Kubota M7040 First Oil Change

mdelmarcelle · Apr 2, 2011

Changed the oil for the first time on my M7040SUD. I went with the Shell Rotella T6 (synthetic 5w40). I live in Wisconsin, so winters can be very cold. I figured the 5w would be good for cold weather starting (although the tractor starts very well in cold weather).

I was pleased to not find any metallic material when I drained the oil. There were some specks of paint the flaked off the drain bolts, but other than that, it was very clean. Included some pics in case anyone is interested.

Next is the hydraulic fluid. I'm getting the stuff for the in installments. The two hydraulic filters cost $40 a piece. The SUDT2 fluid at the local dealer is just shy of $100 for 5 gal (tractor needs 11 or so). I've got the filters and I'll be getting the fluid in the next couple of weeks. I'll post some pics of that too (as if anyone would care to see

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mdelmarcelle · Apr 2, 2011

Video of said oil change.

tom4018 · Apr 2, 2011

mdelmarcelle said:
Changed the oil for the first time on my M7040SUD. I went with the Shell Rotella T6 (synthetic 5w40). I live in Wisconsin, so winters can be very cold. I figured the 5w would be good for cold weather starting (although the tractor starts very well in cold weather).

I was pleased to not find any metallic material when I drained the oil. There were some specks of paint the flaked off the drain bolts, but other than that, it was very clean. Included some pics in case anyone is interested.

Next is the hydraulic fluid. I'm getting the stuff for the in installments. The two hydraulic filters cost $40 a piece. The SUDT2 fluid at the local dealer is just shy of $100 for 5 gal (tractor needs 11 or so). I've got the filters and I'll be getting the fluid in the next couple of weeks. I'll post some pics of that too (as if anyone would care to see .

Don't know where you are but a $100 for 5 gallon of hydaulic fluid is awlful high. UDT is $58.95 and UDT2 is $69.95 here.

mdelmarcelle · Apr 2, 2011

The dealer that I bought the tractor from sells Kubota and Case. Apparently, Case trans/hydraulic fluid is cheaper. He actually chuckled when he looked up the price of the 5 gallon SUDT2, because it was so expensive compared to the Case equivalent. I'm surprised to hear that you can get it for $69/5 gal. I wish I knew if the SUDT or SUDT2 was worth the money. I can't imagine my tractor has anything all that unique in it that it would require super special Kubota SUDT2 oil.

nybirdman · Apr 3, 2011

As long as it is under the Kubota warrenty I would use their oils.Others have tried diffenent hydraulic oils and have had operational problems.I know it is expensive,but.................

TripleR · Apr 3, 2011

Always interested in service pictures/information.

When we had our Case CX80 we used Case fluids in all of our tractors. We have used Rotella as well as New Holland and ARCO I think. We have three Kubotas now, so I used Kubota on our last service, but don't know what I will use next time.

mdelmarcelle · Apr 3, 2011

The parts person I spoke with at the Case/Kubota dealer indicated SUDT is more or less required. But for engine oil, he indicated I could use whatever I had, didn't have to be kubota brand. The owners manual also doesn't call out the need to use Kubota engine oil, but it does highly recommend the use of SUDT for the trans/hydraulic.

I've gone back and forth in my head over the years with this same issue with other machines I have (motorcycle, lawnmower, atv). Each brand sells their own oils, but I have to wonder, what is each one doing so special with their engines that they would require their special oil? And what is special in their oil? And what oil producer is bothering to create a super special concoction that contains special ingredients to handle these special engines for a relatively tiny lot. Sometimes I chicken out and go with the "honda" brand oil for the motorcycle (that I almost hardly ever ride). Sometimes I come to my senses and buy the Rotella synthetic. Sometimes I really come to my senses and buy the regular dino oil (non-synthetic):laughing:. I don't think I've had an oil related problems with anything I've owned (it's normal and expected for engines to seize up after a couple hundred hours, right?).

TripleR · Apr 3, 2011

My brother started out as a tractor mechanic then a foreign car technician, owned his own business and now works with industrial equipment. He also drag raced for a while. My other brother is also a mechanic with a background in nuclear power. We have tried all the various synthetic oils over the years and found nothing magical about them after tearing down more engines, transmissions than you can imagine. They keep their cars, trucks and tractors practically forever and we now use good quality lubricants and don't get hung up on brands.

One Kubota dealer recommended Case lubricants, one New Holland and the other Kubota.

Someone on here mentioned SUDT having pixie dust and unicorn tears.:laughing:

SUDT and SUDT2 are good oils, but they have no magical properties.

I can guarantee others will disagree and some quite strongly.

thavil · Apr 3, 2011

Just under $100 for a 5 gallon jug of SUDT or SUDT2 seems to be the going rate online which is normally a little cheaper than at the dealers.

Usta · Apr 3, 2011

I paid 123.98 in April 2009 for two 2.5 gallon jugs of Kubota SUDT from my local Kubota Dealer. Expensive, Yes, but for that price every 400 hours is reasonable if it means once every 3 to 4 years.

The 11.20 for a can of spray paint is a different story.