Oil & Fuel Foton 404 engine oil capacity

[Walter L]

The book on the Foton 404 for engine C490BT shows oil cap at 6 L or 6.3 Qts. When I changed the oil on my tractor it took 9 Qts to get to just below the full mark. Anyone know what the capacity should be.

Walter

 

[greg_g]

The book on the Foton 404 for engine C490BT shows oil cap at 6 L or 6.3 Qts. When I changed the oil on my tractor it took 9 Qts to get to just below the full mark. Anyone know what the capacity should be.

Walter

Depends upon which engine you have, I'm going to assume the SB3105BT. The stated capacity is sump-only, so you have to add the oil filter housing to arrive at the total fill capacity. Nine liters total for a 3105 engine sounds about right. That's what the 395 engine in my KM454 takes. So I'd say either the FT404 manual has a printing error, or you're looking at capacities for another engine.

//greg//

 

[Walter L]

Thanks Greg, my engine is the 4 cyl and I found another engine oil pan volume listed in the tractor book guess the page was stuck together the first read but it shows 7 liter or 7.7 qts. I believe that all the info I have is for the 3 cyl SL3105BT, at present I have 9 qts in the engine and will try the dealer today, could not get the mechanic yesterday.
Guys this thing is a nice tractor, like a tank had a few rinkydink things to fix but overall SUPER NICE.

Walter

 

[3RRL]

Walter, I agree with Greg that 9 quarts sounds about right. If your dipstick reads correct, it should be fine. I have a step up larger than Greg and my Kama 554 uses 10 quarts total with filter. It is a 4 cylinder too.

I have seen pictures of the Foton and always liked them. How do you like yours so far?

 

[Walter L]

Thanks Rob, I believe that it is 10 liter oil cap, it just suprised me the other tractors that I have had is a good bit less.
It is a real nice Tractor but the engine has a bit of vibaration above 1600 RPM, Just wondering if this is a norm with the 4 cyl engines. It is smooth at anywhere below 1600. Pulled some large pine trees today that pine beatles had killed I sure was not disappointed with the power.

Walter

 

[greg_g]

the engine has a bit of vibaration above 1600 RPM, Just wondering if this is a norm with the 4 cyl engines.

Quite possibly normal. An engine with an odd number of cylinders typically requires less complicated harmonic balancing that do those with an even number of cylinders. Hence the reason I have a 3 cylinder tractor and a 5 cylinder Mercedes.

//greg//

 

[Kobi]

Hi Walter,
I have the same engine - for the oil volume check the 'Operator's manual on page 3 - item 1.2.7 -they claim 7 liters depending on which oil filter). The vibration is normal at that RPM - if you check on the same page item 1.3 of that book, you will see the full load curve for this engine. The ideal is between 1900 and 2200 RPM. You'll find the engine will be very smooth at the working RPM. BTW. very good engine - mainly used for commercial trucks in China. Uses hardly any diesel - mind you no turbo..... http://www.xinchaipower.com/product/pic/490.jpg

How is it going Greg... haven't talked to you for a while - that 'Wolverine heater' works great - best thing I ever bought ... Thanks.

Kobi (Manne)

 

[greg_g]

I have the same engine - for the oil volume check the 'Operator's manual on page 3 - item 1.2.7 -they claim 7 liters depending on which oil filter).

Glad you liked the heater, mine's on and working as I type. But relative to your response about the oil level; how many ACTUAL quarts do you put into that FT404 engine?

//greg//

 

[Walter L]

Thanks Greg and Kobi, yes Kobi I saw that but this 4 cyl engine takes 9+ qts to get to the full mark or about 10 liters, Thanks Guys on the vibration info.

Walter

 

[3RRL]

Walter,
I don't know how many hours you have on your Foton, but a lot of guys who checked the valve lash on their Chinese tractors have found that they are not set correct from the factory. After setting mine, I noticed quite a difference in high end rpm. I'm not saying this is your problem, but it wouldn't hurt to check it. It is a relatively easy thing to do and should be described in your manual. If you get a chance, post some photos of your Foton. I find them one of the most handsome Chinese tractors. I see a lot of similarities to my Kama, except the new Fotons appear a lot more finished.

 

[Kobi]

I meassuered out 7 liters, but it was short... added some more at a time and brought it up to just shy of 10 liters. My filter that I have in there at the moment takes about 1/4 liter.

When you change your engine oil Walter - check your magnet at the drain plug for any metal (small wires). Some of the EPA mods are very much after-thoughts on this engine, inside the breather (crankcase ventilation vent) they use a fabric that looks like an old fashion metal pot scrubber - I found some of that stuff in my oil pan. I removed it completely from the breather and everything is working great now. You will find the same on the dip stick of the transmssion fill plug, I got rid of that one as well. If you wanted to, you could get an automotive fiber version and replace it with that.
Something interesting about this setup with the 4 cylinder engine is that the
lift capacity/handling of a large and heavy implement is better than on a 3 cylinder version. I didn't know that when I decided for the 4 cylinder version that the tractor is actually a foot longer than the 3 cylinder version and the nose weight is much further out. Since I bought mine I tried the 3 cylinder version as well and I find that the extra length makes a noticable difference when driving fast / bouncing down the highway... I use 14.9 -24's in the back.
Kobi

 

[greg_g]

Thanks Greg and Kobi, yes Kobi I saw that but this 4 cyl engine takes 9+ qts to get to the full mark or about 10 liters, Thanks Guys on the vibration info.

Walter

Could be a simple matter of the wrong dipstick too. Watch your oil level carefully. If it starts going down, you'd best shine a flashlight into the bell housing inspection port. Watch also underneath the bellhousing and around the circumference where engine and bell housing bolt together. Some Jinmas have a weep hole at the bottom of the bell housing, ostensibly to drain moisture. But some folks have had oil come out there. It would be nice to know if your Foton had that feature.

//greg//

 

[Walter L]

Yes Rob I plan on doing the valve check as soon as I get a few more hrs on it and there is a section in my engine book with the specs, finaly have all the fluids changed.

Walter

 

[Walter L]

Well I was a little fast on all fluids, forgot the power steering does it use the same hyd oil as the lift, can’t find it in the book.
Kobi I have 12.4 X 28 tires on the rear.
Greg I did check the weep hole and no oil. I think that the book just a little behind and the cap's are for the 3 cyl engine.

Walter

 

[greg_g]

I think that the book just a little behind and the cap's are for the 3 cyl engine

Well, that theory doesn't hold up to the fact that my 395 has a 9 liter capacity. Or perhaps you haven't yet picked up on the Chinese method of engine description. The 3 in 395 means three cylinders of 95cm bore each . Your 490 represents four cylinders of 90cm bore each .

//greg//

 

[Kobi]

Hi Walter, Greg

The 7 liter engine oil specification comes from the engine manufacturer - and is the correct amount if you are using the regular truck engine oil pan, that's shown on the front of that book. Once they fitted the engine to a tractor - they used a way different oil pan to be able to mount the front axle and to give extra strength to the 'no frame concept' of a tractor.

Power steering is the same oil as the hydraulic fluid.

Here is what I am using:
Shell Rotella T 15W40 (engine)
Shell Spirax HD 80W90 (both diffs/tranny)
NAPA AW46 (hydraulics/steering)
ISO100 compressor oil (injection pump)

Kobi

 

[Walter L]

Greg you are right I missed that. Thanks Kobi on the fluid list.
I decided to check the valves anyway, found one exaust valve way to tight, one intake OK all other were just a little to tight, glad I decided to go on and check as was susgested.