I have a John Deere LX176 lawn tractor and am confused about its hydrostatic transmission oil. The manual states that the hydrostatic transmission oil should be "SAE 10w30 engine oil with API classifications of SE, CC or CD" but I don't know what those classifications mean. Would just regular oil do or could I even use some multi-purpose automatic transmission fluid?
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4 Answers
SE was from way back (circa 1979), so any off the shelf oil should be well ahead of that at a minimum. The current standard is SN. Since I would assume you will not be changing this oil very often, I would highly suggest you purchase some thing like Royal Purple or some other high grade synthetic engine oil. I know it's a little expensive, but considering you won't be changing it very often, the expense is well worth it.
answered Aug 16, 2014 at 1:48
The oil bottle will state what API classifications it meets. You need SAE 10w30 that lists one of those classifications on the bottle. Any standard 10w30 motor oil should have it. Just check for it when you buy the oil.
DO NOT use automatic transmission fluid (ATF) - that fluid is NOT compatible with the oil that's in there now, and it may even wreck your seals.
If John Deere wants you to use regular ol' motor oil (which is part and parcel of their specification), that's what you should use. Depending upon your climate, you may need 10W30 or you may be able to get by just fine with anything from straight 10 to straight 30.
If that tractor were mine... I'd use the exact same oil in the transmission as in the crankcase, nothing special.
The Tuff Torx engineer I talked with recommended using 5W-50 synthetic oil. I use it in my JD and Husqvarna mowers. My JD is 23 years old ( Used 10W30 for 18 of those years) and the Husqvarna is 8 years.
