Kubota oil and tranny fluid?

[DmansPadge]

I recently bought a '99 Kubota B7300HSD. It has 299hrs and it's due for the 300hr service. I plan on doing everything to it since I just bought it. The manual recommends a SAE 10W-30 oil. Is this the same as an automotive oil? I always thought diesel oil (15W-40 is what I'm used to) had different detergants in it?

Also, the trans/hyd oil that is recommended is the Kubota Super UDT. I plan on using it atleast for the first time, but, is it any different than regular hydraulic or Dextron II/III ATF fluid?

I don't mind using the Kubota products, but, I'm sure they are about 2-3 times the price of auto part store brands. I've already crossed the filter numbers over to WIX, which in my opinion, is as good or better and a little cheaper than Kubota filters.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Bird]

Ron, doesn't your manual also recommend an oil rated CC or CD? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Of course those are a little out of date. I'm afraid Kubota is a little behind on updating manuals. Use the 15W-40, and personally I used an oil (Delo 400) rated for CH4, which is a later diesel rating. As for the Super UDT, in my opinion, it would be first choice, and would be perhaps especially important in cold weather, but when I serviced my '99 B2710, I checked with two Kubota dealers in Texas and neither of them even stocked it; would only special order it if the customer wanted it. They just used the regular UDT. The hydraulic fluid is different from ATF, which I would not recommend using. My '99 B2710 manual called for either UDT or Super UDT, while my '95 B7100 called for UDT or equivalent, and listed a half dozen others by brand name.

 

[btolle]

I don't know about your 99 model but I have seen at least 2 posts on these forums that said they used something other than Super UDT in newer model Kubotas and it caused the hydraulics or hydrostatic transmssion to not operate properly. In both cases switching back to the Super UDT cleared up the problems.

Be in for sticker shock, the Super UDT is a lot more than 2 or 3 times the price of standard hydraulic fluid. And the filters are high also.

I choke every time I pay for a manufacturers filters and fluid but I believe in using what is recommended.

Bill Tolle

 

[DmansPadge]

Thanks Bird. I did my service today. I went with the Delo 400 15W-40 (which is what I've always used in diesels) and WIX filters. I didn't get to do the trans/hyd fluid today because I had to get a headlight socket from the dealer and he didn't have it in stock. The dealer is about 15 miles from me so I figured no since is driving there to get the UDT when I have to go back to get the socket. I'll handle that next week. I guess I'll bite the bullet and spend the $$$ for the Kubota UDT. Heck, it only has to be done every 300 hrs anyway. But I did get the fuel filter, oil, oil filter, air filter, and the front axle fluid changed. I also greased everything and switched the front tires back the way they should be. I want to get everything done so I know where I stand.

All I have to do now is wait for spring?!?! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Thanks.

 

[DmansPadge]

You're right Bill. Use what is recommended and then you don't have to worry or second guess yourself. I'm gonna use the Kubota UDT when I service the trans. I did see what a gallon of that stuff goes for on kubotastore.com and yeah... they are proud of it. But hey, every 300 hrs.... I can handle that.

I see that there is also a strainer you can remove and clean. Have you ever done that? It has 2 o-rings sealing it... so maybe I should replace those as well if I clean it. I don't know if it's ever been done before and sure enough if I don't have new o-rings, the old ones will be in rough shape and start leaking!

Thanks Bill.

 

[btolle]

I have not cleaned strainers but will get my first chance when the B7510 hits 50 hours.

The Operator's manual says to was them with kerosene.

Wouldn't hurt to replace the O rings but be sure you get the right size since they may be metric.

Have fun!

Bill Tolle

 

[Soundguy]

if you use other than oem oils.. just make sure you get equivalents.. as in.. find the proper ratings for that 'automotive' 10w30 you are looking at. Same with the utf oil. There are alot of generics out there.. if you use one of them.. make ssure it meets te super UDT specs.

Soundguy

 

[Bird]

Ron, I'm not sure on your tractor, but mine actually had two of those strainers; one on either side. And before I pulled them out to clean them, I bought new o-rings because I figured there was a good chance I'd damage one or more; however, they came out, cleaned up, and went back in with no problem and I never did use those new o-rings.

 

[Egon]

When you pulled the strainers Bird was there any debri on them?

Egon

 

[Bird]

Yep, Egon, there was what appeared to be aluminum filings and maybe a little more than a teaspoonful on both of them combined.

 

[Egon]

Thank you. Looks like I may have to purchase the proper socket and clean mine.

Egon

 

[mangoland]

I just changed the oil and fluid in my B2710 (an early one,80hrs). I bought it used, and couldn't be sure that the previous owner had done the change. Opening up the strainers showed that there was just a couple of small flecks of metal, and a crumb of rubbery stuff, barely anything. So perhaps it was done aftere all.

Anyway, like many have posted, my local dealer doesn't carry Super UDT, and given the shipping nightmares that we go through here, I went with Chevron 1000 (UDT compatible), which was available. (I now see on the Chevron site that they also have a synthetic that is Super UDT compatible, but oh well...) I figured that without cold or very hot temps, that it would be OK.

Now I am wondering if my hydraulics are quite as strong. Seems like I could lift a rear wheel off with the FEL previously, if I was working a sticky clay bank. Now I can't. Otherwise I notice no changes. Most of the other Kubota owners locally use generic tractor fluid in their older machines with no problem.

 

[CostaRica]

Down here in the tropics we don't have all the oil brands you have up there, with my old B6000 I always use Pennzoil 15-40, never had a problem. Like a month ago I bought 2 used L3000 and a L2500, and I will keep using the pennzoil; for the hidraulics, for an old JD1020 I used Texaco TDH, and in the Kubota operators manual, that Texaco TDH is listed as a compatible oil, so I guess I will try it with the new Kubotas... I really hope it works as good as with the oil they come with from the US....

 

[DmansPadge]

Update on servicing my tractor...

I got the chance to run by the Kubota dealer this week and I picked up 4 gallons of Kubota UDT. I did the transmission service today. There is four different drain plugs to remove in order to get all the fluid out. I pulled out the strainer and to my suprise it had a considerable amount of metal shavings on it. No special tools needed and was quite easy to do. I forgot to get the o-rings at the dealer but I didn't need them anyway. I assumed the o-rings where on the strainer itself. Once I pulled it out I saw that the o-rings where on both sides of the pickup tube and there wasn't really any way to damage them. I cleaned it up, filled it up, and now I'm ready to use that bad boy!