Traveller (TSC) 80W-90 gear oil

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,812
5,039
113
Eastham, Ma
Is it acceptable (satisfactory) to use Traveller 80W-90 (GL-5) oil in the front axle of my 2006 L48 TLB.
I have no idea what the previous owner used.
Perhaps, SUDT, or even SUDT-2 is in there now..
Can 80W-90 ( GL-5 ) be added, or mixed with,...... possibly existing SUDT/SUDT-2?
Or,.......should I just add SUDT-2, assuming that MIGHT be what is already in there?
 
Last edited:

TheOldHokie

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3901/LA525, B7200DT/B1630, G2160/RCK60, G2460/RCK60
Apr 6, 2021
8,391
4,248
113
Myersville, MD
windyridgefarm.us
Is it acceptable (satisfactory) to use Traveller 80W-90 (GL-5) oil in the front axle of my 2006 L48 TLB.
I have no idea what the previous owner used.
Perhaps, SUDT, or even SUDT-2 is in there now..
Can 80W-90 ( GL-5 ) be added, or mixed with,...... possibly existing SUDT/SUDT-2?
Or,.......should I just add SUDT-2, assuming that MIGHT be what is already in there?
Yes its acceptable to drain and refill with a Gl5 gear oil. It wont hurt to mix them but personally I would go the replace route. Gear oil will smell.of sulpher and at ambient temperature will appear much "thicker"

Dan
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,812
5,039
113
Eastham, Ma
Yes its acceptable to drain and refill with a Gl5 gear oil. It wont hurt to mix them but personally I would go the replace route. Gear oil will smell.of sulpher and at ambient temperature will appear much "thicker"

Dan
Thank you!
 

Ktrim

Well-known member

Equipment
B2400, lA352 loader,3pth quick hitch/z122r zero turn/restored 52 farmall super a
Dec 23, 2020
414
320
63
Nazareth Pa
Gear oil will have that distinct nauseating odor to it.
I would use a better quality product back in. Go with Lucas.
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,812
5,039
113
Eastham, Ma
Gear oil will have that distinct nauseating odor to it.
I would use a better quality product back in. Go with Lucas.
Just sniffed it!
No nauseating odor.
Seems somewhat lighter weight than 80W-90 oil also.

Must be either SUDT or SUDT-2.
Can't find any...... fill to level..... plug.
Fill point is on top of casting.
Maybe proper full is to top of casting/housing?
 
Last edited:

85Hokie

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,685
2,454
113
Bedford - VA
Maybe proper full is to top of casting/housing?
Don't fill IT THAT high.

Fill point should be about 60-70% of a cross sectional area - and I know that will be hard as hell to see - I would say your pinky should go down a bit BEFORE hitting oil - like a good inch before full-full.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

whitetiger

Moderator
Staff member

Equipment
Kubota tech..BX2370, RCK60, B7100HST, RTV900 w plow, Ford 1100 FWA
Nov 20, 2011
2,896
1,360
113
Kansas City, KS
I have no idea what the previous owner used.
Why would you not drain the oil and add a good quality 80-90?
Then you know what you have got.
The FULL point is up to the plug on the back side of the front axle housing, it is a 14mm head plug on the left-hand side.
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,812
5,039
113
Eastham, Ma
Why would you not drain the oil and add a good quality 80-90?
Then you know what you have got.
The FULL point is up to the plug on the back side of the front axle housing, it is a 14mm head plug on the left-hand side.
The tractor has EXCEPTIONALLY low hours, so I just want to be certain that the fluid level is where it should be.
Will need to look again for the FULL "plug on the back side of the front axle housing".....left hand side.
I looked, but did not see it!
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,812
5,039
113
Eastham, Ma
Don't fill IT THAT high.

Fill point should be about 60-70% of a cross sectional area - and I know that will be hard as hell to see - I would say your pinky should go down a bit BEFORE hitting oil - like a good inch before full-full.
I think that is just about where it is now.
I used a piece of wire for a depth measure, and it seems like there may be about 3-1/2" of fluid.
I have determined that the oil is SUDT-2
 
Last edited:

The Evil Twin

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
2,757
2,746
113
Virginia
Warren Oil would be just fine in a low speed axle. Top it up, change it, whatever. It will mix just fine, but the gear oil will treat you better if (like me) you never take ot out of 4wd.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
29,823
6,024
113
Sandpoint, ID
Forget smell what does it taste like? :p 🤣
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: 5 users

whitetiger

Moderator
Staff member

Equipment
Kubota tech..BX2370, RCK60, B7100HST, RTV900 w plow, Ford 1100 FWA
Nov 20, 2011
2,896
1,360
113
Kansas City, KS
I think that is just about where it is now.
I used a piece of wire for a depth measure, and it seems like there may be about 3-1/2" of fluid.
I have determined that the oil is SUDT-2
The OPM and WSM show there to be a check plug right below the fill plug.
You should use plug #1 in the picture if it is not there. It should be halfway up compared to the axle housing.





Screenshot (9).png
 

TheOldHokie

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3901/LA525, B7200DT/B1630, G2160/RCK60, G2460/RCK60
Apr 6, 2021
8,391
4,248
113
Myersville, MD
windyridgefarm.us
Warren Oil would be just fine in a low speed axle. Top it up, change it, whatever. It will mix just fine, but the gear oil will treat you better if (like me) you never take ot out of 4wd.
I second that thought.

SUDT2 is a multi- purpose lubricant formulated to meet the requirements of a SAE 80 GL-4 gear oil. Its the type of formulation that has been used in manual transmissions and low to medium speed spirral bevel gear drive axles for decades.

The Traveller SAE 80W90 gear oil has been formulated and tested to the more demanding API GL-5 service category requirements (hypoid gears operating at high speed and heavy loads). The EP additive treat rate will be roughly twice the treat rate of SUDT2. It may not be the highest performance brand of hypoid gear oil on the market but in the low speed spiral bevel gear front axle on a Kubota its still heads and shoulders above the perfomance level of SUDT2.

AKA "overkill".

Dan
 
  • Love
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,812
5,039
113
Eastham, Ma
I second that thought.

SUDT2 is a multi- purpose lubricant formulated to meet the requirements of a SAE 80 GL-4 gear oil. Its the type of formulation that has been used in manual transmissions and low to medium speed spirral bevel gear drive axles for decades.

The Traveller SAE 80W90 gear oil has been formulated and tested to the more demanding API GL-5 service category requirements (hypoid gears operating at high speed and heavy loads). The EP additive treat rate will be roughly twice the treat rate of SUDT2. It may not be the highest performance brand of hypoid gear oil on the market but in the low speed spiral bevel gear front axle on a Kubota its still heads and shoulders above the perfomance level of SUDT2.

AKA "overkill".

Dan
I was thinking that to be very likely.
Thank you for the confirmation!
Being a very old, lazy guy, though,.....I think I'll stay with the SUDT-2 that is clean, and already in there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,812
5,039
113
Eastham, Ma
The OPM and WSM show there to be a check plug right below the fill plug.
You should use plug #1 in the picture if it is not there. It should be halfway up compared to the axle housing.





View attachment 138726
Thank you!
There is no plug on the side of the casting, below the fill plug, even though so indicated in the picture.
Plug #1 is obviously the way to check fluid level.
 
Last edited:

BAP

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
2012 Kubota 2920, 60MMM, FEL, BH65 48" Bush Hog, 60"Backblade, B2782B Snowblower
Dec 31, 2012
2,694
801
113
New Hampshire
Have not sniffed it yet.
What should it smell like?
You have never smelled gear oil? I thought you were an expert on everything.
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,812
5,039
113
Eastham, Ma
You have never smelled gear oil? I thought you were an expert on everything.
Demeaning/arrogant comment received.
As I might have expected, ....only from you.
 
Last edited: