Recently, lawsuits have raised questions about the quality of Tractor Hydraulic Fluid in the marketplace, and states have even begun to ban the sale of them.
Damage to equipment due to low quality fluid is a common story. The THF market is full of products that don’t meet OEM specifications and may or may not be adequately tested or contain necessary additives. Their labels often make claims that are not true. Using these lower-quality, lower-priced fluids can damage equipment, lower tractor performance and increase maintenance and repair costs.
To avoid untested THFs, look for these characteristics of high-quality brands, which normally spell out their product’s attributes clearly on the label. The THF should:
- Be chemically engineered specifically for farm tractors and other off-highway equipment and should list valid OEM specifications.
- Be multi-purpose, enabling lubrication of a tractor’s transmission, final drives, clutches, wet brakes and hydraulic systems.
- Prevent brake chatter or provide excellent wet brake performance.
- Have excellent oxidation resistance; and wear protection or “anti-wear” for clutches, gears and hydraulic pumps.
- Have high water tolerance, which is the ability to protect parts from erosion and corrosion when contaminated with water.
- Be suitable for year-round use, including cold temperatures.
If you are unsure of a THF’s worthiness, don’t buy it. The risks of damaging your tractor and losing productivity are not worth it.
In order to help you select fluids you can trust, look for the TractorLife.com Authenticated mark. Fluids endorsed by this mark meet and often exceed OEM credentials, providing you optimal protection against wear, rust, oxidation, brake chatter, extreme temperatures and, ultimately, premature equipment failure. Find out more now!