Save on CAT oil option

A few years ago there was talk that the CAT brand pump oil was a re-branded oil made by Chevron.  It may have just been talk, but with the cost of CAT oil these days and in some cases the limited availability, I decided to chase that rumor a little.

I researched the Chevron product line and contacted their Tech Division about a possible match to the CAT branded oil.  The official position is that they do not know who formulates the CAT brand oil, but they did offer what they sell to car wash stations that use CAT pumps as well as others.

It is the "Rando HDZ 68 Hydraulic oil. (see inclosed link).  Again, don't know if they are the same, but if you go through a lot, there might be cheaper options out there.

http://www.gis-store.net/Chevron-Rando-HDZ-ISO-68-55-Gallon-Drum-1682-GAL-RANDOHDZ68.htm

Anyone else know where CAT gets their oil and if there is any real difference to it other than color?

Don't know where they got their oil but home depot has them for $ 10 per bottle of 16 Oz.

That's where I get it right now as well, but it is still an hour away for me...several for guys out west of me. Shipping is as much as the bottle for the 16 oz.

I was just thinking, if it was the same thing, I would rather purchase by the gallon at nearly the same price as the small bottle.

You really do live in the boonies to be an hour away from HD Rob

Yes I am Mo  

That's a great tip on the Chevron equivalent.

I was just talking to a guy last wknd, that seemed pretty knowledgeable on TM repair and maint. (Bill / SixShooter knows him/Tony pretty well I believe?) and he was telling me he uses Lucas gear oil in all his pumps and blowers, the 'gear oil', which I think is 80/90w, the type used in auto manual trans.  And when I asked him if it was to 'thick or heavy', he claimed it not to be?, and it offered Superior protection over the factory made specific oils.

Don't take my word on it tho, I'm just repeating what he told me.  

80/90 is typically used in rear ends. If you ever get it on you, you'll not forget the smell.....

I would not think pumps would use something THAT thick. I was pretty sure most any air type pump used a 30W or a 30HD weight oil. Straight 30 never changes it's weight. Hot or cold, same viscosity.

Anything over 50W seems pretty thick IMO.

But I am FAR from any type of expert.

It is like when you talk to guys who rebuild transfer cases, some use gear oil and some use 30 wt, and some use gawd knows what. As long as it handles the shock and lubricates....why not.

When you think about the CAT pump oil, does anyone believe that they refine their own oil?? It just makes sense to find who their supplier is and save a step in the pricing ladder.

Check the oil has a ISO rating. I don't know what cat pump oil is. But I know the blower oil HM uses in their blowers is a ISO 100 and a local shop uses 0w40 Mobil 1 instead. I know in other pump a 0W30 or 0W40 Non detergent oil was used the manufacture said the foam was a problem with the detergent oils for that application. But if the ISO rating is the same it should work.

milspec6 wrote:...........................When you think about the CAT pump oil, does anyone believe that they refine their own oil??  It just makes sense to find who their supplier is and save a step in the pricing ladder.

No, I don't think they "refine their own oil".

And I agree, skip the middle man if you can.   

Freemind1 wrote:80/90 is typically used in rear ends. If you ever get it on you, you'll not forget the smell.....

I would not think pumps would use something THAT thick. I was pretty sure most any air type pump used a 30W or a 30HD weight oil. Straight 30 never changes it's weight. Hot or cold, same viscosity.

Anything over 50W seems pretty thick IMO.

But I am FAR from any type of expert.

"Trans and Diff Lube".......but maybe the thicker oil is more suited for us in 'warmer climates'?, as the guy/Tony that told me this is here in CA   

http://lucasoil.com/products/gear-oil/synthetic-gear-oil/lucas-sae-75w-90-synthetic-gear-oil

ACE Services wrote:Check the oil has a ISO rating. I don't know what cat pump oil is. But I know the blower oil HM uses in their blowers is a ISO 100 and a local shop uses 0w40 Mobil 1 instead. I know in other pump a 0W30 or 0W40 Non detergent oil was used the manufacture said the foam was a problem with the detergent oils for that application. But if the ISO rating is the same it should work.

I think the Roots blower oil is 320 iso?..but how does that translate into what we know, and commonly refer to as "weight", or "viscosity"??    

OK, I have both here....

Cat with an 'iso of 68"
&
Roots with "iso of 320"

Talking to myself here, lol but just did a search on "ISO vs Weight" and here's a couple of Comparisons I found............

http://www.synmaxperformancelubricants.com/PDFs/SynMax_Tech_Oil_Weight_%28Viscosity%29_Presentation.pdf

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/iso-vg-grade-d_1206.html

I agree, it still seems 80/90w gear oil may be a bit 'heavy' for a lot of climates.

vAeon pd used by PC in their blowers is a ISO 220
HM uses pheulube ISO 150 I think over look the spelling

Don't have much to add to this conversation but I do have a friend that works for a pump distributor and he says you should not use regular car oil in pumps, especially diaphragm pumps
(which I have one but most probably do not)

Says it's hard on the seals and degrades any rubber in the pump.

SixShooter wrote:Don't have much to add to this conversation but I do have a friend that works for a pump distributor and he says you should not use regular car oil in pumps, especially diaphragm pumps
(which I have one but most probably do not)

Says it's hard on the seals and degrades any rubber in the pump.

Don't let the Chevron name confuse you, it is a hydraulic oil and not motor oil.

ACE Services wrote:vAeon pd used by PC in their blowers is a ISO 220
HM uses pheulube ISO 150 I think over look the spelling

Quite a difference in weights between the two. I think my manual advised the Aeon for my Tuthill blower or a straight 30 wt as an option.

milspec6 wrote:

SixShooter wrote:Don't have much to add to this conversation but I do have a friend that works for a pump distributor and he says you should not use regular car oil in pumps, especially diaphragm pumps
(which I have one but most probably do not)

Says it's hard on the seals and degrades any rubber in the pump.

Don't let the Chevron name confuse you, it is a hydraulic oil and not motor oil.

Gotcha   

talk to the PW fix it guys....

anyway the few i have talked to say that 30W non detergent is fine...if you put the regular car oil or 30w or which ever, its the detergents in the oil that foam, and cause issue...Now if you plan on just changing them what twice a year, ND oil should be just fine, and a helluva lot cheaper then $10 for half a quart....

Blower oil needs to be different because "hello" it gets hotter in that there blower, and thus needs different composition to handle the heat and friction caused in blower gears....

You need to buy Shell Tellus. It is a hydraulic oil, you cant get in ISO 46 and 68.
Unfortunately in Australia the Tellus ISO 68 only comes in 20 liter drums which is a lot if you only have one pump. You can get the ISO 46 in a 5 liter.