Should I change my oil & filter ?

[Arky217]

It's been 5 years since I changed the engine oil and filter in my Kubota L4200,
But in that time I only put 100 hours on tractor.

I used Shell Rotella 5W40 and a Kubota filter.

Even with just 100 hours, is it a good idea to change it anyway after this much time ?

 

[Will_C]

I always change the oil annually on machines that don't reach the maintenance interval. Might be excessive, but it makes me feel better.

Will

 

[k0ua]

It's been 5 years since I changed the engine oil and filter in my Kubota L4200,
But in that time I only put 100 hours on tractor.

I used Shell Rotella 5W40 and a Kubota filter.

Even with just 100 hours, is it a good idea to change it anyway after this much time ?

I would, a lot of tractors call for an oil change at 100 hours. And besides, you apparently operate short periods, of time, so lots of chances for the engine to not heat up really hot and boil off water vapor...more chances to create acids in the oil . I would definitely change it.

 

[RalphVa]

I follow Will's schedule. Usually, it's around 60-70 hours.

On my pickup, which gets used rarely (only when we need a pickup, because neither of us like driving it), I'm going 3 or more years on its oil and filter. Using synthetic oil.

Ralph

 

[ovrszd]

In cases such as yours, time is a bigger enemy than hours. Time and short runs allows moisture to contaminate the engine. I'd also be concerned about how the tractor is stored and what types of weather changes it is exposed to?? These things will accelerate of slow down the need for fluid changes.

I'm admittedly OCD. I recently changed the oil in a Jeep that was 2 years old, synthetic oil, 1300 miles. The Jeep lives in a climate controlled shop.

 

[oosik]

My Op manual calls for engine oil/filter change every 300 hours or annually, whichever comes first. I change both annually - I put 60-75 hours on the tractor yearly.

 

[stoyan79]

Most manuals say change manually, regardless of hours.
I would not go more than 2 years. Even if you don't put hours moisture accumulates over time and contaminates the oil.

Then again, many old timers (old school farmers) in my area, use dyno oils on very old tractors and only add oil, never change it, and they have been running these machines for ages.

 

[Fire Quacker]

Yep, you're overdue in my book. Getting ready to do an OEM hydraulic fluid/filter change, it's going to sting, probably leave a mark. :muttering:

 

[C4Ranch]

When in doubt, get it out!

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

It's been 5 years since I changed the engine oil and filter in my Kubota L4200,
But in that time I only put 100 hours on tractor.

I used Shell Rotella 5W40 and a Kubota filter.

Even with just 100 hours, is it a good idea to change it anyway after this much time ?

ASSUMING you used it 20 times for 5 hours each time in the past 5 years, I know some people want to ASSUME you used it for short periods of 5 minutes per time for 1200 times or even 10 minutes for a time for 600 times in 5 years, well whatever, without assuming any time of use per use, yeah, after 5 years I'd say in another couple of weeks you could change it without hurting it. :laughing:

 

[ovrszd]

Then again, many old timers (old school farmers) in my area, use dyno oils on very old tractors and only add oil, never change it, and they have been running these machines for ages.

Yep. Only difference is those old engines were built with very "loose" tolerances and generally burned a lot of oil. So new oil was being added consistently and sometimes frequently.

A modern engine will generally run the prescribed number of change interval hours and never need any oil added.

Totally different scenarios.

 

[ovrszd]

Yep, you're overdue in my book. Getting ready to do an OEM hydraulic fluid/filter change, it's going to sting, probably leave a mark. :muttering:

If you go Synthetic the mark may be large enough to require stitches.....

$500 just for the oil on my M9540.