Hydrofluid in my MTD 990

Mark 149 J.

Mark 149 J.

Tractorologist
Member
I want to service the hydro in my JcPenny MTD 990. The manual says to us Fram PH16 filter and 20 Weight oil with added zinc. I was going to use a NAPA/WIX filter instead but I'm unsure about the oil.
I looked around and straight 20W oil with zinc doesn't show up. That leaves me with 2 options(that I can think of). First use Shell Rotello 30W with extra zinc. That might cause some problems in the winter time when it's cold. Secondly I could use the 20W-50 oil that I use in my truck. It also has extra zinc for diesel engines.
What do you think? What have you used or done that I don't know about?
Thanks
Mark
 
I've been using the Universal Trans/Hydraulic fluid in mine for the last couple years! No problems as yet!
 
Mark, you should be just fine with the 20w50 or 15w40 even. I've used 15w40 in various makes of hydro units...Sundstrand, Eaton, Vickers... all with great success. The variable nature of these oils do good, but may take a minute or 2 warm-up in really cold temps. 10W (edited) is about the weight of the ATF oils.
 
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