Hello guys, I have a Kubota L3400. I changed the oil last fall before storing her for the winter. I have only put 30 hrs on the clock this year. The oil is dark, but it always is. Should I change the oil or let it ride? ....Your opinion would be appreciated....Thanks much in advance...
Oil & Fuel Oil change or not to oil change ?????
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Verticaltrx
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In a situation like that I'd probably just change it every spring, regardless of the hours.
canoetrpr
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I've been changing oil and filter once a year on my L3400. I normally put 50 hours in a year, but even if I didn't, that's how long I would go. I use synthetic and with that little use, once a year I think is fine. Others might disagree.
I change the hydraulic fluid and filters once every two years despite the fact that in two years I only put 100 hours on it.
In your situation, I would be changing oil in the fall before storing it for the winter.
I change the hydraulic fluid and filters once every two years despite the fact that in two years I only put 100 hours on it.
In your situation, I would be changing oil in the fall before storing it for the winter.
JOHNTHOMAS
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What does the Kubota Owners Manual say?
I change mine every month whether I use it or not. After spending this much money for a tractor, who wants to take a chance? My grandpa and his grandpa always did and their tractors didn't tear up very often at all! I don't understand people that don't do it as often as I do!!! Why take a chance and wait over a month. I also change all my hydraulic fluids every week. Who wants to take a chance? You can't do it to often but you can sure not do it often enough!
I used my BX25 yesterday for about an hour so I also change all fluids every time I use it. Why take a chance??
What does the manual say? Maybe the Engineers at the Company will have a different idea than me and my ancesters! :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:
I change mine every month whether I use it or not. After spending this much money for a tractor, who wants to take a chance? My grandpa and his grandpa always did and their tractors didn't tear up very often at all! I don't understand people that don't do it as often as I do!!! Why take a chance and wait over a month. I also change all my hydraulic fluids every week. Who wants to take a chance? You can't do it to often but you can sure not do it often enough!
I used my BX25 yesterday for about an hour so I also change all fluids every time I use it. Why take a chance??
What does the manual say? Maybe the Engineers at the Company will have a different idea than me and my ancesters! :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:
tungularafishcamp
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x2, I wouldnt want it sitting in old oil all winter, I always change oil in any motors and run for a little bit before I store them for the winter.
dodge man
Super Star Member
I've started using synthetic oil in mine, and will probably go more than a year before I change it. I'll probably go by the hours, which will be 15-18 months. I figure what is the point of using high quality oil if you aren't going to extend the change interval a little bit. If you are using regular oil, I'd be more likely to change by the time limit.
bellweather
Platinum Member
every 50 hrs, oil & filter...cheap insurance
I will prob. change it as I have always done at the end of the season. I was just wanting to see how you guys felt about it. I think it would bother me leting it sit all winter in dirty oil. Even though the oil looks nasty after the first use! lol Thanks Guys...
plowindeeper
Gold Member
I always change engine oil every spring after a couple hours of running to warm everthing up, also change fuel filter at same time and grease it up good. hydo filter ever other year.
sal64
Platinum Member
my oppinion is no, i have a jd2320 i put about 25hrs a yr and chain oil every 2-3yrs i have two other tractors put about the same hrs on them and never had a problem in 30 yrs of owning.
brin
Super Member
I would wait for 100 hrs. until I hear someone offer evidence that oil goes bad sitting in a crankcase ..I will just follow my tractor manual...I think at some point it is overkill and just a waste of time and money.
TripleR
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Agreed, there will never be a consensus on this. We have tractors well over fifty years old still running like a top with no mechanical problems that may sit all winter with "dirty oil". My brothers are mechanics and have seen the insides of thousands of engines and both generally follow recommended intervals if not exceeding them a bit occasionally though not by much.
To me at least, frequent oil changes are not cheap insurance, but rather a waste of money and resources.
Oil won't go bad but the acids from combustion don't do the internal parts any good. For an engine that is not going to run at all for the whole winter I would change the oil in the fall. If it will get intermittent use through out the winter then run it and change when recommended.
cdaigle430
Veteran Member
In a way I agree with you-I can understand changing oil in cars often only because of emisisons and computers that run the engine but on a tractor? When I was in the service we only changed the oil on diesel engines when the lab said so. We took a sample-sent it in and the lab tested it. Sometimes it was years before we changed the oil on these trucks. If it's under warranty-do what the manual says, after that you can span out the amount of oil changes.
sweep
Gold Member
30 hours is not enough to build up any harmful acids and talk to you local Kubota mechanics who service these machines and let them tell you how the average person maintains their equipment.
My NH mechanic who I know very well tells me he get's in tractors that might get the oil changed every 300 hrs if they are lucky and 6 year old tractors with the original antifreeze in them and 6-8-10 year old tractors that have never had the hydraulic fluid changed in them and they are still going strong....and I suspect the Kubota and JD mechanics have seen similar maintence schedules.
I personally change my fluids on a 1/2 schedule of what NH say's to do in the owners manual. For instance they say grease every 50 hours but I do it every 25-30 hours.
I had the same question as you at one time because I only put 30-40 hours or so per year on my tractor and I was changing oil about every 14-15 months at the 50 hour mark. I asked who I consider the best mechanics in the business and they said the same thing...no reason to change with so few hours.
You are actually doing way more harm by letting your tractor sit all winter. Best to start in every several weeks, get it up to temperature and run it around to keep bearings, cylinders and seals lubricated.
MrWhippy
Gold Member
To me, it depends on how you put on the 30 hours. If you run it for 1/2 hour, 60 times, I'd probably change it. If you run it 3 hours at a pop, probably let it ride to the hour recommendations in the manual.
Why the difference? Water. If you don't get the oil up to full operating temp for a significant period of operation, you're going to have water/oil emulsion in the crankcase all winter. If you run it for long periods, the water is driven off.
Why the difference? Water. If you don't get the oil up to full operating temp for a significant period of operation, you're going to have water/oil emulsion in the crankcase all winter. If you run it for long periods, the water is driven off.
