Pros and cons of using hydraulic fluid in a Liftall pump

WSJ · Mar 31, 2012

Was the Farmall H liftall pump fluid specified with motor oil rather than hydraulic fluid for convenience?
What are the pros and cons of using hydraulic fluid in a liftall pump for a three-point hitch application with light implements?
What are the issues using a hydraulic valve (Parker, 400) with pressure relief set at 1500 pounds with an 800 pound liftall working pressure?

sflem849 · Mar 31, 2012

Hydraulic fluid didn't exist back then. All they had was motor oil. As the letter series were nearing their end IH was having people add an oil conditioner to their engine oil. This gave the motor oil properties more like hyd fluid.

Only pros IMO. The big con is if you run engine oil any implement you use or borrow must have engine oil instead of hydraulic fluid in it otherwise you will cross contaminate the two oils. Everything will still work, but you will dillute your engine oil "hyd fluid."

I will leave the pressure relief question to the pros, but I think I know the answer.

WSJ · Mar 31, 2012

(quoted from post at 19:06:42 03/31/12) Hydraulic fluid didn't exist back then. All they had was motor oil. As the letter series were nearing their end IH was having people add an oil conditioner to their engine oil. This gave the motor oil properties more like hyd fluid.

Only pros IMO. The big con is if you run engine oil any implement you use or borrow must have engine oil instead of hydraulic fluid in it otherwise you will cross contaminate the two oils. Everything will still work, but you will dillute your engine oil "hyd fluid."

I will leave the pressure relief question to the pros, but I think I know the answer.

That's a good point about borrowing implements.
Thanks

CNKS · Apr 1, 2012

Unless you are using implements for other tractors there is no advantage to hyd fluid over SAE 30 for the old non-sophisticated hydraulics. One disadvantage is that the thinner fluid may (or may not) result in leaks. If I understand you right, I don't pay any attention to the pressure of a valve for a 3 point because the hydraulics will never exceed the 800 lbs.

gene bender · Apr 1, 2012

We used hy fluid from Conoco but 20 or 30 wt oil will work ok those were simple systems and sure dont need the hy-priced stuff you can buy now.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 3, 2012

My experience was that the hydrualic oil seemend to thin out and some equipment on the Schwartz 3point did not lift as well or high after the hydraulic fluid thinned out. The nondetergent 30 wt seemend to lift better but I could not prove it.

Pros and cons of using hydraulic fluid in a Liftall pump

WSJ

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sflem849

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WSJ

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CNKS

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gene bender

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Anonymous-0

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