Oil & Fuel Kubota DEF

[BillySunday]

I bought a new Kubota M5-111 that now has 480 hours. I got a DEF WARNING time clock lite that said my tractor will go to 1/2 idle then to 10% power. I drained the Kubota DEF and then bought new DEF with a manufacturing date that read the DEF is 3 months old. Still the clock ticks down. I finally called the dealer's service department and was told this is a common problem and I have to bring it in. Their computer said it is a sensor inside the system and the whole thing has to be replaced. Several thousand dollars but warranty will cover the cost. A month later, still in Kubota's shop. Has anyone else had DEF problems with any Kubota product?

 

[mikester]

I think DEF causes problems in general for everybody and all manufacturers. Too many sensors, too many parts, too many computers to go wrong.

 

[BillySunday]

I bought a new Kubota M5-111 that now has 480 hours. I got a DEF WARNING time clock lite that said my tractor will go to 1/2 idle then to 10% power. I drained the Kubota DEF and then bought new DEF with a manufacturing date that read the DEF is 3 months old. Still the clock ticks down. I finally called the dealer's service department and was told this is a common problem and I have to bring it in. Their computer said it is a sensor inside the system and the whole thing has to be replaced. Several thousand dollars but warranty will cover the cost. A month later, still in Kubota's shop. Has anyone else had DEF problems with any Kubota product?

I totally agree with Mikester. No way do I blame Kubota. For 50 years we have bought equipment from Japan. Never a problem until this DEF issue. That's why we drive a Corolla, Camry, 4-Runner, and GMC Duramax. Politicians did this DEF to our equipment, not the equipment manufactures. I had a Kubota engineer in Fort Worth, Texas want to follow me home to observe me using my Kubota tractor so he could look for ways to improve their products. That is how much Kubota cares about their customers.

 

[MHarryE]

I have a neighbor with. M6-131 he has had 14 months. Last winter he had a DEF light problem. They came out, drained the DEF (it was the DEF that came with the tractor) and he had no problem - until this winter. Now we are having the coldest period I can remember in ages. It was -42 actual temp yesterday morning for example. Starting when our temperatures have been below zero Fahrenheit he has been having DEF problems again. It has 386 hours. His invoice doesn't have anything special about the DEF written on it but they did change all the fuel and oil filters and oil (his request - Jerry is 91 and doesn't do much of his own maintenance anymore). When you mentioned your DEF problem it sounded so much like Jerry's experience.

I have a M7-171 I got during this past year. I've had no DEF problems. I used Peak Blue DEF, first having the dealer send the fluid they recommended, later buying it from the local farm store (dealer is 150 miles away). Only thing is my M7 sits out the winter unless we get a real snow where I will need its size. It hasn't run in a day when the morning template been below 20 but the computer on the KVT takes control at cold temperatures. The transmission needs to be warmed up and that warm up time will also give the DEF heater time to melt DEF. I believe my book says if I use DEF faster than the heater can melt it the system will limit power until it can catch up.

 

[BillySunday]

I have a neighbor with. M6-131 he has had 14 months. Last winter he had a DEF light problem. They came out, drained the DEF (it was the DEF that came with the tractor) and he had no problem - until this winter. Now we are having the coldest period I can remember in ages. It was -42 actual temp yesterday morning for example. Starting when our temperatures have been below zero Fahrenheit he has been having DEF problems again. It has 386 hours. His invoice doesn't have anything special about the DEF written on it but they did change all the fuel and oil filters and oil (his request - Jerry is 91 and doesn't do much of his own maintenance anymore). When you mentioned your DEF problem it sounded so much like Jerry's experience.

I have a M7-171 I got during this past year. I've had no DEF problems. I used Peak Blue DEF, first having the dealer send the fluid they recommended, later buying it from the local farm store (dealer is 150 miles away). Only thing is my M7 sits out the winter unless we get a real snow where I will need its size. It hasn't run in a day when the morning template been below 20 but the computer on the KVT takes control at cold temperatures. The transmission needs to be warmed up and that warm up time will also give the DEF heater time to melt DEF. I believe my book says if I use DEF faster than the heater can melt it the system will limit power until it can catch up.

Thank you MHarryE for the response.

 

[CharlieKtractor]

what is def?

 

[Peter 315]

Diesel exhaust fluid

 

[Paystar]

While I don't have a Kubota that uses DEF, we have Detroit Diesel's, Cummins and Ford Powerstrokes that do their best to bankrupt you with emissions and DEF related problems. And another company I was working with the other night has a brand new Mack that got towed on it's third night at work.

Thanks EPA!!

 

[AStanton]

:thumbsup:

While I don't have a Kubota that uses DEF, we have Detroit Diesel's, Cummins and Ford Powerstrokes that do their best to bankrupt you with emissions and DEF related problems. And another company I was working with the other night has a brand new Mack that got towed on it's third night at work.

Thanks EPA!!

:

:applause:

 

[ccsial]

I think the EPA's goal is to have everything electric. No gas or diesels at all. It will be interesting to see how that works out for them.