Oil change time - what's recommended

[Musdalen]

I have a "new" tractor - actually now 55 hrs old I guess. It is time for an oil change. What is recommended for oil in these things? I've never had a diesel anything, so school me on what to look for in types of oil (and filters too).

I will have to review the owner's manual, but I am repulsed by comic books in general and this seems to be one. I'm sure, however, there is useful info in there that I will need to extract (like oil weight and volume etc.), but I am curious what others consider good engine oil maintenance considerations.

FWIW, the tractor is a JD 3039R. Location Iowa (winters are only semi-cold if it matters).

 

[newbury]

If you mean engine oil I'd go with your favorite brand of synthetic.
I use Rotella T6 5W-40.

 

[Musdalen]

Yes, I did mean engine oil.

Synthetics have been recommended by a friend, but I wonder if I have the life-expectancy to benefit from it. I am certainly going to investigate, however.

 

[frugalangler]

If you mean engine oil I'd go with your favorite brand of synthetic.
I use Rotella T6 5W-40.

+1 on Rotella, use it in my tractor and ALL my cars- they're all diesels LOL

 

[LouNY]

+1 on Rotella, use it in my tractor and ALL my cars- they're all diesels LOL

Make that +2
Also I don't know what you will find in your owners manual but,
I'm going to assume that it is a hydro, so you should have at least a filter, and most likely a fluid change
on the hydraulics and maybe a screen in the trans section.
With that being a JD without reading the manual that fluid most likely should meet or exceed the JD C specification.
Have fun

 

[oosik]

I use the oil that's manufactured for Kubota. No idea who makes it, but it seems to be as good as any other.

 

[jd870]

My 20 year old jd 870 i use 15w40 shell rotella conventional,my 2013 mf 1529 i use 10w30 shell rotella conventional.

 

[bigtiller]

My recommendation for a new tractor is to do what the owners manual tells you. And if a sentence or specification seams odd or contradictory, ask your Van Wall dealer there in Story City. Don Van Houweling has a knowledgeable team of people in all of their locations. I wouldn't shy away from the manual without my dealers recommendation first.

How has the 3039R worked out for you so far?

 

[Musdalen]

Yes, I can definitely go to the dealer, but often the same oil and filter could be much less expensive and as good or even better from another source. I'm just curious about what other people are doing.

As for my 3039R? I love it. I have 2-3x more time on the clock that I thought I would. I find all sorts of ways I can use it that I did not anticipate when I bought it and which I would never have done with the old 8N, either because it simply couldn't or it would be too much trouble to make it do it. Anyway, its been an awesome machine.

One factor that as added substantially to that awesomeness, btw, is the grapple. I didn't know such a thing even existed before I came to this website and started sniffing around about Kubotas vs JD vs the world. The grapple is, by a huge margin, my favorite attachment and I would sooner give up my FEL bucket than the grapple. I've been building fences lately. Woven wire. I use the grapple to clear the ground of logs, brush, roots, etc, and, of course, to build the brush piles to burn them.

Then I use it grab a dozen wooden posts, or a roll of wire, and slog it down to where ever it needs to be. I stretch the fencing with the tractor, drill the post holes, you name it, it does it. Plus all the normal mowing, disking, grading, and firewood chores. that I need on a regular basis.

So, in a nutshell, I couldn't be happier.

 

[nybirdman]

It never ceases to amaze me;some-one spends xxxx on a new tractor and looking to save a couple bucks on an oil/filter change(while still under warranty).I use mine probably more than most 150 hours per year;so at that rate is a service every two+ years.
Sorry just my take on it;do as you please.