Oil & Fuel Regular oil or synthetic

[Carl Bert]

This is my first Kubota and also my first diesel engine. I read a few older threads about synthetic oils voiding Kubota warranties. I highly doubt that is still true today, but I would like to get some of your opinions along with my dealers before making a decision. Also, if I did use synthetic, would I extend the time between oil changes? What to do, and when to do it?

Thanks

 

[David s Von Gieserbrechta]

Personalty I use 0-40 synthetic oil for several reasons not the least of which is that it makes starting in sub zero Manitoba winters a breeze and secondly because my Kubota dealer recommends it.

Also use 0-30 synthetic in my van and truck and have never had a problem with it. The 0-30 and 0-40 grade Synthetics may well be a little more expensive up front but I have found that it's a lot cheaper in the long run.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I use the regular oil with Kubota stamped on it that I buy from Barlows. I've used it on 12 Kubotas and never had a problem with it or them.
I use regular Pennzoil 10W40 (used to use 10W30) on my cars/trucks (Owned over 130) and have never had a problem with them.

 

[RADIUM]

I could not imagine an engine without synthetic oil, especially in the cold climates regardless of manufacturer synthetic is always the premium oil so price is high but I'm sure your investment is worth it. However I would still change it described by your owners manual some say you can push it longer I wouldn't take the chance unless you're dealer tells you it's okay. My manufacturer claims I can go 200 hours on synthetic I change every hundred and more frequently if I'm in very dirty or strenuous conditions. take care

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I could not imagine an engine without synthetic oil, especially in the cold climates regardless of manufacturer synthetic is always the premium oil so price is high but I'm sure your investment is worth it. However I would still change it described by your owners manual some say you can push it longer I wouldn't take the chance unless you're dealer tells you it's okay. My manufacturer claims I can go 200 hours on synthetic I change every hundred and more frequently if I'm in very dirty or strenuous conditions. take care

Looks like you own a Blue instead of Orange tractor. Maybe they need extra protection. and shorter time till changes. and extra tender care.
Kubota has change oil at first 50 and then at 200 and then I think at each 200 course they are Kubotas and have Kubota engines.
There are Premium items in almost every thing sold (as in oil) but for most people the need for Premium rarely justifies the extra cost. I shudder at the thought of paying the extra for Synthetic oil over my life time when I've never had a problem having used the non synthetic oil. Would have been hundreds or maybe thousands of proven wasted money.

 

[brandoro]

I doubt that it was ever true that a synthetic oil would void any warranty as long as it was the correct oil classification and changed to the manufacturer's recommended interval or oil analysis was used.
I have run extended oil change intervals on vehicles with good results but, since I run close to 100 hours per year on the tractor, the tractor manufacturer suggests changing at each 100 hours and the oil manufacturer suggests changing once per year as a minimum that's what I do. If I were to run significantly higher hours per year I would look at oil analysis to determine how long I could run the oil under my operating conditions. I would do analysis and change the filter at each tractor manufacturer recommended change interval as a minimum until I had enough information to decide how many hours was a good change interval.
Synthetics are noticeably better for starting at low temperatures, they are better for the engine at high temperatures too but that is not as noticeable. I used 0W30 in my last truck, 0W20 in my current truck and 5W40 in the tractor because I can use the same oil in my car so only need to keep two oils on hand.

 

[David s Von Gieserbrechta]

I use the regular oil with Kubota stamped on it that I buy from Barlows. I've used it on 12 Kubotas and never had a problem with it or them.
I use regular Pennzoil 10W40 (used to use 10W30) on my cars/trucks (Owned over 130) and have never had a problem with them.

Just a small point, Canadian esp. Manitoba winters with -40f or -40c are just a tad harder on engines than say Ky winters. Up here engines need all the help they can get.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Just a small point, Canadian esp. Manitoba winters with -40f or -40c are just a tad harder on engines than say Ky winters. Up here engines need all the help they can get.

LOL!! Your right on that. I spent a year in Minot, ND and the first week I was there it was -43degrees. Cars had to have engine tank heaters and light bulbs beside the battery and even then the engines cranked very, very slow and with prayer would sometimes start. Course the wind never stopped blowing so with chill factor it was probably a hundred below zero which doesn't affect metal but sure did/does skin. I would probably use synthetic oil in the higher Northern reaches of the country. If it gets below zero in Ky, and it some times does, we stay in unless we have to get out.

 

[PHILIP8N]

I use a 5w-40 in my Kubota (Mobil 1). I sent 2 samples in for oil analysis, they came back fine. First change was around 10 hours, next was around 50 hours. 200 hours is a long time for me, so I will probably change earlier. Philip.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I use a 5w-40 in my Kubota (Mobil 1). I sent 2 samples in for oil analysis, they came back fine. First change was around 10 hours, next was around 50 hours. 200 hours is a long time for me, so I will probably change earlier. Philip.

Keep changing at every 10 or 50 hours and I'm sure every sample will come back fine. I'd say you can keep that up and save the cost of sending off samples.
Your kidding aren't you?
The first oil is ran to 50 to get the engine broken in correctly and my understanding is that it's a different oil made for that purpose. I've heard this alot but do not have proof but again I've heard it about cars, trucks and tractors that they have "break in oil" to be used for the first number of specified hours.

 

[David s Von Gieserbrechta]

LOL!! Your right on that. I spent a year in Minot, ND and the first week I was there it was -43degrees. Cars had to have engine tank heaters and light bulbs beside the battery and even then the engines cranked very, very slow and with prayer would sometimes start. Course the wind never stopped blowing so with chill factor it was probably a hundred below zero which doesn't affect metal but sure did/does skin. I would probably use synthetic oil in the higher Northern reaches of the country. If it gets below zero in Ky, and it some times does, we stay in unless we have to get out.

I'd just love to walk into a Kubota dealership in Kentucky and ask for a block heater and a battery blanket, yuh know just to see the expressions on their faces.

 

[RADIUM]

that's a good one ;-) but I don't care what color you have my manufacture recommends 200 hours changes which is fine during normal usage but when conditions get extreme like excessive rocking fields and mowing hay with disk mower all day I change my oil more frequently $40,000 investment versus a $80 change by the way I run synthetic year-round doesn't use a bit of oil between changes take care

 

[PHILIP8N]

Keep changing at every 10 or 50 hours and I'm sure every sample will come back fine. I'd say you can keep that up and save the cost of sending off samples.
Your kidding aren't you?
The first oil is ran to 50 to get the engine broken in correctly and my understanding is that it's a different oil made for that purpose. I've heard this alot but do not have proof but again I've heard it about cars, trucks and tractors that they have "break in oil" to be used for the first number of specified hours.

No kidding, I like to drain oil on new units earlier than normal. I ran tractor very hard right off the lot after I got it bush hogging 18 acres. Plus, oil that came in it was 10w-30, wanted something heavier. When I got to 50 hours it was time to do rest of service, so I just changed oil again (including SUDT) before winter. Remember, some people keep equipment for a LONG time, like me, so I take extra care of it. I think you get a new piece of equipment like what, every 200 hours or so? Philip

 

[kuboman]

At no time will synthetic be bad for your engine. Only the cost is the drawback. If you live in a cold climate it will pay for itself. As far as extending oil changes I would maybe a little. Of course I think most manufacturers tend to stretch that too far anyway. Depends a lot on the use. Most of the small tractors get short intermittent use which is hard on the oil.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

No kidding, I like to drain oil on new units earlier than normal. I ran tractor very hard right off the lot after I got it bush hogging 18 acres. Plus, oil that came in it was 10w-30, wanted something heavier. When I got to 50 hours it was time to do rest of service, so I just changed oil again (including SUDT) before winter. Remember, some people keep equipment for a LONG time, like me, so I take extra care of it. I think you get a new piece of equipment like what, every 200 hours or so? Philip

Your still kidding aren't you? 200 hours!!! I had one that had, I think, 105 or maybe 130 hours. A B7800 that I had owned for 3 years.
I still service every one of mine like I'm going to keep them forever even though that hasn't happened.... yet..... but I expect it to one day.....well....it could happen one day. OK it's probably not ever going to happen but I'm still treating them like it is. That's why people wait on my trade ins, cars, trucks and tractors.
I stuck to the cars and truck oil change every 3000 miles for years and years. Even after some manufacturers went up to the 7500 recommended change but I have finally moved out to 4000 to 4500 some times unless the time is pretty long and then I'll still do the 3000. My mind says follow the manual on cars and trucks but my heart won't let me. $22 for oil and filter change on vehicles, I'll do a bit early.

 

[dodge man]

Remember some people may put 200 hours on a tractor in a couple of months. Kubota I think recomends 100 hour oil changes.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Remember some people may put 200 hours on a tractor in a couple of months. Kubota I think recomends 100 hour oil changes.

I think you need to look at your owners manual.

 

[David s Von Gieserbrechta]

Remember some people may put 200 hours on a tractor in a couple of months. Kubota I think recomends 100 hour oil changes.

Kubota does indeed recommend 100 hour oil changes and filters every two hundred hours, I change filters when I change oil, always have and always will. Oil filter costs less than a six pack of beer so it's no big deal.

 

[Grateful11]

My wife is running CaseIH No. 1 Diesel oil 15W40 in everything but the gas tractors. It's been fine for all these years so we see no need in changing.

 

[TripleR]

I will throw my two cents worth in here. We have tractors made in the 50's and 60's on up and have never used anything other than a good petroleum base oil. My brother started out as a tractor mechanic then went to cars then industrial stuff. He has raced cars and keeps vehicles a LONG time. He also raced cars for a few years. We all tried synthetic oil several years ago and after tearing a couple of engines down, decided it really wasn't worth the money. My other brother who lived in California also does all of his own mechanical work and his results mirror ours.

I live in Missouri, so extreme cold is not a problem and like John, if I lived some where to the far north, I probably would go with a synthetic. My personal experiences has been that for my applications a good petroleum base oil works as well as a synthetic. I don't even know anyone who uses a synthetic oil.

Synthetic certainly isn't going to hurt anything and I am sure it has advantages in extreme conditions.