950M Zero Turn

[Sapphire Estates]

Guys, I just bought a 950M and there is no JD dealer in my country so I cannot buy the recommended hydrostatic transmission oil. What grade synthetic oil can I use? What other recommendations do you have?

 

[Bertrrr]

All types of oil have a spec sheet , your owners manual will specify what your machine requires, There will be something compatible

 

[StarTech]

Tuff Torq TZT13D2L and TZT13D2R Hydros.

Well it should be using J20C oil if it still has the original oil which JD recommends as an alternate 5W30 or 10W30 but since these hydros are Tuff Torq and are subjected to higher operating temperatures I would be going with the Tuff Torq 5W50 synthetic oil instead as it will give you better operating temperature range as JD J20C is only good down to freezing.

Here is a temp range JD gives on the J20C and the 5w30 / 10w30



Per Tuff Torq IPL of these units they are listing 187Q0899000 oil which is the 5w50 synthetic.

 

[WDF1988]

At the factory, John Deere fills them with Hygard hydraulic oil. Unless you're completely draining them, I wouldnt mix 5w30 or 10w30 with the Hygard. Plus, who is mowing grass under freezing temps with a zero turn? So temp is irrelevant. Put Hygard in it. Here is the label from a brand new machine on our showroom floor.

 

[StarTech]

My neighbor for one...It was 33F according the gauge with a wind chill of 25F. Actually it was leaves he was cutting up.

Also have you ever of a carburetor freezing in low 40F temps mowing leaves? I have.

I actually had one to freeze over at 70+F one time. Nearly crashed. If weren't for a carb heater I would have.

And JD will push their oil over anybodies other oil. Financial incentive. Personally I would drain both hydros and fill with the Tuff Torq 5w50 oil and no longer worry about operations.

 

[WDF1988]

My neighbor for one...It was 33F according the gauge with a wind chill of 25F. Actually it was leaves he was cutting up.

Also have you ever of a carburetor freezing in low 40F temps mowing leaves? I have.

I actually had one to freeze over at 70+F one time. Nearly crashed. If weren't for a carb heater I would have.

And JD will push their oil over anybodies other oil. Financial incentive. Personally I would drain both hydros and fill with the Tuff Torq 5w50 oil and no longer worry about operations.

Respectfully, we have differing opinions. I've run my equipment in temps lower than 25F and have never had a carb freeze up in 45 years, and that includes blowing snow. If there was a risk of carbs freezing in winter, why would manufacturers make snowblowers and blades for typical lawn tractors? I'm not calling bunk on your claims because different areas have different challenges, but 70+F and a carb freezing sounds like an aviation issue since temps dip with speed(windage) and altitude, and not a lawn mower issue to me. I've run my personal Z950M in lower temps than 25F, and haven't had an issue. Let it run for a few mins to warm the oil, and you're fine. Don't let yourself get hung up on the 'Deere pushes their own oil for money' thing. OEM's know what is best for their product because they've done extensive R&D on it in all temp ranges. This is how residential people mess up their machines by mixing alternative fluids from overthinking a simple solution, or Autozone pushes an additive onto them. Let's please not confuse them here by going into the weeds. The OP is fine by using the Hygard oil. Our farm tractors have been using that oil in sub-freezing temps for over 60 years in their hydraulic systems, which are more complicated than any hydro in a zero turn. The farmer knows to let the tractor run a little bit to warm the oil before working the machine. Let's please not overthink this and confuse the OP.

The Hygard will be fine. On a brisk day, under 32F, use common sense and just let it run for a few minutes before applying full throttle or load, and you'll be fine!

 

[StarTech]

The rider that froze up I blame on hi humidity and 10% ethanol fuel; heavy frost that morning. And the 70F one was at 2000 ft over a city @ 85 knots so I was fighting to keep it running until I landed.

Now the Hy-Gard J20D does goes a lot lower in the temperature band as it is rated at -22F for the low point and 122 F for the high point.

 

[Sapphire Estates]

Thanks eveyone.

On another note, how should I go ahead breaking it in?