Dealer/service fluid fill over capacity

[dancer]

Can anyone think of a reason that dealer service tends to fill fluids over their marked and stated capacities? Are blown seals no longer a problem, or is that the idea -- to generate new service work? My Kubota L3130 came back from the 50-hour service, at the dealer, with the engine oil significantly above the *full* mark on the dipstick. Then I had a brief hydraulic fluid leak at the backhoe bucket, tightened the fitting, and checked the fluid level to see if too much fluid had been lost. Nope, 'way above the *full* mark on the dipstick. This also happens to me when I have automobiles serviced. Is it just me? What to do?

 

[jmt1271]

i wan t to prefece this by saying there are some (too few) great dealers out there.

but, i am amazed at the incompetence/ignorance and general lack of concern from a majority of dealers i have come across. from car dealers to tractors most(literally) just dont do the excellent work i expect. it seems to me, if i were a dealer i would understand that a small percentage of customers demand excellence. i would then understand that i would have to perform at an excellent level ALL the time in order to accomodate these customers. i expect things to be done exactly per the manual UNLESS the dealers experience tells him another way is better.

when i received my new 3520 and 300CX plus a couple of implements just a few weeks ago i was amazed that they hadnt even pre delivered the setup.

the front axle fluid was not even touching the dipstick, the hydro fluid level was low, there was no fluid in the gearbox of the rotary cutter and it goes on and on.

i was pissed even further when the salesman acted as if i were just being a nuisance customer. it took a phone call the owner of the 3 stores to get it corrected. it just baffles me.

 

[ronjhall]

Generally the people doing oil changes put the recommended amount in when changing oil. My Kubota B2910 did not require the full amount that is recommended for a engine or trans oil change. Engine is off by about 1/2 quart, Tran is off by about 2 quarts.
I would not like the engine to be overfilled. Because the crank can run in the oil and cause it to foam. The trans on most of my tractors have been overfilled.
There was a post a few years ago about a TBN'er that could not get his tractor up a hill until he added more oil to the trans. At the proper dip stick level, the tractor would run out of trans oil when climbing the hill.

 

[lawn_king]

Generally the people doing oil changes put the recommended amount in when changing oil. My Kubota B2910 did not require the full amount that is recommended for a engine or trans oil change. Engine is off by about 1/2 quart, Tran is off by about 2 quarts.
I would not like the engine to be overfilled. Because the crank can run in the oil and cause it to foam. The trans on most of my tractors have been overfilled.
There was a post a few years ago about a TBN'er that could not get his tractor up a hill until he added more oil to the trans. At the proper dip stick level, the tractor would run out of trans oil when climbing the hill.

Thats very interesting info ron. I was over by approximately 2 qts (SUDT) when i performed my 50 hour service, and i went by the specs in the owners manual.

 

[bones1]

Dancer, can over full blow hydraulic seals?

 

[Doc_Bob]

Can anyone think of a reason that dealer service tends to fill fluids over their marked and stated capacities?

Lazy.
Bob

PS This is why I do my own service, other than cost of work and cost to transport tractor to dealer. 2-3 dollars a mile in my area.

 

[dancer]

Dancer, can over full blow hydraulic seals?

I don't know enough about the guts of the transmission and hydraulic reservoir to answer that with certainty, but I doubt that overfill would blow seals as it can in engine crankcases -- where the cause, of course, is that the incompressible fluid (engine oil) is replacing the necessary amount of compressible air space and creating pressures too great for seals to stand.

Personally, I have enough ignorance and make enough mistakes of my own and I don't need to have someone else's to worry about!!! I'll be watching closely in the future however...

 

[JerryG]

Dancer, can over full blow hydraulic seals?

I am not Dancer, but I will answer your question. Tractors in general are designed to be able to hold more fluid than the dipstick or sight glass shows. The reason for this is the hydraulic equipment that the tractor is required to operate. The mark on the dipstick or the line on the sight glass should be look at as a minimum amount. I can't tell you how much extra fluid that your specific model is capable of containing, because it is differences between different tractors. As far as blowing out seals in the transmission goes, the amount of fluid would have to be increased by a large amount for that to happen. The transmission is vented through the top of the case usually by a small filter or a vent tube.

 

[Jibber]

My L3130 came to me with fluid levels way above the mark. My brother used to sell heavy equipment and he calmed me down telling me that there has to be enough fluid in the reservoir to extend all of the hydraulics and still meet minimum levels. For me that's a loader and BH with some fairly large cylinders.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I would rather have my oil a little over full than low. When your tractor gets service they put in the recomended amount of oil that the book says. On some machines this brings the level to the full mark on others a little over full. The difference can either be the dipstick or the meter that measures the bulk oil. I haven't seen it in tractor manuals but Catipilar tells you to calibrate the dipstick in their manuals. With oil being as expensive as it is I'm sure the dealer isn't putting in more than he is billing you for. Also over filling the oil wont blow seals in a vented system.