The Down and Dirty:
Agriculture Fluids and Oils
WHY TRACTORS AND FARM MACHINERY NEED
DIFFERENT LUBRICANTS TO PERFORM THEIR BEST
What Makes Agricultural Lubricants Different?
Larger machines require more fluid or grease.
Agriculture lubricants also need to perform well in harsh conditions, so there are a few important considerations when shopping for the right choice:
- It should be a heavy duty formula, preferably with the NLGI GC-LB certification. (The new high-performance multi use standard also denotes high load carrying capacity greases.)
- It should have excellent corrosion and wear protection.
- It should have excellent water resistance and high temperature stability, along with low temperature pumpability.
Which Lubricants Do Tractors Need?
Tractors operate in a wide range of temperatures in dirty, dusty, and wet conditions. They need lubricants to safeguard their metal-on-metal joints, bearings, and oscillation points to help prevent corrosion and premature wear. Note that many different components in a tractor require separate lubrication:
- Heavy duty engines
- Manual transmissions and differentials
- Steering
- Brakes
- Radiators
- Hydraulics
- Grease points, bearings, and fittings
What Is Tractor Hydraulic Fluid?
Tractor hydraulic fluid—the most popular packaged item at Pack Logix—has several different names that all mean the same thing. You may see it labeled as tractor hydraulic oil, torque converter fluid, universal tractor transmission oils (UTTO), universal dynamic tractor oil (UDT) and others.
Interestingly, hydraulic fluids for tractors are NOT the same as other hydraulic oils. Tractor hydraulic fluids are specially designed to fulfill multiple functions such as transmissions and differentials, final drives, hydraulics, power steering, wet brakes, and more. Because almost every industry uses applications of hydraulics, varieties of hydraulic fluids from different manufacturers are available in the market. Make sure to use the right type for your machinery, as the wrong selection will damage your hydraulic system.
These are the most important qualities when selecting a hydraulic fluid for your tractor:
- High Quality Additives
- Corrosion Protection
- Seal Compatibility
How Often Should You Service Your Farm Equipment?
Farm equipment is a substantial investment. A combine can cost between $330,000 and $500,000! With that kind of money at stake, owners need to care for their machinery properly.
The owner’s manual is your best resource for recommendations on equipment servicing. During periods of normal usage, tractor grease service intervals may be recommended for every 50 hours. In extreme muddy and/or wet conditions, those intervals might shorten to every 10 hours of use or daily, whichever comes first. Hydraulic systems will have different intervals, too—typically a filter replacement and fluid top off at 200 hours and a fluid and filter replacement at 500 hours.
Once you settle on a preventive maintenance schedule, it’s still important to pay attention to variables that may change that schedule, including extreme weather, longer use times, and exposure to moisture and chemicals.
Knowing more about oils and greases your agricultural machinery needs makes it easier to keep them running well. If you have other questions about Tractor Hydraulic Fluid or agricultural grease, Pack Logix’s expert consultants can help you learn more. With a focus on the industrial markets, our expert sourcing capabilities offer a range of packaging options for oils, lubricants, fluid, and solvents.
