Bringing back this post from the dead because experience has taught me a few things.
Fluid type is one of those topics that just gets so much attention but little resolution, so I wanted to follow up after years of owning these machines.
Rotella 15w-40 in the HydroGear BDU-10 and BDU-12 works just fine. I'm not sure what anomaly had caused the scenario where the trans "lost power" on my 2186. I have since sold it but have owned several other 2000 Series and 3000 Series and I can say that not one of them has exhibited this issue.
One of the things that contributes to the feel of the pedal being "squishy" on these machines is in the linkage. If the hydro control rod and spring are lubricated properly, there should be a spongy-like feel to the pedal when you mash it to the floor. It functions similarly to the trunion springs on the IH/Sunstrand units to help control the "snap your head back" when making drastic changes in motion.
My guess is that I had lubricated that linkage when I did that service. That had caused the pedal linkage to move more freely. Most of these are never lubricated and so you have that instant response from a direct connection between the pedal and the hydro control.
That combined with (most likely) air needing purged from the system had caused the scenario I described if I were to guess.
All of this is to say I have used Rotella 15w-40 in all my HydroGear units without issue since.
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