What is the Right Hydraulic Oil for a Takeuchi TB135???

Heavy Chevy · Feb 12, 2019

I have a 2004 Takeuchi TB 135 excavator that I'm close to putting back into service and want to know what hydraulic oil should I use. One dealer that sells Kuboata's said use their oil at $82.79 per 5 gallons; I read that I could use AW46 hydraulic oil and then I called another dealer and they said I could use same oil that I use in the engine...as long as it is slick and wet.....which I use 15w-40 and I could mix it. I'm confused a bit now.....sure I could poor any of these into the reservoir but what is best suggested. Help please!!!

bmckenzie · Feb 13, 2019

My 2007 tb-135 specs out I.S.O. 46 a.w.

heymccall · Feb 13, 2019

I've got takeuchis with nearly 10k hours, and all I've ever run in them is TO4 spec 10w. As a matter of fact, that's the only hydraulic oil for all of my machines.

Heavy Chevy · Feb 13, 2019

heymccall said:
I've got takeuchis with nearly 10k hours, and all I've ever run in them is TO4 spec 10w. As a matter of fact, that's the only hydraulic oil for all of my machines.

What particular brand of TO4 you running....I just saw NAPA brand for $90 per 5 gallon...then I looked online and saw others for around $60.....would like to know the brand you use. thx

Heavy Chevy · Feb 13, 2019

bmckenzie said:
My 2007 tb-135 specs out I.S.O. 46 a.w.

Thx

heymccall · Feb 13, 2019

Gotta be 15 years since I started using this brand.

Heavy Chevy · Feb 14, 2019

Thx much!

Heavy Chevy · Feb 14, 2019

heymccall said:
View attachment 192765 Gotta be 15 years since I started using this brand.View attachment 192764

What climate/area are you in? Are you subject to freezing temps and hot summers?

heymccall · Feb 14, 2019

Western to central Pennsylvania.
0°F to 95°F.

Only hydraulic oil related failures over 25 years here was the drive pumps and motors in my 1845C machines, and technically, it wasn't the oil grade. It was the 10hour shifts of high flow road saw cutting, with the alitec high flow kits that did NOT increase the cooling capacity. In other words, they cooked themselves. The failure manifested itself as loss of drive torque, exaggerated when the machine ran for more than 1/2 hour. That was over 20 years ago, and, ironically, they were running 10w30 with HTO additive.

heymccall · Feb 14, 2019

Only place I dont use it is in loader axles with wet brakes. It makes them chatter. Deere HyGard in all wet brake axles.

Heavy Chevy · Feb 14, 2019

heymccall said:
Western to central Pennsylvania.
0°F to 95°F.

Only hydraulic oil related failures over 25 years here was the drive pumps and motors in my 1845C machines, and technically, it wasn't the oil grade. It was the 10hour shifts of high flow road saw cutting, with the alitec high flow kits that did NOT increase the cooling capacity. In other words, they cooked themselves. The failure manifested itself as loss of drive torque, exaggerated when the machine ran for more than 1/2 hour. That was over 20 years ago, and, ironically, they were running 10w30 with HTO additive.

Wow! Ok, sounds great. I'm hoping I found a dealer that will sell me those 5 gal pails for $33.00 each. We shall see. Thx!

Mrpush · Apr 24, 2020

Heavy Chevy said:
Wow! Ok, sounds great. I'm hoping I found a dealer that will sell me those 5 gal pails for $33.00 each. We shall see. Thx!

Humm...runnning a 10w oil when a spec may call for a 20w oil just does not sound like a good thing to me. These guys know there stuff. Call Takeuchi dealer and ask them.

MP

heymccall · Apr 24, 2020

Mrpush said:
Humm...runnning a 10w oil when a spec may call for a 20w oil just does not sound like a good thing to me. These guys know there stuff. Call Takeuchi dealer and ask them.

MP

All my Takeuchis call for 10W30 motor oil for the hydraulics.
I've been running TO4 spec 10W instead in all of the machines here for over 25 years.
I've got an 11k TB180FR and a 10k hour TL150 all on original pumps and motors. Never an issue. I've also had a 23k hour Cat 322B, and I have several Deere 544G loader at over 20k hours, all on original pumps and motors.
The rest of my Takeuchis haven't got as many hours, but, that's what is in them.

Again, Takeuchi says 10W30.

We only have 70 machines or so here, so, my experience says a TO4 10w will perform admirably.

Mrpush · Apr 24, 2020

Well those are some really high numbers, but I's assuming that your filters are changed properly as well.

The TO4 spec 10W sounds good to me, with one MAJOR problem, I have yet to find it for sale anywhere at any normal outlets....Google doesn't seem to know either.

Humm......

That reminds me of this article I read on the BEST GREASE FOR HEAVY Equipment EVER! I was SOLD after reading that article! Then, I tried to find it and it was NOT to be had. So much for the BEST grease that you can't actually buy by any normal means or any normal outlets.

???

MP

tool_king · Apr 25, 2020

Heavy Chevy said:
I have a 2004 Takeuchi TB 135 excavator that I'm close to putting back into service and want to know what hydraulic oil should I use. One dealer that sells Kuboata's said use their oil at $82.79 per 5 gallons; I read that I could use AW46 hydraulic oil and then I called another dealer and they said I could use same oil that I use in the engine...as long as it is slick and wet.....which I use 15w-40 and I could mix it. I'm confused a bit now.....sure I could poor any of these into the reservoir but what is best suggested. Help please!!!

Takeuchi spec VG 32 -4F to 86F , VG 46 15F to 104F, VG68 40F to 150F.
I can email the chart in the operation manual .No where does it say any about 10w30 motor used.

Mrpush · Apr 27, 2020

tool_king said:
Takeuchi spec VG 32 -4F to 86F , VG 46 15F to 104F, VG68 40F to 150F.
I can email the chart in the operation manual .No where does it say any about 10w30 motor used.

Yes Ok, and 46-68 are ~20w equivalents. Not 10W. I'm not going to argue that some guys get 10k hours on a machine, but those who do that are WAY MORE service type "nerds" than the average joe and actually DO the servicing like with filters n such at proper intervals which is going to make there machines last a a lot longer. My point it, the Manufactures make there recommendation from experience w THEIR machines. Something COULD be better, but in most cases they make a good choice.

I know of 3 Type of machine "users".

There are the BOB's: They use them and abuse them and unless some light comes on telling them something it wrong they just keep going.
There are the CLIFF: They WANT to service there stuff as per the manual, but just dont find the time to do it. They do eventually get to it but it could be way after it was required.
Then there are the CLARKS: I'll make this simple, you can eat off there garage floor...no need to say how well they care for their machines.

Clarks machines can make it to 10k.....most Bob and Cliff machines don't ever seem to get there. I think it is wise to CONTACT the manufacturer then "just take some dealers word" on what to use, like ToolKing's point is made.

tool_king · Apr 27, 2020

Mrpush said:
Yes Ok, and 46-68 are ~20w equivalents. Not 10W. I'm not going to argue that some guys get 10k hours on a machine, but those who do that are WAY MORE service type "nerds" than the average joe and actually DO the servicing like with filters n such at proper intervals which is going to make there machines last a a lot longer. My point it, the Manufactures make there recommendation from experience w THEIR machines. Something COULD be better, but in most cases they make a good choice.

I know of 3 Type of machine "users".

There are the BOB's: They use them and abuse them and unless some light comes on telling them something it wrong they just keep going.
There are the CLIFF: They WANT to service there stuff as per the manual, but just dont find the time to do it. They do eventually get to it but it could be way after it was required.
Then there are the CLARKS: I'll make this simple, you can eat off there garage floor...no need to say how well they care for their machines.

Clarks machines can make it to 10k.....most Bob and Cliff machines don't ever seem to get there. I think it is wise to CONTACT the manufacturer then "just take some dealers word" on what to use, like ToolKing's point is made.

I posted what is right in the operation manual .If any would like copy of it I gladly send it to them so they can see for their own eyes .

Degolyerent · Apr 28, 2020

I am in Fl. and have been using AW46 for 7 years in my 2006 TB135

hseII · Feb 16, 2024

tool_king said:
I posted what is right in the operation manual .If any would like copy of it I gladly send it to them so they can see for their own eyes .

Please share with me.

heymccall · Feb 16, 2024

Finally reading the recommendations from Takeuchi again. I still stand by my TO4 10W. I've had zero internal pump or drive motor failures still.

What is the Right Hydraulic Oil for a Takeuchi TB135???

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