Premium or Super UDT fluid?

Can you compare the specs for the Premium UDT and SUDT2 to see if they match?
http://www.kubota.com/part/lubricants.aspx


Googling - I found this: http://tractorpoint.com/forum/kubot...1/Super-UDT-and-Premium-UDT-Hydralic-oil.html (printed below). However I this seems to apply to "Super UDT (SUDT) and not Super UDT2 (SUDT2) - so it may not be what your looking for.

The only reason we have "Premium UDT" in Canada instead of "Super UDT" is the legal beagles said so.

The name "Super UDT" is a trademark of Kubota USA, and as such must be produced by them, or under license to them, and to their specifications. This only makes sense since they would ultimately be responsible if, for example, it really was inferior and caused damage, for which they would be liable.

"Premium UDT" is however a trademark of, and produced by Petro-Canada under license to, Kubota Canada. Although I have not been able to get a straight answer from either Petro-Canada nor Kubota, several sources 'in the know' have unequivocally stated that it is really Petro-Canada's Duratran Synthetic.

I have been recently researching that question myself.

Rumour is that Kubota Premium UDT is actually rebadged PetroCan Duratran XL. If that is the case, then it is a synthetic and the basic specs are is comparable to SUDT or SUDT2. Unfortunately, I have yet to find the specs for Premium UDT to confirm the rumour.

This chart summarizes what I have been able to verify from manufacturers data sheets comparing the Kubota fluids against some others available in Canada: Duratran XL, John Deere Hyguard Low Viscosity (which some suggest as an alternative to SUDT2) and Amsoil 5W30 All Weather Tractor/Hydraulic oil (which is what I have in mine right now, and is also touted by some as an SUDT2 alternative).


............................... Kubota ............... Petrocan .... J. Deere ... Amsoil
.......................................................... Duratran ... Hyguard . All Weather
....................... UDT ... SUDT .. SUDT2 ...... XL ......... Low-Vis ..... 5W30

Gravity,
degree API ....... 29.5 .... ND ..... 34.5 ...... 35** ........ 34.5 ......... ND

Viscosity
@ -40°C, cP .... 18300* . ND .... 16000 ... 13500 ...... 17000 ..... 19243

Viscosity
@ 100°C, cSt ..... 9.5 ...... 9 ........ 8.1 ....... 8.3 .......... 7.1 ........... 9.8

Viscosity
@ 40°C, cSt ........ 60 ..... 45 ....... 37 ........ 39.2 ......... 33 ........... 53.7

Viscosity
Index ................. 140 .... ND ...... 199 ....... 195 ......... 195 .......... 170

Pour Point,
°C max ............... -35 .... -46 ...... -42 ....... -50 .......... -51 ........... -50


ND = No Data.
*spec listed as @ -30°C for this fluid. Typo? or because pour point is -35?

**Not published as such, but derived from MSDS.

I was really surprised by the Amsoil numbers. It's a lot closer to UDT than it is to the synthetics. I am now considering DuratranXL instead.

PS: sorry about all the dots. It was the only way I could get the columns to align. Maybe the site admin could enable charts in the editor???

I waiting to try something my next oil change. I noticed after I did my first oil change on my B2620 and put the Premium UDT in it the hydro whine got louder compared to the factory fill. (on my third oil and filter change now.)

So last time I was in the States I bought a pail of Super UDT just to see if it makes any difference.

If he can get the specs, it will be educational.

From my local PetroCan supplier, Duratran XL:
20L pail -- $101.60 ($5.08/L)
4 x 4L jugs -- $94.50 ($5.90/L)

From Cooy Bros. (large Toronto dealer) website, Premium UDT:
20L pail -- $106.01 ($5.30/L)
1 x 5L jug -- $28.05 (5.61/L)

Both are pretty reasonable compared to the price of cheap conventional types at Canadian Tire:
Certified --$2.95/L. (no specs found, this brand is usually recycled oil)
Motomaster -- $4.35/L (no specs found0
Shell Rotella HD -- $4.73/L (comparable to UDT)

Interestingly, I just came across another potential Canadian alternative: Propoint Semi-Syn TGH from Princess Auto @ $99.99/20L pail ($5/L)

Gravity,
degree API ....... 28.9

Viscosity
@ -40°C, cP .... 15900

Viscosity
@ 100°C, cSt ..... 7.3

Viscosity
@ 40°C, cSt ........ 33.6

Viscosity
Index ................. 191

Pour Point,
°C max ............... -48


(now I'm really questioning the benefit of Amsoil, given it's closer to $16/L!)

I hope they reply to you Southernfarm. So many speculations of who makes what oil.

I've done a couple oil and filter changes and mine got louder compared to the factory fill that was in it for the first 50 hours.

Torch....Cooy is just a bit cheaper for the Kubota UDT then up here by the Sault. and even when our money was close to par......the pail of SUDT I bought from Skinners in Michigan was about the same price. Normally everything is cheaper in the states.....but the oil wasn't.

I have this from an un-authorized Kubota mechanic in Canada whom is also a friend. For whatever reason Kubota Canada labels Super UDT2 as Premium UDT2. Can't remember the actual label but maybe only UDT vs UDT2.

Have your mechanic look at the container and verify it is 100% synthetic. If it is then it is Super UDT2 available here in the states. If it is semi-synthetic then it is UDT2 as our equivalent.

Based on your temperature variations compared to ours I am guessing the only thing they sell there is Super UDT2 (Premium UDT2.)

Hope this helps.

It doesn't mention "synthetic" or "semi-synthetic" at all.

Front label:
"Premium UDT Hydraulic/Transmission Fluid".
"Built to last".
"For tractor transmission and hydraulic systems. Compatible with wet disk brakes".

Repeated in French.

Part number 72000-03406.

Rear label:
"Kubota Premium UDT Hydraulic/Transmission fluid is a premium quality, Kubota approved tractor transmission and hydraulic/wet brake fluid incorporating the latest additive technology. Premium UDT provides high resistance to high temperature breakdown, excellent seal compatibility and anti-wear protection. Premium UDT meets the requirements of John Deere J20D. Performance is similar to Premium UDT with the addition of superior low temperature properties. Premium UDT is a winter grade Universal Type Tractor Fluid. For a complete listing of tractors which can use Premium UDT, consult your Kubota dealer."
"Trade-mark of Kubota Corporation. Used under license."
"Kubota Canada Ltd. 5900 14th Ave. Markham, Ontario L3S 4K4."
"Made in Canada."

Also repeated in French.

I find it interesting that the performance of Premium UDT is similar to the performance of Premium UDT. I wonder if they meant to say it is similar to the performance of regular UDT. IE: Premium UDT = winter grade, Regular UDT = summer grade?

The "Made in Canada" line suggests this is not the same fluid as the US-only UDT2.

An MSDS might provide some very basic physical info, such as density or kinematic viscosity. Can you post a copy?

MSDS's are available online. Search msds plus name of product.

Yes, I tried that. Not getting any hits on the Canadian "Premium UDT" product, just the US UDT/SUDT.

PDF is an allowed format for an attachment on this board. When replying, click the paperclip icon to browse for and attach the file.

Ok, so at a glance: it's made by Shell, not Petro-Can. Gravity degree works out to 29.3, And it's mineral oil based.

This is not comparable to SUDT2. It's regular old UDT.

EDIT: On second look, it's thinner than UDT. Viscosity @100°C is 7.1 (same as JD Hyguard Low Viscosity), pour point is -57°C, which is the lowest of any I've looked at. Definitely looks like a winter grade formulation.

Well I've dug through a stack of MSDS and TDS on Shell Canada's website and can't find a match from their standard product lines. Either it's custom formulated for Kubota, or someone is fudging the numbers. The closest I can find in terms of viscosity and pour point are actually ATF fluids.