that would be a good fluid to use. Amsoil also makes a synthetic all season tractor fluid I may try in my JD 317 hydro.
If Tuff Torq says 15w50 or similar motor oil is recommended, then the Mobil1 would be a good choice.
The viscosity difference between the JD low vis and a 50 weight engine oil is quite a spread.
If you have a severely worn or internally leaky pump causing a noise, a high viscosity fluid may temporarily help, but if you have to use a high vis fluid in a system designed for a low vis fluid, then you have a problem.
Who was the tech you spoke to?
I never spoke with any techs, I was referring to what was said by another poster who said he spoke with a Tuff Torque tech.
I agree it seems like quite a viscosity difference between the LV Hygard and 15w50 engine oil.
When I put LV Hygard in my JD 316, it poured like a 5w30 engine oil.
It was said above that TT changed their recommended fluid from 10w30 motor oil to 5w50.
It seems to me a 15w50 might be to thick if used in low temps like a tractor mounted snow blower.
I remember seeing a service bulletin from JD saying to use LV Hygard in 300 series hydro units and if the regular viscosity hygard was used it may cause cavitation and pump damage in cold weather use.
Originally Posted By: cronk
Hygard is a hydraulic/transmission fluid. Otherwise known as "tractor fluid", it will function as hydraulic fluid and transmission/differential lubricant.
It comes in regular or low viscosity flavors.
Low viscosity is the recommendation for most of the garden tractor hydrostats. I'm not familiar with the OP's specific transaxle, if it was spec'ed by Deere for Hygard, I'm sure that would be a good fluid to use. Amsoil also makes a synthetic all season tractor fluid I may try in my JD 317 hydro.
If Tuff Torq says 15w50 or similar motor oil is recommended, then the Mobil1 would be a good choice.
The viscosity difference between the JD low vis and a 50 weight engine oil is quite a spread.
If you have a severely worn or internally leaky pump causing a noise, a high viscosity fluid may temporarily help, but if you have to use a high vis fluid in a system designed for a low vis fluid, then you have a problem.
Who was the tech you spoke to?
I never spoke with any techs, I was referring to what was said by another poster who said he spoke with a Tuff Torque tech.
I agree it seems like quite a viscosity difference between the LV Hygard and 15w50 engine oil.
When I put LV Hygard in my JD 316, it poured like a 5w30 engine oil.
It was said above that TT changed their recommended fluid from 10w30 motor oil to 5w50.
It seems to me a 15w50 might be to thick if used in low temps like a tractor mounted snow blower.
I remember seeing a service bulletin from JD saying to use LV Hygard in 300 series hydro units and if the regular viscosity hygard was used it may cause cavitation and pump damage in cold weather use.
