Painted filters

[helvit]

So changing out all filters and fluids on my new old (234 hrs) BX1500 everything went easy. Engine oil black as coal. 20 or 40 little metal shards on the hydraulic fluid trainer. Machine runs great.

Here and there on the web I run into statements from posters that the "painted filters are from the factory". My two canister filters were painted gray. So... does that mean it was serviced by the dealer using "factory" filters, or something I don't want to hear?

 

[Deano]

On my 50 hour, the engine oil filter I received was white, and the hydro filter was gray. At 300 hours the hydro filter I received and installed was white. My neighbors was the same way. Not sure why the gray, but I would not assume the filter was not changed. Hope this eases your concern!

Deano

 

[PHILIP8N]

As the tractor is assembled at the factory, it is assembled with bare unpainted or primed parts. Once parts are assembled, everything is given a final coat of grey paint, including the oil filters that were assembled to the tractor. Orange sheet metal is installed later. If your filters were painted they were from the factory. Dealer filters, which I buy and use, are white with Kubota in blue letters. Dealers do not paint filters. Philip.

 

[bp fick]

So changing out all filters and fluids on my new old (234 hrs) BX1500 everything went easy. Engine oil black as coal. 20 or 40 little metal shards on the hydraulic fluid trainer. Machine runs great.

Here and there on the web I run into statements from posters that the "painted filters are from the factory". My two canister filters were painted gray. So... does that mean it was serviced by the dealer using "factory" filters, or something I don't want to hear?

You don't want to hear what I am thinking.

Put it this way. Factory filters come painted because they are painted during production in place.

I've never, ever seen an aftermarket, in-house Kubota or Wix/Hastings/Fleetguard/Napa painted in Kubota grey. How could they be?

My guess and my sincerest hope for you was that at least the fluids were dropped in the past.
How long have you had this machine?
Did you purchase it new or from a private party?
You've paid to have a dealer service this unit?

 

[gwdixon]

If the filters did not have any markings then they likely are the originals that were sprayed on assembly. Replacement filters usually have a part number, name, tightening procedure, and so forth printed on them.

Even if the filters hadn't been changed at 50 hours, you are getting to them at 234 hrs. It is not a disaster at all and things will likely be just fine.

Call it an "extended" break-in period. How the machine was treated before you bought it is probably a more important factor for its longevity.

The screen having metal shards is probably another hint that yours is the first service. Later services usually don't have any, or at least not many, shards. The point is that the screen is doing its work.

The original filters did their work also and are rated to filter for the 200+ hours that you have now.

It is not the best circumstance but nothing can be done about it now. Just enjoy your tractor - it will be OK.

 

[thetooth]

I just bought a used B7500 the engine oil filter was white and the hydraulic filters had 1 grey and 1 white . When they were replaced they were all white .

 

[kuboman]

Factory filters no doubt. 234 hrs and no oil changes...not a big deal. As stated before the kind of treatment it received is more important than the oil change.:thumbsup:

 

[helvit]

Well, so be it. They were factory grey. To a degree, I fault the dealer, who is local to here, sold the machine with tiller, auger, FEL, mower etc. etc. to an obviously not knowledgeable woman with an estate no more than 10 miles down the road, and never followed up. Odds are she was there at least once.

However, the machine runs beautifully. I got it just a couple of weeks ago and have put on about 15 hours, mostly heavy FEL + chain brush removal and rough grading in my woods.

The air filter looked not too bad. Surfaces visible under the engine oil filler port were clean. Zerk sites were not neglected, except maybe one for some reason. Radiator screen was clean. I didn't buy it directly from her, but from a fellow who wheels and deals in these things, sold the implements separately and the tractor/fel to me. Seems he just washed it up and put it out for sale, I doubt if he knew the lack of service history, although he does a lot of business with that dealer.

So far my fresh engine oil is not too bad looking, but I'll change it and the filter pretty soon, and then again.

This little machine apparently is too tough to get upset by a measly couple hundred hours of stupid. That in itself sets a good example.:thumbsup:

 

[rswyan]

Engine oil black as coal. ..... So far my fresh engine oil is not too bad looking, but I'll change it and the filter pretty soon, and then again.

Engine oil color is not (necessarily) an absolute indicator of condition of the oil ..... oil that is as black as tar may be totally fine and have much useful life left in it.

Diesel engines are by their very nature, very dirty things .... the oil will get black pretty quickly in the normal course of operation (and not entirely because of soot) ..... don't sweat it - use good quality oil and just do the maintenance at the appropriate time/intervals and you will be fine.

And if you really wanna know what's going on with the oil, pull a sample just before you change it and send it into a lab and have a UOA done (Used Oil Analysis)

Blackstone is who I use:

Blackstone Labs

 

[bp fick]

GWDIXON said it well. It isn't the end of the world. Change it all out now and move on.

Guys who "wheel and deal" know darn well to look at filters, imho. Generally, it's the cost. They just sell 'em as is. They often cannot recoup their costs of doing the service on them. I've seen that many times.

Good for you to notice and get on with it. When I was younger, I worked in a garage and once did an oil change on a car with 77K miles and it had the painted filter on it. I changed the oil (sludge) and informed the owner, in case he wanted to come again in 500 miles and change it again. "Nah... it'd be fine", he said. Turned out he was the original owner and just couldn't have cared. Glad that isn't your attitude.