Crazy Idea? Please weigh in.

When I had a pump in my splitter fail at 2.5 years I was using tractor fluid which purported to be OK in all hydraulic systems. My direct replacement pump said specifically to NOT use tractor fluid. I now use only the specified fluid!

 

Nothing wrong with that either. I don't blame you.

 

I still do use it for that, even under my pickup truck, then drive down a dusty stone road (or park it downwind of the neighbor kids' dirt bike track) to make a dusty dried out oily coating that holds the oil in place much longer. I try to do the truck every spring. The disk, plow, and 3 point implements get coated on just about every oil change.

 

hell, when I change my gearbox fluid in my M9's each one takes 15 gallons and I use Chevron All Weather synthetic and it's more expensive than SUDT. It gets changed every 2 years but then I farm with my units.

I would not hesitate to use the used SUDT in a log splitter. Not only is it an excellent hydraulic oil, it has seal additives in it as well. I believe it's VG42. I know the Chevron is.

All my used oil goes towards heating the shop, I have a Kleen Fire waste oil burner.

 

So

So tell me, how do you know the additive package is depleted without doing a spectroscopic analysis (which is something I do at every oil and fluid change) and the results always come back that the additive package is still viable. It still gets changed anyway.

 

Actually, if the lab results come back good. It stays in service.

I lab test the oil in my semi. I’ve learned as a result, the oil doesn’t start breaking down until after 35,000 miles and by 40,000 miles it’s done.

so in your case, there’s zero reason to change it if the results show good still.

army uses a program call AOAP, Army Oil Analysis Program. It was put in place to be a green initiative, reduce costs as well as supply chain overload from having to push that much oil forward into a combat zone. Would you rather see 2 drums of oil or 1000 lbs of ammo come in on a delivery?

caterpillar and every other heavy diesel manufacturer does the same thing. Heck, caterpillar puts tests ports even on their equipment including engines, transmissions, final drives and hydraulics.

 

When a gas engine is $10-12,000, they are no longer Childs play.

if it’s an issue putting new oil that meets manufacturer specs on a splitter and one wants to recycle an oil that’s not meeting spec, the. I guess that’s on the person making the decision.

my splitter specifically called out aw32 or aw46 hydraulic fluid. It also states that hydrostatic fluid (UDT) will void my warranty.

I’ll use what’s specified.

 

This is precisely the info that I have discovered!

 

I've worked on hydraulic equipment for 25 years and I'll tell ya if your used fluid is clean I wouldn't hesitate to use it. Today's fluid Is not the same as years ago. If it's synthetic then I'd not have a problem. We have kubota equipment at work and change fluid often, it goes in all my stuff. Haven't had any issues yet. Just my 2 cents.