Oil & Fuel Fluid and Filter Changes

[Rockin' G Ranch]

Had all of my fluids and filters changed by my dealer in my L4740 in January 2014 with an hour reading of 180. My hour reading today is 217. I know the manual says after additional 200 hours but should the fluid and/or filters be changed at least annually? Thanks.

 

[TripleR]

I pretty much go by the manual on all of ours, but I'm sure others will disagree. My newest is a three year old 5740.

We have tractors well over 50 years old still running strong and don't change fluids yearly.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I do NOT change annually unless the hours are there.:2cents:

 

[AStanton]

I've always viewed filters and oil as cheap preventive maintenance. I'm more apt to swap out the engine oil and filter annually. Frequent start ups are hard on an engine. I would only change hydraulic oil and filters based upon hours. I changed mine initially at 50 hours, now plan to change at every additional 300 hours here out.
As a side note, I just bought a new truck and the dealer/manufacturer recommends synthetic oil only and changes at 7,500 mile intervals. I know the owner of a local garage and he had all the synthetic oil of his workers' vehicles tested following the recommended change of manufacturers. The test found that the synthetic oil was pretty much shot at 4,000 miles. Needless to say, there will be no 7,500 changes for my new truck.

 

[BTDT2]

The owner of the local garage finding's is very dubious, Does he possibly make money selling oil changes?

 

[pap71]

Synthetic oil does not wear out at 4,000 miles. He is selling oil changes that people don't need if he is telling them to change it at 4,000 miles because it is worn out. Where and who tested the oil?

 

[AStanton]

I'm simply stating what a certified mechanic told me. I don't have my oil changed there regularly. So he has no dog in the fight where my oil changes are concerned. I don't recall what outfit tested his oil.

 

[pap71]

I would ask him to see the report. I am a ASE certified Master auto tech also and do not believe that synthetic oil wears out that quick. About ten or so years ago GM started putting Mobil 1 in the new Corvettes from the factory. The oil changes were to be done every 15,000 miles. Just sayin

 

[AStanton]

I don't have $7,000 for a new motor to save $50 for an oil/filter change. God bless anyone who does. I'm just sayin.

 

[big bubba]

think most would agree that modern lubricants such as Mobil 1 & Rotella 5/40 diesel synthetics (plus more) offer far greater protection than previous lubricants. The OP asks how often for fluid/filter change... i feel that most would also agree that for occasional/ consumer applications like most of us here, the change interval would be more often than say commercial/industrial applications given fluid capacity & applications (more frequent cold starts & smaller capacities give way to more contaminants)....there are those in this forum w/far greater field experience & empirical knowledge than me ( ie:g fowler, j thomas, triple r, etc) so i can only give my view....if you are really interested in how often you should change say engine & hyd fluids, just use it to what you think is an appropriate hr level (or according to owners manual hrs, etc), then get a sample analysis. the result would be a far more accurate benchmark than opinions, however experienced, would be able to offer. use your machinery in your own cond. & applications, then get it tested. go from there....:thumbsup:

 

[Will_C]

I change the oil in my B2620 and my RTV every spring. The tractor gets around 100 hours use and the RTV about 50. I never was comfortable with the yearly time spread, even though the hours are less than the Kubota service interval. Last month, I switched to Rotella T synthetic. I don't know any research that proves synthetic is better for a year between changes, but I feel better. By the way, the Rotella was cheaper than the Kubota oil I was buying from the dealer. Will

 

[Gary Fowler]

There is something fishy about a test saying synthetic oil is worn out at 4000 miles. Even conventional oil is not quote "worn out at 4000 miles". I change my oils in the autos according to the on board computer which per the manual is calculating using conventional oils and they go for around 7500 miles with my normal usage. I also try to change them yearly regardless of mileage or computer status. Even my dealer (Chevrolet) said not to change the oil prior to the computer requesting it and that was per warranty requirements on my 100K mile warranty. I trust the manufacturer more so than a local so called ASE certified mechanic whose sole purpose is to repair vehicles and do maintenance work and I would to his face call him a bald faced liar if he tried to tell me I had to change my oil at 4000 miles when using any oil much less a synthetic.

I use the synthetics for cooler running and better gas mileage more so than for extended oil changes mainly because since retirement, I don't put that many miles on my vehicles. I use it in my tractors simple because I can use the same Shell T6 full synthetic in everything from my Honda motorcycle to the Honda automobiles and even my boat and lawnmowers so I don't need to stock a whole bunch of different oils.

 

[big bubba]

agree w/above poster by and large. also use T6 in all 4stroke engines i have. 4k interval change does seem excessively overkill in changes for vehicles...but in a situation for example where there are frequent cold starts w/o sufficient time for engine warm up over a year's time on a tractor, imho the only way for the OP to really know is to get an analysis. we can sit here and offer our seasoned advice & experience, but let the lab satisfy the OP's curiosity. all it would take is maybe one or 2 tests for that answer. then let him go from there (btw i haven't ever had a test done, nor lost an engine due to oil failure)

 

[Rockin' G Ranch]

Thanks for all of the replies. I used my tractor last year about 1-2 times a month for a few hours each time. In no way did I ever put it in a strain or overheat it. I like the idea of getting the fluids tested to determine if it is time to change it. Where can I send my fluids to get tested?