Larry, I don't know if synthetics are better now or not. I've heard other stories of engines buring synthetic. Usually it's if used in a new engine. Story I got was synthetic wouldn't let the rings seat???
I'm certainly not a defender of synthetic. I thought I'd try it in the 9540 and see if it's worth all the hype.
In Terry's vehicle I run 7K miles between changes so that almost offsets the cost difference. No big gain.
I run Rotella 15w-40 in the Powerstroke. Change at 3K miles. Since it's at 180K miles kinda hate to change the plan now since it's obviously worked.
Hear so many stories, I have no idea what's best. I'd say if whatever a person is doing is working, continue.
I think for us OCD people, we probably change the oil before it needs changed regardless of oil type. For those that don't maintain their vehicles, it doesn't matter what they use because they just keep adding, or run until it eats itself.
I actually think in the average engine you could just change the filter periodically and add oil as needed and get along fine.....
I'm among the quality oil fans.
Little HST tractors, like a BX, balk at cheap fluid. I know. Changed out the cheap stuff after only 25 hours on it. That doesn't make it very cheap. Kubota SUDT made everything hum again.
Older gear drive tractors don't seem to care about the quality. The FEL and 3PH of my old L3650 functioned just fine.
Larger new tractors that have a lot of hydraulics involved (hydraulic clutch like on the M-series) really are sensitive, almost like a HST. The hydraulics in the clutch was noisy and stiff with cheap fluid in the M7040. Once again, changed it out after only a few hours.
My L48 TLB hydraulics would shake and shudder when the hydraulics got hot. Changed it out to Amsoil ($$$$$) and haven't had a problem since.
Oh, and to you folks that change the filter and leave in the old hydraulic fluid...good luck.
"It is the cheapest person that ends up paying the most" is a good canard for this situation.
My vote would be to do it. If it wasn't done, I wouldn't feel good about waiting till 800 hrs for the first change. if you don't, if you're like me, you're gonna sit around and wonder about it for possibly years.
When in doubt, change it out!
I got my L4330 at 510 hours and it's coming up on it's 600 hour mark. I have no clue when (or if) the hydraulic fluid was changed at the 400 hour mark and no way to find out (previous owner passed just after the sale).
Do you think I just change out the entire hydraulic fluid at 600 hours,not just the filter? I currently have 2.5 gallons of SUDT2 (at $55), so I'd need to buy about 6 more gallons (total of 8 gallons for the L4330, from memory).
Thanks,