Starting Your Kubota in Cold Weather

[wmonroe]

Sounds like synthetic oil?
Mine all sound just like yours. My 98 HP Kubota of 25 years ago and dino oil sounded just the same. Kubotas just start when it's cold.

No synthetic yet just regular old valvoline premium blue 15W40. I’ve thought about switching to synthetic but haven’t yet.

 

[wmonroe]

Thanks for the video. Your tractor starts very well!

Could I please offer one comment with the hope I don't offend you.

I think you are letting the engine run at too low an rpm once it starts.

If you increase the rpm by about 500, I think you will find the black smoke and rough running wont happen.

Kubota talks about warming the entire tractor at 50% of full rpm.

If you think about diesel emergency generators, as soon as they fire, they immediately go to their rated speed of either 3,600 rpm or 1,800 rpm depending upon the design of the generator.

Dave M7040

Don’t worry no offense taken, I’m always willing to learn.

My normal procedure is to start like I did in the video with it around 1000 rpms. Once it’s started and smooths out I go to 1200 rpms for a few minutes (maybe longer depending on temperature), after that I put the transmission in neutral and set the cruise control on about 3/4 of the way. Setting the cruise puts some load on the engine as it is moving the hydraulic fluid and drops the rpm’s by about 100 rpm. Once it has warmed enough that it regained that 100 rpm I bump it to 15-1600 rpm and let it run for a little bit (again temperature determines length of time).

One thing I have noticed is that the transmission/hydraulic filters do not get very hot when it is this cold out. I should use my temp gun to get an accurate temp but my calibrated hand says the outside of the filter is 90ish degrees (just warm to the touch). I’ve wanted to put a hydraulic fluid temperature gauge on the tractor but have never got around to it.

 

[wotalota]

I am conflicted about warming it up in place. Not wanting to choke on the fumes I lift the bucket and snow blower and back it up to get it outside.

 

[civilian]

I am conflicted about warming it up in place. Not wanting to choke on the fumes I lift the bucket and snow blower and back it up to get it outside.

I would also do that.

My BX2230 sits outside all winter in Nnorthern Michigan. This morning, temperature in upper 20's. Ran glow plugs fo 15-20 sec, no block heater on, and it fired right up. Rough idle, eased throttle up and let it sit and warm up. Jon

 

[bdhsfz6]

I am conflicted about warming it up in place. Not wanting to choke on the fumes I lift the bucket and snow blower and back it up to get it outside.

I've been backing my tractors out of my unheated barn to warm up outside for over 25 years now and have never had a problem. Yes, the manuals don't recommend this and say to let it warm up in place. Certainly, Kubota must realize a significant number of owners keep their tractors inside a building. Do I follow their advice and expose myself and family to possible exhaust gas poisoning? I don't think so.

If an automobile manufacturer did this, they would be sued out of existence! Most autos today, even those with diesel engines, are designed to be used almost immediately after a cold start with little or no warm up. Why not Kubota tractors?

 

[civilian]

So a question for those that have a cab heater. After starting with just the glow plugs, do you turn the heat on right away while the tractor is warming up? Or do you wait until you are ready to work? Same questions for when you start the engine after using the block heater? Jon

 

[Peter 315]

Just like a car or truck once its running for 1 or 2 minutes idle it up, turn on the heat then head back inside:thumbsup:

 

[Dave M7040]

I've been backing my tractors out of my unheated barn to warm up outside for over 25 years now and have never had a problem. Yes, the manuals don't recommend this and say to let it warm up in place. Certainly, Kubota must realize a significant number of owners keep their tractors inside a building. Do I follow their advice and expose myself and family to possible exhaust gas poisoning? I don't think so.

If an automobile manufacturer did this, they would be sued out of existence! Most autos today, even those with diesel engines, are designed to be used almost immediately after a cold start with little or no warm up. Why not Kubota tractors?

The answer to your question has far more to do with the complicated hydraulic systems than the engine itself.

Dave

 

[Agvg]

And I do believe that the warm up advice is for those that put full load on the tractor, it warms up much faster with light load than sitting idle.

 

[sixdogs]

Most of the farmers around here, that I would say are machinery savvy, start the machine, move it outside and let it warm up for 5 minutes before they move it. Most tractors are used only in warmer weather and I think 10 to 15 minutes warm up before light load is typical. Before chisel plowing frozen ground in the fall I've seen 45 minute warm ups. These guys want those engines to last and warm up is the way to do it. Cool down is also important and most let things cool down 5 minutes before shutting it off. In cold weather, you need to let them warm up longer and I let mine go maybe a half hour at 25 degrees. Oil is a big part of warm of and I've switched to synthetic in every oil I can.

You would be surprised how long a real warm up takes. I have drained hydraulic fluid in a bigger tractor after 60 minutes pushing snow at 10 degrees and the oil was cool to cold.