First Oil Change

[Cub Cadet TN]

Getting ready to do my first oil change - after break-in period of 10 hours. I was able to find one quart of 10w-50 at TSC, and they ordered the other one I needed. They did have a kit that had two quarts of 10w-50, but it also came with a filter. I had bought an OEM filter at the previous TSC I stopped at so I did not need two. The good thing? Since I ordered the oil in the store, they covered the shipping. So i will update as soon as I get that done. This is my first large mower (last one was a Craftsman 30 inch like the Forrest Gump mower and I had used my son's Husky and did not like the way it runs, just not my preference). I believe my wife thinks I spend too much time with the mower. Still trying to think up a good name for it. That may be another thread - "Help Timothy Name His Mower".

 

[Cub Cadet TN]

Amendment - I have the ZTXS4 48.

 

[WinterDeere]

You're on a forum of guys with 72" fixed deck, up to 144" batwing mowers, calling your 48 incher "large".

j/k... any time you setp up from one size to the next, they feel big, for awhile.

Pull the oil plug after running, like at the end of a mowing session, when the oil is hot and liquidous and any particulates are still held in suspension. I see too many people draining their oil cold, or after just a minute of run time, rather than taking advantage of the benefits of just doing it when you're finished mowing.

Oil and filter changes should take less than 5 minutes, once you learn the routine for that machine. It honestly takes me more time to go dig out the drain pan and then clean up and put it back away, than the actual oil change.

 

[Cub Cadet TN]

Oh, I did my research. No offense taken! I wanted the small one cause I have a lot if nooks and crannies to get it into and out of, and the dealer suggested I stay with the 48 inch deck. A dealer that knows where you live and the terrain is worth his weight in gold. He had a chance to sell me a ZTXS5 or ZTXS6 but advised me to stick with the 4 as it was the only one with the 48 inch deck. So far, I love my machine. It handles my slopes and hills like a beast.

 

[Runner]

Be sure to stuff lots of rags around the oil filter drain area before you unscrew it to catch the drainage.

 

[WinterDeere]

Be sure to stuff lots of rags around the oil filter drain area before you unscrew it to catch the drainage.

And don't ignore the possible advantage of driving an awl or screwdriver thru the filter to drain it, before unscrewing.

I unscrew most of my filters before draining, but there is one vehicle and one tractor filter, which are both easier and cleaner to puncture and drain, before unscrewing.