Bobcat Hydraulic Fluid: Which Type Your Machine Needs

Bobcat loaders run one fluid through both the loader hydraulics and the hydrostatic drive, so the type matters twice. Current R-Series machines need Bobcat Max Performance fluid: red for warm climates, blue for cool ones. Older machines can also take the orange Proven Performance blend, and M-Series era manuals list a generic alternative with strict viscosity limits.

What You Need to Know

• R-Series loaders (S62 to S86, T62 to T86): Max Performance Warm Climate (red) or Cool Climate (blue), chosen for where the machine works most.
• Older machines: Proven Performance (orange) is Bobcat's blend for non-current models. Bobcat says it is not compatible with R-Series loaders.
• One shared system: the same fluid feeds the lift, tilt and auxiliary hydraulics and the hydrostatic drive. On skid steers the chaincase takes the same type of fluid too.
• The manual alternative: M-Series era manuals allow ISO VG 46 with a viscosity index of at least 150, or VG 100 with at least 130. Most standard AW 46 oils fall short of that index.
• Change interval: 1,000 hours or 12 months on M-Series and R-Series loaders. Older machines and excavators differ.

What Type of Hydraulic Fluid Does a Bobcat Use?

It depends on the generation of the machine. Bobcat currently sells three hydraulic/hydrostatic fluids in North America, and each one is dyed so you can tell them apart in the reservoir.

Bobcat's product pages state that R-Series loaders leave the factory filled with the fluid for their region, and that machine damage caused by incorrect hydraulic fluid may not be covered by warranty. The Warm and Cool Climate fitment lists also include many legacy machines, from the 743 and 753 to the S185 and S650, so older owners can use the climate fluids as well.

Which Bobcat Fluid Is Right for Your Climate?

Bobcat's temperature chart puts Cool Climate fluid at roughly -40°F to 90°F and Warm Climate fluid at roughly 10°F to 120°F. Bobcat's guidance is to choose by the region where the machine is operated most often, not by the season.

• Cool Climate (blue): lower viscosity for cold-weather flow. Bobcat's region map shows colder northern regions in this zone.
• Warm Climate (red): higher viscosity for heat and heavy work. The southern US and West Coast show as warmer climate on the same map.
• The middle band: Bobcat asks owners in Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio to check the temperature chart and pick the fluid that matches the range they work in most.

If you move a machine to a different region, Bobcat notes you may need to change the fluid, following the Replacing Hydraulic Fluid procedure in the Operation and Maintenance Manual. The manual adds a cold-weather limit: below -20°F the hydrostatic oil must be warmed before starting, or the system will not get enough oil and will be damaged.

Can I Use AW-32 or AW-46 Hydraulic Oil in a Bobcat?

Usually not as a straight swap. ISO VG 32 does not appear on any Bobcat fluid chart we reviewed. VG 46 does, but only with a condition most shoppers miss: a minimum viscosity index (VI) of 150.

• VG 46, VI 150 or higher: listed for about -40°F to 80°F in the S570, E35 and S590 manuals.
• VG 100, VI 130 or higher: listed for about 40°F to 120°F.
• Standard AW 46: many sit far below VI 150. One common AW 46 data sheet lists a VI of 98.

The VI is printed on the oil's product data sheet, not just the "46" on the jug. On R-Series loaders, Bobcat's pages say the climate fluid is required, and we found no generic alternative approved for them.

What Is Equivalent to Bobcat Hydraulic Fluid?

Bobcat does not publish a cross-reference, and its product page says Proven Performance "cannot be duplicated from generic hydraulic fluids." The 2016 S570 Operation and Maintenance Manual still allows a substitute: "If Bobcat hydraulic fluid is not available, use a good quality hydraulic fluid meeting the viscosity grade and viscosity index shown in the chart."

To check a substitute against your manual, confirm three things:

1. Viscosity grade: the VG your manual's chart lists for your temperature range.
2. Viscosity index: at or above the chart's minimum (150 for VG 46, 130 for VG 100).
3. Temperature range: the range you will actually work in, from the same chart.

Some Bobcat manuals, such as the 2012 E35, simply say "Use only recommended fluid in the hydraulic system." Your machine's own manual is the authority.

Is Bobcat Hydrostatic Fluid the Same as Hydraulic Fluid?

Yes. Bobcat treats the loader hydraulics and the hydrostatic drive as one "Hydraulic / Hydrostatic System" with one reservoir. On the S570, that reservoir holds 2.0 US gallons within a 9.5-gallon system. Capacities vary by model, and our Bobcat fluid capacities guide lists them by machine.

• Hydrostatic drive: pumps send fluid to the drive motors that turn the wheels or tracks.
• Loader hydraulics: the control valve works the lift, tilt and auxiliary circuits.
• Chaincase: a separate compartment with its own fill, but Bobcat manuals say it uses the same type of fluid. It does not take motor oil or tractor fluid.

This is why Bobcat asks you to let the engine run for at least 5 minutes to warm the engine and hydrostatic transmission fluid before working the loader.

What About Older Bobcats That Allowed Motor Oil?

Bobcat manuals from the mid-2000s did allow it. The 2006 773 G-Series service manual and the 2005 S150, S250 and T250 manuals list Bobcat Fluid 6563328, or if it is unavailable:

• 10W-30 or 10W-40 Class SE motor oil above 0°F
• 5W-30 motor oil below 0°F
• Never automatic transmission fluid. The 773 manual warns it causes permanent damage to the transmission.

Later manuals, including the 2012 E35 and 2016 S570, no longer list motor oil. On those machines, use Bobcat fluid or the VG and VI alternative in your manual.

How Do I Check the Hydraulic Fluid Level on a Bobcat?

Check it every day before the shift. The S570 manual's procedure:

1. Park on a level surface and lower the lift arms.
2. Put the attachment flat on the ground, or tilt the Bob-Tach fully back if no attachment is installed.
3. Stop the engine and read the sight gauge. Keep the level within the operating range.
4. To add fluid, open the rear door, remove the rear grille and the fill cap, then fill to the operating range.

Older machines such as the 773 G-Series say to fill to the center of the sight gauge. Bobcat excavator manuals prefer checking the oil cold, against the cold mark on the tank decal.

How Often Should Bobcat Hydraulic Fluid and Filters Be Changed?

Intervals differ by series, and Bobcat notes that filter and oil life can be shorter in dusty or extreme-temperature work. Each interval is the hours shown or 12 months, whichever comes first.

The S570 manual adds a rule worth following on any loader: always replace the hydraulic/hydrostatic filter and the charge filter whenever the fluid is replaced.

Which Filters and Caps Should I Replace With the Fluid?

Use the part numbers in your machine's manual. On the S570, as an example, the manual lists these, and each one is available as an aftermarket replacement that meets or exceeds OEM specifications:

• Hydraulic filter 7024037: Hydraulic Filter, replacement for Bobcat 7024037
• Charge filter 6692337 (earlier units): Hydraulic Oil Filter, replacement for Bobcat 6692337
• Charge filter 6686926 (later units): Hydraulic Filter, replacement for Bobcat 6686926
• Fill and breather cap 6727475: Hydraulic Cap, replacement for Bobcat 6727475

Older loaders with a drive motor case drain filter replace it on its own schedule. Our case drain filter element replacing Bobcat 6661807 lists fitment for skid steers including the 743 through 883 and the S130 to S330. Browse the full range in hydraulic filters, and see where each Bobcat hydraulic filter is located. Part numbers vary by serial number, so verify yours before ordering. Send your serial and the OEM number to sales@partsonline.com and we will check it for you.

What Does Wrong or Contaminated Fluid Look Like?

Bobcat's troubleshooting tables tie several common complaints to the fluid itself:

• Jerky hydraulics or lift arms rising slowly at full RPM: the listed causes include cold fluid and wrong viscosity fluid.
• Transmission warning light with the hydraulics working: often an incorrect fluid level.
• Hydrostatic system overheating: low fluid or a restricted oil cooler.
• Service codes: on the S570, M0217 means the hydraulic/hydrostatic filter is plugged and M0710 means fluid temperature is too high. Codes differ by series.

Milky or cloudy fluid usually means water has got in, which is general hydraulic knowledge rather than a Bobcat statement. Our guide to milky hydraulic fluid covers the causes and the flush. Consult a certified mechanic for hydraulic repairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of hydraulic fluid does a Bobcat use?

R-Series loaders use Bobcat Max Performance fluid, Warm Climate (red) or Cool Climate (blue). Older machines can use the orange Proven Performance blend or the climate fluids, per their fitment lists.

Can I use AW-32 hydraulic oil in a Bobcat?

ISO VG 32 does not appear on the Bobcat fluid charts we reviewed. Follow the VG and VI chart in your manual instead.

Can you use AW 46 in a Bobcat?

Only where your manual lists VG 46, and only an oil with a viscosity index of 150 or higher. Many standard AW 46 oils fall well below that, and R-Series loaders require the Bobcat climate fluid.

What is equivalent to Bobcat hydraulic fluid?

Bobcat publishes no cross-reference. M-Series era manuals allow a quality fluid matching the chart's viscosity grade, viscosity index and temperature range when Bobcat fluid is not available.

Is Bobcat hydrostatic fluid the same as hydraulic fluid?

Yes. The loader hydraulics and the hydrostatic drive share one system and one reservoir, so they take the same fluid.

Where is the hydraulic fluid on a Bobcat?

On M-Series loaders the sight gauge shows the level, and the fill cap sits behind the rear door and grille. Locations vary by series, so your Operation and Maintenance Manual is the reference.

How much hydraulic fluid does a Bobcat hold?

It varies by model. The S570, for example, has a 2.0-gallon reservoir in a 9.5-gallon system, and our capacities guide lists other models.