I bought a used Condor ( Calavar / Time Corp.) 4x4 Boom lift (Man lift) Model RT48A. It was built in 1991. The company went out of business.
The operating manual says the Dexron II ATF should be used in it. The tank holds 35 gallons; and it’s full. The tank has labels just stating Hydraulic Fluid/Oil Only. The Deutz diesel engine drives a Sunstrand series L pump – variable displacement axial piston model L38 pump. Sunstrand Sauer Danfoss link. Page 11 has fluid. I found a pump manual online and it seems to indicate ATF is ok. The pump requirements call for a viscosity of 150 to 275 SSU at 100 degF. The machine has spring loaded hydraulically released brakes – I assume they are wet. I have to gain access to the nameplate to identify those. I don’t really know the machine history. It is 21 years old – the hour meter was not working when I got it and it shows 2800 hrs. Modern Lift has their decals on the machine – so it was a rental unit as one time. So they may have changed the fluid out to who knows what.
The hydraulic fluid in the tank is very milky. The existing fluid is tan in color. It smells like hydraulic fluid but has the viscosity of “thick water” – probably like ATF, just not red. I pulled a pint sample and after it set for 2 weeks it seemed to separate into 3 layers. The top layer (1/4”) looks like mineral oil (kind of clear/dark), the middle (1”) looks like UTF and the bottom (1/4”) has a little water dropping out and a white film is clinging to the bottom of the glass jar.
I was initially going to use UTF but being a 10W20 weight fluid, I think that is the wrong route and too heavy. Everything is pointing to go to ATF. I’m just concerned about mixing it with whatever it remaining in the system after I drain the tank. I did take a few ounces of the existing fluid and mix it 50/50 with UTF and another 50/50 sample with DexMerc ATF. They both seemed to mix well. After a few days, the UTF mix had more of a white film at the bottom of the container. The UTF also was rather milky still whereas the ATF looked a little cloudy. Why do they say not to mix hydraulic fluid and ATF? I assume it’s because if your system is looking for a 0W20 ATF fluid and you start dumping 10W20 UTF in it, things are going to change. It’s not going to foam wildly or be corrosive, right?
I have been reading many posts on here about ATF vs. Hydraulic oil and have learned some things. I’ve also been seeking out the most affordable ATF fluid. I need to buy probably 40 gal in 5 gallon pails to be able to safely change out the fluid once. I’ve been looking at Coastal’s #19509 product. Coastal is made by Warren Oil Products.
Warren Oil Products
Coastal's 19509 link
I found a place selling it “near” me (60 miles haha) for $50/pail. I have also verified that Warren does not produce Sam’s Club/Walmart products. Looks like SOPUS (Shell) still has their hands on that. I’ve seen mixed posts about that on various sites. I was also in my local Tractor Supply TSC looking at their stuff. They offer hydraulic fluids made by Cross Packaging / Cross Oil Refining. I am not familiar with these guys.
Cross Oil Products
Cross makes that Xtreme brand at TSC, Which I believe I’ve read some bad things about. I think that is their economy level tractor hydraulic fluid. I haven’t really noticed any people talking about Cross Packaging.
Just looking for some input here on putting ATF in the machine, etc. The machine does operate, and at times the hydraulic whine is pretty annoying. I don’t know if that is due to the oil/water mix or what the source is. I anticipate low usage hours to be put on the machine as I bought it for personal use. Once I drain the tank, I’m anxious to see the strainer and I plan to cut open the spin on filter to see what I will find.
Thanks!
The operating manual says the Dexron II ATF should be used in it. The tank holds 35 gallons; and it’s full. The tank has labels just stating Hydraulic Fluid/Oil Only. The Deutz diesel engine drives a Sunstrand series L pump – variable displacement axial piston model L38 pump. Sunstrand Sauer Danfoss link. Page 11 has fluid. I found a pump manual online and it seems to indicate ATF is ok. The pump requirements call for a viscosity of 150 to 275 SSU at 100 degF. The machine has spring loaded hydraulically released brakes – I assume they are wet. I have to gain access to the nameplate to identify those. I don’t really know the machine history. It is 21 years old – the hour meter was not working when I got it and it shows 2800 hrs. Modern Lift has their decals on the machine – so it was a rental unit as one time. So they may have changed the fluid out to who knows what.
The hydraulic fluid in the tank is very milky. The existing fluid is tan in color. It smells like hydraulic fluid but has the viscosity of “thick water” – probably like ATF, just not red. I pulled a pint sample and after it set for 2 weeks it seemed to separate into 3 layers. The top layer (1/4”) looks like mineral oil (kind of clear/dark), the middle (1”) looks like UTF and the bottom (1/4”) has a little water dropping out and a white film is clinging to the bottom of the glass jar.
I was initially going to use UTF but being a 10W20 weight fluid, I think that is the wrong route and too heavy. Everything is pointing to go to ATF. I’m just concerned about mixing it with whatever it remaining in the system after I drain the tank. I did take a few ounces of the existing fluid and mix it 50/50 with UTF and another 50/50 sample with DexMerc ATF. They both seemed to mix well. After a few days, the UTF mix had more of a white film at the bottom of the container. The UTF also was rather milky still whereas the ATF looked a little cloudy. Why do they say not to mix hydraulic fluid and ATF? I assume it’s because if your system is looking for a 0W20 ATF fluid and you start dumping 10W20 UTF in it, things are going to change. It’s not going to foam wildly or be corrosive, right?
I have been reading many posts on here about ATF vs. Hydraulic oil and have learned some things. I’ve also been seeking out the most affordable ATF fluid. I need to buy probably 40 gal in 5 gallon pails to be able to safely change out the fluid once. I’ve been looking at Coastal’s #19509 product. Coastal is made by Warren Oil Products.
Warren Oil Products
Coastal's 19509 link
I found a place selling it “near” me (60 miles haha) for $50/pail. I have also verified that Warren does not produce Sam’s Club/Walmart products. Looks like SOPUS (Shell) still has their hands on that. I’ve seen mixed posts about that on various sites. I was also in my local Tractor Supply TSC looking at their stuff. They offer hydraulic fluids made by Cross Packaging / Cross Oil Refining. I am not familiar with these guys.
Cross Oil Products
Cross makes that Xtreme brand at TSC, Which I believe I’ve read some bad things about. I think that is their economy level tractor hydraulic fluid. I haven’t really noticed any people talking about Cross Packaging.
Just looking for some input here on putting ATF in the machine, etc. The machine does operate, and at times the hydraulic whine is pretty annoying. I don’t know if that is due to the oil/water mix or what the source is. I anticipate low usage hours to be put on the machine as I bought it for personal use. Once I drain the tank, I’m anxious to see the strainer and I plan to cut open the spin on filter to see what I will find.
Thanks!
