First Oil Change

[bsekf]

I read the manual and they recommend Kohler Pro 10W-50. So, I started searching and only find Kohler 10W-30. It looks like the Kohler ZT710-ZT740 motors all use the same filter. I find nothing in the manual about a part number for the filter, just that it takes 2 quarts of Pro 10W-50 oil. I realize they would like you to take it back to the dealer for oil changes, but come on guys, I'm not into $100 oil changes! So I bought a $6 filter on Amazon and will use Mobil 1 5W-30. Is there a Wix or NAPA filter available, the one I got is a Chinese knock off with no numbers.

Like the mower, does a nice job. 54 inch and mows as fast as the tractor and 6 ft finish mower and much more maneuverable. My old 1939 body can take if for 2 hours.

 

[WinterDeere]

No experience with modern Kohler, I've only ever owned their classic engines. But on any machine, I try to run the OEM filters and whatever oil meets the grade. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy Kohler brand oil.

Your manual should specify both weight and grade, and you can be reasonably sure whatever oil is on sale at Walmart today of the same weight will meet that grade, but it's easy to check the bottle and verify.

10W-50 is an oddball weight, though. I'd want to double-check that there's not a typo in the manual. Your local mower dealer / Kohler dealer should know that, but there should also be a temperature vs. weight diagram in the manual that would spell out the various weights for each temperature range.

I agree that taking any tractor to a dealer for fluid changes is stupid. Oil changes in particular should only take 5 - 15 minutes, depending on how fast you are with setup and clean-up. It'll take me longer than that to just to hook up my trailer and get the tractor strapped onto it, let alone the driving and waiting or retrieving later.

 

[DarkBlack]

5w-30 in an engine where 10w-50 is specified..why?
Why wouldn’t you at least run a common 10w-40?
Mobile 1 full synthetic 10w-40, 5 quarts, $25 at Walmart.
Even 15w-50 is $25 for 5 quarts

 

[RandyT]

Kohler 10W50 is part of Rehlko's extended oil change interval full synthetic

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/kohler-pro-10w-50-synthetic-oil-32-oz-25-357-72-s

https://resources.kohler.com/power/kohler/enginesUS/pdf/300_hour_oil_data_sheet.pdf

Amazon.com

 

[WinterDeere]

Kohler 10W50 is part of Rehlko's extended oil change interval full synthetic

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/kohler-pro-10w-50-synthetic-oil-32-oz-25-357-72-s

https://resources.kohler.com/power/kohler/enginesUS/pdf/300_hour_oil_data_sheet.pdf

Amazon.com

Interesting. How many are putting enough hours onto an engine like this, that extended range oil is even warranted?

No matter how good the oil, I'd think you're still going to want to change it yearly, just to remove corrosive combustion byproducts from the crank case.

 

[mjonesnh]

I read the manual and they recommend Kohler Pro 10W-50. So, I started searching and only find Kohler 10W-30. It looks like the Kohler ZT710-ZT740 motors all use the same filter. I find nothing in the manual about a part number for the filter, just that it takes 2 quarts of Pro 10W-50 oil. I realize they would like you to take it back to the dealer for oil changes, but come on guys, I'm not into $100 oil changes! So I bought a $6 filter on Amazon and will use Mobil 1 5W-30. Is there a Wix or NAPA filter available, the one I got is a Chinese knock off with no numbers.

Like the mower, does a nice job. 54 inch and mows as fast as the tractor and 6 ft finish mower and much more maneuverable. My old 1939 body can take if for 2 hours.

Not the same Kohler engine as yours but have a Kohler Command v-twin. Book calls for 10w30. I run Rotella T6 5w40 and a Wix 51348 filter. Done this for years and zero problems. Do change oil and filter every 50 hours. Can't wrap my head around a 300 hour change on an air cooled engine

 

[RandyT]

Interesting. How many are putting enough hours onto an engine like this, that extended range oil is even warranted?

No matter how good the oil, I'd think you're still going to want to change it yearly, just to remove corrosive combustion byproducts from the crank case.

The commercial mowing crews could pull 300 hours easily.

 

[WinterDeere]

The commercial mowing crews could pull 300 hours easily.

Commercial guys easily run 1000 - 2000 hours per year on a mower. But I don't see many of them running Kohlers, at least around here.

 

[RandyT]

Commercial guys easily run 1000 - 2000 hours per year on a mower. But I don't see many of them running Kohlers, at least around here.

And probably start seeing even less since nobody knows who the heck Rehlko is.

 

[Squirrel's242]

My GX54D w the Kohler KT740 25hp wants the 10w50 for the 300hrs. If you keep a 50hr interval then the SAE30 is appropriate, which is what I did. The 10w50 is available online and here and there at TSC. But it's scarce enough that I wasn't going to fight that battle. My perspective is it is better to keep the oil changed regularly than to go extended life. It doesn't seem worth it. I'm putting 40-50hrs per year on my mower. I'm at 69hrs right now total and already started thinking of the next oil change. Every year to change oil seems reasonable vs counting hours. Oil breaks down and the high heat environment does no favors.

As for the filter I just ordered several online so I can keep a spare. You can cross reference the original part number for whatever brand filter you want, just google it. Again my perspective is use any quality filter that fits properly and keep it changed.

 

[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.