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Anti-Freezing Additive

Matt Bachand

Matt Bachand

Depends on the 6.5
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Location
Worcester, MA
Any known additive (such as alcohol, dry-gas etc) that You can add into the resevoir, so when moisture gets into the resevoir on older units it will mix with the water to keep it in liquid form to prevent freezing the pickup screen?
 
All good quality Plow oils, blizzard, western, boss to name a few have a moisture dispersant in them. If you use old school ATF that does not, nor will it cold temp flow as nice. You can add isopropanol at the rate of 1 oz per qt of fluid if you are having water buildup issues. The better choice is to replace worn seals to prevent the moisture getting in in the first place.
 
blizzardplowman said:
All good quality Plow oils, blizzard, western, boss to name a few have a moisture dispersant in them. If you use old school ATF that does not, nor will it cold temp flow as nice. You can add isopropanol at the rate of 1 oz per qt of fluid if you are having water buildup issues. The better choice is to replace worn seals to prevent the moisture getting in in the first place.
Click to expand...

I agree, just scared that a 12 year seasoned veteran of salty work'ed hydraulic unit wont come apart....

I ran ATF last few years, and had freeze up's at least 2 times each season, requiring opening, and reaching hand in and removing the ice cube that sits on the pickup.

Perhaps A oil pan blanket/heater would be fine... (plug in)... Once I'm plowing, the unit keeps itself warm enough to not freeze (warm to the touch even)... its just that initial, start the truck up, and no move fear...
 
Best I could find was referred to as

Fisher Blue fluid

EZ Flow Hydraulic Fluid

OR

Fisher, mfctr of plow says ATF is approved fluid.

So maybe I should consider synthetic ATF, and an additive that mixes with water to prevent ice forming?
 
Matt, the issue with Any ATF is its cold flow properties. Spend the $12 bucks for 2 quarts of plow oil, fix your leaky seal and don't worry about your plow failing when you need it the most. I have been plowing for 20 years and 90% of the issues we had were fluid related, since we switched to plow oil in 99 our fluid related issue have dropped to less than 1%. The best thing to do is check cold flow rates on the fluid you chose, a 5606 type oil will meet the flow requirements, it just has no moisture dispersant. Blizzard, Western, Fisher, Boss all have the oil, and yes they all will work with ATF in a pinch, heck even vegetable oil will work. Think of it like putting AFT in where you should put motor oil, it works but its not right.
 
blizzardplowman said:
Matt, the issue with Any ATF is its cold flow properties. Spend the $12 bucks for 2 quarts of plow oil, fix your leaky seal and don't worry about your plow failing when you need it the most. I have been plowing for 20 years and 90% of the issues we had were fluid related, since we switched to plow oil in 99 our fluid related issue have dropped to less than 1%. The best thing to do is check cold flow rates on the fluid you chose, a 5606 type oil will meet the flow requirements, it just has no moisture dispersant. Blizzard, Western, Fisher, Boss all have the oil, and yes they all will work with ATF in a pinch, heck even vegetable oil will work. Think of it like putting AFT in where you should put motor oil, it works but its not right.
Click to expand...

I learned to milk precious information from those who have been there done that more than I have.

So....

What fluid do you use? :) You gave me great hope on rebuilding my cylinder myself, and I thank you for that.

Off topic, but you seen to know your stuff.

One of my starter motor/resevoir (on the plow, the motor) bolts was stripped by the previous owner. For 4 years I've been adding fluid (also adding moisture of course) and using a stupid clamp to keep it sealed.

I have never Heli-coiled anything, but this is a perfect spot for one. I just don't know how to do it.
 
blizzardplowman said:
Matt, the issue with Any ATF is its cold flow properties. Spend the $12 bucks for 2 quarts of plow oil, fix your leaky seal and don't worry about your plow failing when you need it the most. I have been plowing for 20 years and 90% of the issues we had were fluid related, since we switched to plow oil in 99 our fluid related issue have dropped to less than 1%. The best thing to do is check cold flow rates on the fluid you chose, a 5606 type oil will meet the flow requirements, it just has no moisture dispersant. Blizzard, Western, Fisher, Boss all have the oil, and yes they all will work with ATF in a pinch, heck even vegetable oil will work. Think of it like putting AFT in where you should put motor oil, it works but its not right.
Click to expand...

Is the 5606 spec you are referring to MIL-H-5606? That would help me a lot.
 
Matt Bachand said:
I learned to milk precious information from those who have been there done that more than I have.

So....

What fluid do you use? :) You gave me great hope on rebuilding my cylinder myself, and I thank you for that.

Off topic, but you seen to know your stuff.

One of my starter motor/resevoir (on the plow, the motor) bolts was stripped by the previous owner. For 4 years I've been adding fluid (also adding moisture of course) and using a stupid clamp to keep it sealed.

I have never Heli-coiled anything, but this is a perfect spot for one. I just don't know how to do it.
Click to expand...

Matt I hope I know, I have a lot of customers who count on me to stock the stuff that works in their plows. :thumbsup:

As for thread repair, try these, not cheap but they work well. http://www.ezlok.com/Home/index.html

We don't see alot of Fisher, but Blizzard, Hiniker, Western, and Boss we do. The nice thing is what works on one will most likely work on the other, the key is get it done preseason so you can do a good job not a dang its gona snow tonight repair ):h
 
I am unable to spec this fluid right now, I am getting conflicting information. MIL-H-5606 is an aviation hydraulic fluid (dyed red) that is generally mineral based and can be crossed with MIL-H-46170. Some sources are also calling this brake fluid. I'm not comfortable specing a fluid without specific requirements from a plow/pump manufacturer.

There can be serious issues with seal compatibility if we get this wrong.

If anyone has any more info, I'd be glad to chase this further.
 
It is hyd oil ,not brake fluid. I don't have a spec sheet handy. Ashton it is lower temp rated than #10 hyd oil and is normally clear, we order our dyed blue plus the anti ice agent.
 
NP bud...

I think i'm going to just get some fisher fluid, and a small wolverine heater to slap on the resevoir.

Problem solved, no more worrying about frozen filter screen. :)

I brought the plow to my house today, and its in better shape than I remembered.

I think I'll replace a bunch of pins, perhaps rebuild the lift piston, and have a little plate welded on the back so I can change the angle (the 2 top holes of the 3 on my rear plates were blown out when I got the plow)... Paint it up, and change the fluid, and wolverine heater :)
 
Get on it Matt, we had SNOW today :) Didn't hang around but what an eye opener for early October. I hope it is an indication of the winter to come :)
 
blizzardplowman said:
Get on it Matt, we had SNOW today :) Didn't hang around but what an eye opener for early October. I hope it is an indication of the winter to come :)
Click to expand...

Nice! I have my plow on the truck as we speak!!! lol...


Hey, remember I asked about Heli-coil type thing for my resevoir/starter motor attachment,

Well, I blew the hole clean with air, and poked/blew the crud at the bottom of the hole and it turned out its 1/2" deeper than the bolt they use.

So I took the 7/16 14 tap and chased the threads that extra 1/2 " and simply got a 1/2" longer bolt.

Torqued like a champ!!!

One more thing fixed.

I also added 4 hitch pins to the tops of my springs, as if the bolts fail at the bottom of the trip springs they fall out (I happen to see it last year when one snapped)...

Now if a bolt snaps, the spring simply hangs there, instead of getting caught up in a snowbank... gone till spring or worse, forever.

At over 100bux a pop, the dollar something hitch pin is cheap insurance.
 
I'll just go with the latest Fisher fluid... They've had many years of R&D to make the best fluid possible for the exact application....
 
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