Use what you just bought and sleep better at night. Pretty cheap insurance considering how often you will need to change it.

 

Good advice.

 

I'm not sure if there is anything that meets the J20D spec, there a few options that meet the J20C spec.

Since your in Kentucky you might get away with that J20C spec rated alternative brands.

I'm going to direct you to this post which lists some alternatives, though they may not be cheaper:

Substitute for John Deere Hy-Gard J20D? | Hydraulic Fluids | Bob Is The Oil Guy


If you are still under warranty you will probably will be best serve sticking with the Deere stuff.

 

There has been a lot of discussion here about HyGuard. I asked the very same question you did. For what its worth, there are other quality brands out there sold at other dealerships like New Holland, Massey Ferguson & Kubota. I was going to buy my HYGuard from New Holland who has convinced me that my JD would not get a tummy ache on New Holland's formula & that it was 100% compatable.

However, as stated here in this thread, it is better in this case to stick with the JD stuff which is what I did in the end as well. However I fully undersand your asking because I too find the prices at the JD dealer to be freaking out of line insane. That dealer who is charging you $25. a gallon should really explain that to you. Im down here in SC & the local thief I go to charged me $18. per gallon. There can't be that much of a regional difference in price???? Maybe next time you & I should ask our respective dealers to give us at least one kiss before he sc..w's us.

:nunu:

 

Ditto to all the above. Like maddog said that seems high for a gallon :unknown: I haven't bought any for maybe 6 months now but it was NOT over $20 a gallon.

 

Just over $20 a gallon here in west Texas



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My father inlaw picked it up and told me the cost later, I put it in already I'm too OCD with my stuff not to use it. I am not finished with the dealer. I will let them know I will not purchase anything there again. I am really kicking myself for not checking to see if I could have added it to my order on GFP. I guess I just needed to vent.


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I certainly do not know what JD policy is when it comes to dealer prices. Im sure the dealers are dictated to as to how low they can sell tractors & allied implements for. They also may tell them the top end price on any equipment as well so that dealers can have fair competition with each other.
But when it comes to maintenance line items it appears that however the dealer can manipulate the customer, it's fine with JD parent ship. I guess they figure it will keep the dealer happy & give them some ability to run their business like they were really in charge of it. I've said this before. We are not JD's customers, The dealers are their customers & that's who they serve & protect.

And for my fellow members who do not feel over paying 20-30-40% more for an item is no big deal, then please remember that on everything else you buy and add that up. Maybe I can set up a retirement fund here among the retired members & share the wealth. Who would like to be first to donate.
:munch:

 

Heck I guess I can't complain too much I just checked on GFP to see how bad I got ripped and it's $22.51 on there, I will figure out a good alternative for next go round. I guess the increasing number of guys running it in their race car transmissions like I used to have made JD really proud!


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I paid 17.03 per gallon here in N.E. Tn. part #TY22000 back in April.:greentractorride:

 

I bought a gallon of Low-Vis two weeks ago for my 455, it was $18 and change.

 

I have a friend I grew up with that farms full time around 1000 acres and has several brands of large tractors. He likes JD Low vis Hygard so much, he runs it in all his tractors not just the green ones. He said it is far superior to anything he has found yet as far as heat, smoothness of shifting, wet brake/clutch behaviour, and hydraulic controls smoothness. SO remember you get what you pay for... maybe...sometimes...hopefully.

 

I don't think anyone is complaining about the product quality. The complaint is the the wide price swings from dealer to dealer. If I order an item from Lowes in NY, and the same item from a Lowes in CA.
the price is the same 99.999% of the time. I would expect some price difference from competing dealers & from location to location on a regional basis, but not to the extent we see it at.

 

I always used Hygard in my 20 year old 425 and never had an issue with the tranny. Still running strong and never a whine. A buddy of mine used the "cheaper" brand in his 455 and complains about the noises it makes after putting it in. I told him: "Don't complain. I told you not to do it." He's now regretting it and plans to change it back to Hygard. It's costly, yes. But, not as much as a new tranny.

 

Everyone has a different value system. But, I'm not going to lose sleep over $10 more or less every year or two for hydraulic fluid. Life's too short. I pay whatever my dealer is asking and sleep well knowing I'm using what the manufacturer recommends.

 

All my conversations are open for any type of discussion, price, value, etc. My whole hang up with the whole thing is that it is oil. It has a job and specs and surely with as many JD's out there using the stuff surely someone else has tapped into that market. If not maybe I should start an oil company, give it a crazy name and tint my oil green and say it has added benefit.... "Flener's Fabulous Green Oil" makes your deere run like a doe!


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I like your idea! Sort of like Marvel Mystry Oil which is good for everything that's gone wrong with your engine! They even claim it can cure the common cold:laugh: Now if you can dye your stuff so that it pours out with alternate green & yellow stripes, you'll really have something you can charge $50. a gallon for! Just don't let Deere find out!

 

Now that's a great idea, I think a great twist to it would be a 2 part concoction that you mix when you fill the trans. You mix equal parts of green and yellow. Cures hydro whine 99.9% of the time! Lol


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:laugh::laugh::laugh: You still won't get me to put it in my machine...'less of course I had an orange one. The color contrast would then be great. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :thumbup1gif: