lubricants and engine oils

Not All Oils Are Created Equal

With John Deere oils, excellence is what matters. It's not just an ingredient. It's the result of relentless hard work, must like our hardworking machines. Developed by our experts for those who demand the best, you'll experience unparalleled performance that delivers optimal machine longevity, saving you time and money. Unleash the excellence of John Deere lubricants.

Plus-50 II

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Evolution of Plus-50 II

Perhaps you've heard, the requirements for engine oil compliance were raised to the new CK-4 standards. What does that mean? For those that use our Plus-50 Il Engine Oil, it means absolutely nothing. That's because Plus-50 Il is still better than even the new standards, exceeding requirements before they even set the bar.

Plus-50 Il Engine Oil. Still better. Still guaranteed. Still available only at your local John Deere Dealer.

Find out more about the Evolution of Plus-50 II

JDQ6068 Severe Off-Road Dyno Engine Test

In the development of Plus-50 II, John Deere engineers tested the oil under the most extreme conditions using this severe dyno test. The severe dyno test is a John Deere engine that runs at full load and high heat to thoroughly test the capabilities of the oil. At the end of the test, we evaluate the engine parts and the oil to determine how well the oil protects the engine and how long it will last under such extreme conditions.

Pistons from the Severe Off-Road Dyno Engine Test

Competitive oil leaves spot and more piston deposits in the piston and groove area and the under crown area of the piston which can cause the rings to not perform as designed. Plus-50 II formulated for hotter off-road conditions to reduce piston deposits so the engine will perform optimally for a long time.

Minimises Piston and Deposited Formulation

  • Help reduce high friction and wear
  • Help prevent excessive oil consumption and blowby
  • Increase engine performance
Severe off-road dyno engine test pistons Severe off-road dyno engine test pistons

CK-4 Minimum Engine Tests

In addition to our own extensive testing, we also participate with engine tests that define the minimum requirements of API CK-4 oil. These graphs demonstrate the magnitude of performance Plus-50 II has when compared to these minimum specifications. Note that lower is better.

CK-4 minimum engine test results for coat CK-4 minimum engine test results for Mack T-12
CK-4 minimum engine test results for Volvo T-13 CK-4 minimum engine test results Caterpillar 1N
CK-4 minimum engine test results for Cummins ISM CK-4 minimum engine test results for General Motors IIIG

Hy-Gard

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Evolution of Hy-Gard

60 years of continuous development makes Hy-Gard the most advanced tractor hydraulic fluid in the world!

1960 1974 1978 1984 1989 1994 Today
Evolution of Hy-Gard 1960 Evolution of Hy-Gard 1974 Evolution of Hy-Gard 1978 Evolution of Hy-Gard 1984 Evolution of Hy-Gard 1989 Evolution of Hy-Gard 1994 Evolution of Hy-Gard today
John Deere develops first THF standard, JD303 JDM J14B replaces JD303 JDM J20A replaces J14B RES 10060 written, exclusive additive package adopted JDM J20C replaces J20A Hy-Gard additive package upgraded Continuous improvement

RES 10060

John Deere Hy-Gard is the only fluid in the world designed to meet the John Deere factory fill standard "RES 10060". Hy-Gard is the original tractor hydraulic fluid in your John Deere machine when new, and there is no true substitute available anywhere else.

JDM J20C

An industry classification for Transmission Hydraulic Fluid (THF) does not exist. Each manufacturer establishes a minimum requirement that oils must meet for use in their equipment. John Deere has established the JDM J20 specification for minimum THF performance. John Deere does not monitor competitive or "will-fit" oils, or approve JDM J20 oils. While claiming to meet John Deere requirements, it is possible that the competitive or "will-fit" oils do not meet even the minimum performance requirements for John Deere machines, which could result in premature failures.

John Deere Hy-Gard exceed the performance of their JDM J20 specification counterparts. The performance requirements for our family of Hy-Gard products are higher, and many extra performance tests are mandatory.

Wet Clutch Test

wet clutch test example

Wet clutch test graph

Customers can expect better clutch performance (smoother equipment, less slippage, and reduced wear) when using John Deere HyGard™ Transmission and Hydraulic Oil.

TZT Oxidation Test

TZT oxidation test

The difference in performance of Hy-Gard and a competitor's oil.  The competitor oil has left heavy deposits on the pan and the viscosity has increased dramatically. This can cause valve sticking and the oil may be corrosive. Hy-Gard parts look like new, it leaves no sludge of deposits for longer equipment life.

Test runs:

  • At 160°C (320°F)
  • 400 hours continuous test with air injection

Gear Test

Gear test example

Transmission Final Drive Test

Wear in the JDQ 95B final drive test with Hy-Gard was shown to be less than the wear of a minimum performance JDM J20C fluid.

Slow-Cool Fluidity Test

Slow Cool Fluidity test chart

Hy-Gard is checked for proper viscosities using the slow-cool fluidity test in addition to industry-standard tests. The slow-cool fluidity test (developed by John Deere engineers and recognised by the oil industry as a valid testing procedure) ensures Hy-Gard's proper viscosity performance, which reduces downtime and lowers the cost of operation. Few competitive hydraulic transmission oils are tested for this type of low-temperature viscosity performance.

Oil needs to flow properly at low temperature to ensure lubricant gets to where it is needed. The cold temperature flow of Hy-Gard can be much better than oils that claim they meet JDM J20C (tested after aging).

Air Temperature Chart

Air Temperature Chart

Use the oil viscosity based on the expected air-temperature range during the period between changes. Always check the Operator's Manual for specific applications. Some applications may be restricted at the upper or lower limits of the temperature range.

Wet Brake Test

Wet brake test graph

Customers can expect better brake-chatter control using John Deere Hy-Gard compared to oils meeting the minimum performance JDM J20 specification.

Hydrau

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Specifications

Hydrau is formulated to meet or exceed the requirements for industrial and mobile hydraulic systems that call for:

  • John Deere Performance Specification DTW 3488
  • ISO 6743-4 (L-HV) = Hydrau
  • DIN 51524-3 (part 3 HVLP)
  • ISO 11158 (L-HV)
  • ASTM D6158-HV
  • Denison HF-0, HF-1, HF-2:
  • Denison P-46 piston pump test
  • T6C vane pump test
  • Eaton Vickers I-286-S (industrial)
  • Eaton Vickers M-2950-S (mobile)
  • Bosch Rexroth
  • MAG Cincinnati and Cincinnati Milacron P-68, P-69 and P-70
  • US Steel 126, 127 and 136

Parker-Denison T6H20 Hybrid Pump Test

One of the hydraulic industry's harshest tests, used to evaluate:

  • Lubricity at extreme temperatures
  • Lubricity in the presence of water
  • Corrosion protection
  • Hydrolytic stability
  • Thermal stability
  • Shear stability

Hydrau products provide outstanding wear performance:

  • Maximizes uptime by reducing maintenance
  • Optimized for the most severe applications
  • Provides up to four times the life-cycle protection compared to competitive products in extended testing

Pump run with Hydrau vs competitor

ASTM D943 Oxidation Test

This test is designed to measure a fluid's oxidation stability. It is an industry-standard specification used for hydraulic fluids that are subject to moisture ingestion commonly found in construction and forestry equipment.

Hydrau have superior oxidation stability and will outlast other leading hydraulic fluids by several thousand hours. This means longer service life in excess of 4,000 hours on production-class equipment. Service life varies by machine and application. Consult your Operator's Manual for recommended change intervals.

Cool-Gard II

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Specifications

Cool-Gard II meets the requirements of:

  • ASTM D6210 for diesel engines
  • ASTM D3306 for petrol engine

JDQ-1522 test

The JDQ-1522 test is a proprietary John Deere test designed to assess oxidation that occurs due to the extreme thermal conditions by testing metals typically found in a cooling system. The metals and coolant are combined and exposed to extreme heat under highly oxidative conditions. Through continual agitation over an accelerated period, this test accurately depicts the corrosion protection that various coolants provide in heavy-duty, non-road applications.

It proves Cool-Gard II is the premium choice for heavy-duty, off-road conditions and is equally suited for any liquid-cooled internal combustion engine.

See the comparisons here