[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Maxwelhse

IH can't hold the patent for HyTran anymore... It's been WAY too long. Now, the name "HyTran" is probably copyrighted. Hopefully Case or Navistar don't just collect a check and issue a "yep, it's HyTran" to anyone that says they want to sell HyTran. I'm sure there is still a certification process in play.

I can assure you, as a previous Navistar employee, that if a fluid did NOT meet their spec and was used without permission, but was advertised as the "real deal", the manufacturer, their employees, their families, their neighbors, their passed away loved ones, their dogs, goldfish, and probably people they passed on the street today, would be sued for copyright infringement.

All that said... My Dad ran straight ATF in our hydros for 30 years, out of pure ignorance, and NEVER serviced them or changed the filters... It took 30 years, and probably 3000 or more hours (no kidding), before we had any hydro failures outside of normal adjustment type stuff. I don't recommend that, and I don't follow that practice myself, but they put up with it.

I didn't work for Navistar, but I did work for CIH and mostly on IH tractors. (Good old red tractors run for a long time before needing alot of work ;-) ) I can tell you that on a lot of their industrial machines, that they recommended either Hy-Tran, or Dexron ATF. I have never had them tested, but I believe that the two fluids are almost identical. After working on equipment for years, I believe Hy-Tran to be one of the best hydraulic/ transmission oils there is. I also know it is expensive, and do think that the Rural King red Hy-Tran oil is similar enough to use. Just my .02¢