Break in time

DDT · Feb 13, 2001

Well my new 4300 is ready for it's 50 hours service and anonther wash job. Went to get a filter and oil and the service mannager told me to put breakin oil back in it. He said it's cold and your just pushing snow. aslong as you get regular oil in it before the spring warm up it won't hurt anything.

Thomas · Feb 14, 2001

DDT,
Can't say I ever heard of that one before..breaking in oil..so what is breaking oil?

May the next 50 be as sweet as the last 50.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

DDT · Feb 14, 2001

The way I understand it. break in oil is, 10W-30 weight, aswell as nondetrgent oil, so it will break in the valves and rings, with a maxium of 100 hours of use with this oil.
label reads-unique engine oil formulated to provide initial ring and clylinder wall break-in wear while protecting other engine components from abnormal wear. provides excellent piston depoist control. 100-hour maximum recommended use period.
that's all I know
DDT

Bird · Feb 14, 2001

I'm old enough to remember when the new cars supposedly came with a "break in" oil, but I don't believe I ever heard that mentioned in connection with tractors, or even cars for a lot of years now.

Bird

DFB · Feb 14, 2001

Deere also recommends it for non-John Deere type engines, new or rebuilt, aluminum or cast iron types. Up to the first 100 hrs like DDT already said. Didn't know till now what the viscosity rating was.

DFB

GaryK · Feb 21, 2001

Don't know abouot going 100 hours on the oil. I changed it after 25 and will chnage it again at 50. Dosen't smoke and it runs good so I am assuming the rings seated just fine. Plan on doing the hyd oil soon too.

DFB · Feb 21, 2001

Gary, Those statements are just echoing what Deere has in their manuals. 100 hrs maximum break in time. First factory recommended oil change at 50 hr.

Personally, I first my changed my oil/filter after the first 25 hrs too, switching to 15w-40, then at again at 50. Once again at 75hrs using a winter grade 5w-30. I'm just about at the 100hr mark and ready for another engine oil change. Probably gonna use synthetic too. 0w-40. One grade year round use. Factory approved extended oil changes. Hey, definitely do what what feels good for you. I'm also going to change the HST soon. Book calls out 500 hrs but I've told by the dealer Deere is now recommending 200 hrs because of the metal contamination stories. Why take chances? Personal satisfaction if nothing else. I gotta see what's in there.

Beyond that how's that 4100 been for you. Seriously one tough machine. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

DFB

DDT · Feb 21, 2001

My owners books said to change engine oil at 50 hrs. so I did. The service manager told me to do it again at 100 hrs and at that time go to plus 50 oil (the kind I use).
Tranny oil- my book said 600hrs, I had the sales man call to find out about this. After a call he told me 500 hrs, not till then, and yes I told him I was conserned at metal shaveings, who ever he talked to said it was not a problem. Is mine new enough not to have this problem. it was ordered and I got it Jan 12-01. sure wish the JD folks would have the same story.

DFB · Feb 21, 2001

DDT,

Man, don't I wish I knew the answer to that metal shavings question. If it really is a problem or just some isolated occurences. When I asked at the dealers a couple of weeks ago they didn't deny anything only reinforced doing a fluid change before the time interval stated in the manual. Didn't mention anything about date of manufacture. Mine was delivered around 8/1/00. I ordered 6 weeeks earlier.

As for maintenance. How can it be wrong to follow the manufacture's recomendations. Especially being under warranty. 15w-40 Plus-50 that's the same stuff I been using. It's interesting that you said "I wish JD folks would have the same story". When I went for oil the first time during break in it was a JD dealer who told me 25 hrs was enough and to go to Plus-50./w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

DFB

GaryK · Feb 23, 2001

I am comng up on 50 hours and will do an oil and hyd oil change with filters. I know that's not what the manual says but the manual also says to put 2.8 qts in crankcase and we all know that's not right. They evern changed the size of the filter, making it smaller, my 4100 takes about 2.3 qts on oil change with filter now. I am completely happy with my 4100 HST. I have an FEL, bush hog, belly mower,box blade and tiller and its saved me and a few neighbors an awful lot of work.