L2501 oil change

1930 · Jul 2, 2019

Still dont understand how my hour meter works, its showing 30 hrs now, ( maybe its 40, cant remember and not near the machine ) I am sure I havent used the tractor less than 100 hrs so far.

Im gonna change the oil, Ive used the tractor hard in my opinion and its time.

I know there are alot of threads but Ill ask anyway.

Money not an issue, what the best oil I can put in the machine?

Maintenance is important to me. Thanks

Ive heard Rotella? I know diesal truck guys like it. What weight for hot Florida weather

diesel85 · Jul 2, 2019

I run standard 15w40 Rotella T5. Been doing it in all my diesel engines I've ever owned.

number two · Jul 2, 2019

I believe your tractor has a cable driven hourmeter.
It will record one hour for every hour at PTO RPM.
Engine speed below that will accumulate hours slower.

Last I knew,Kubota ships 10W30 as the factory fill.
15W40 would be a prudent choice for your climate.
I find the 10W30 ideal for my cooler weather.

Many great oils out there-
Don't want to start on oil thread.
Just do your maintenance!

Good Luck!

I

nbking · Jul 3, 2019

Amsoil 15w40 synthetic goes in my rtv, and will be the oil for my L2501 in about 7 hours.

1930 · Jul 3, 2019

Thanks, I've heard good things about the Amsoil but I know a lot of guys around here use the Rotella so I'm going to give that a shot 15 w 40

big bubba · Jul 3, 2019

Rotella T6 5/40 syn would be my choice. 15/40 would be ok too for your climate, but i prefer the synthetic

as far as hrs go, if yours is a mechanical rpm/hr meter, Number Two is correct. if you run your engine at 540 pto rpm for 1 hr, (that's usually around 2250 engine rpm, may be more for your model) it will read as such on your hr meter.
however, if you are idling, or run it under the above engine rpm, then the recorded hrs will be less. so running it @ say 1500-1600 engine rpm for 1 hr, your hr meter should show around .6-.7 hrs.

it would be interesting to ask a diesel tractor mechanic if you should make that 1st oil change based on 100 hrs (or 50 for that 1st change) on meter or before since the "real time" hrs on the engine would likely exceed the 100hrs recorded on meter.

but my vote for oil would be T6 5/40. of course assume you'll change filter as well. best regards

tradosaurus · Jul 3, 2019

My first oil change is coming up and I'm going with the 15w/40 Kubota brand oil. I've read posts where other brands cause unwanted noises. This might have been hydraulic oil though.

1930 · Jul 3, 2019

tradosaurus said:
My first oil change is coming up and I'm going with the 15w/40 Kubota brand oil. I've read posts where other brands cause unwanted noises. This might have been hydraulic oil though.

I've read that as well and it was hydraulic

wagne223 · Jul 3, 2019

1930 said:
Still dont understand how my hour meter works, its showing 30 hrs now, ( maybe its 40, cant remember and not near the machine ) I am sure I havent used the tractor less than 100 hrs so far.

Im gonna change the oil, Ive used the tractor hard in my opinion and its time.

I know there are alot of threads but Ill ask anyway.

Money not an issue, what the best oil I can put in the machine?

Maintenance is important to me. Thanks

Ive heard Rotella? I know diesal truck guys like it. What weight for hot Florida weather

Using the Messiks online parts diagram, it shows the Tachometer as cable driven.
The gauge panel is an assembly.
Therefore I conclude that the hour meter gets its data from the tachometer.
That means the hour meter is more of an RPM counter then a clock.

So the statements that one hour at PTO speed would be 1 hour actual time make sense. Lower RPM will register less then actual time.

My L2501 hours seem to be real close to actual time, however I work my tractor hard and 80 percent of the time I run at maximum RPM which is about 250 rpm more then the PTO mark.

I operate like that because the tractor performs much better and it keeps the hydraulic fluid cooler.