Kubota oil vs. off the shelf brands

[Einsteim]

I own a Kubota L39 and was wondering about Kubota oil versus the typical off the shelf brands...Quaker or Pennzoil. Is there really a need to use the Kubota brand? Along the same lines, the Kubota oil filter..is this really necessary, or is there a Fram equivalent?

Steve-Michigan

 

[Sully2]

I own a Kubota L39 and was wondering about Kubota oil versus the typical off the shelf brands...Quaker or Pennzoil. Is there really a need to use the Kubota brand? Along the same lines, the Kubota oil filter..is this really necessary, or is there a Fram equivalent?

Steve-Michigan

There are BETTER oils at less money! Filters?? I'll stick with the Kubota's because they are too easy to buy off the internet as compared to running 25 miles to the nearest dealer.

 

[DieselPower]

Nope, no reason to use their oil other than to give them more of your money. Pick your favorite brand that meets their spec's and you will be fine. As for filters, OEM filters are usually good quality and I have never been a fan of Fram filters. If I was going to go aftermarket for filters I would probably buy FleetGuard filters (now owned by Cummins).

 

[Marcussen]

I would buy the right specification oil, any good name brand would do, make sure it's diesel rated.

Both Wix and Purolater makes oil filters for my Kubota, but they are hard to find and there is not much difference in price so I use the kubota filters.
I have not found anything but Kubota hydraulic and air filters.

 

[art]

Don't mean to slide off other peoples opinions but working with engines for the last forty years I'll tell you there are differences and most manufacturers do have upper end oils that are better for the equipment for logeviety then off the shelf! Many of the manufacturers also offer lower grades for lower prices(who'd of thought) that will get you by. I've seen the differences in engine as well as transmission life as well. You might not find any difference in the life that you might need but in machines that go 10,000 hours plus with no shop time other then oil changes I'd lay odds on it wasn't with off the shelf non brand name products. Your generic oils like penzoil, quaker state, shell rotella,kendall and the like you see in most stores are not normally the best they build or compareable to most manufactuers oil. It's your money you spent well to buy the best tractor now is the time not to look for a cheap way out. Most dealer do ship filters and oil so the need to leave home is not there anymore and still have the best.

 

[chanceu]

Yeah, but most of the time even buying a high-end name brand oil is still cheaper than manufacturers stuff and it's as good. I'm not talking about buying bargain basement stuff, but something like a good Valvoline synthetic.

 

[Sully2]

Don't mean to slide off other peoples opinions but working with engines for the last forty years I'll tell you there are differences and most manufacturers do have upper end oils that are better for the equipment for logeviety then off the shelf! Many of the manufacturers also offer lower grades for lower prices(who'd of thought) that will get you by. I've seen the differences in engine as well as transmission life as well. You might not find any difference in the life that you might need but in machines that go 10,000 hours plus with no shop time other then oil changes I'd lay odds on it wasn't with off the shelf non brand name products. Your generic oils like penzoil, quaker state, shell rotella,kendall and the like you see in most stores are not normally the best they build or compareable to most manufactuers oil. It's your money you spent well to buy the best tractor now is the time not to look for a cheap way out. Most dealer do ship filters and oil so the need to leave home is not there anymore and still have the best.

You can STILL buy BETTER oil than what the tractor dealer sells for even LESS MONEY! And Im not about to buy "branded filters" online and then have to pay shipping charges on top of that..let alone buy branded oil online and pay to have that shipped to me...:

 

[dmccarty]

My JD dealer sells filters for my F350 pick up truck. The filters are made by Fleetguard. The oil filter has JD printed on the casing. The fuel filters is exactly what I have gotten from International or the other part stores. When they have them in stock that is. The price the dealer charges me is the same as other places. About $10 for the oil filter. Can't remember for the fuel filter but it was in the ball park. The shipping costs are a couple of dollars and he is 30-40 miles away. I send him a note on Monday I get the order on Tues or at the latest, Weds. Sure beats going to multiple stores to find out they are out. Again.

I bet for every time I managed to find a filter in a part store I made one other stop when they where out of stock. I was in a store a few weeks back looking for oil for my dad. They did not have it, which was no surprise and they did not have my filter. I just checked for grins and giggles.

I'll gladly pay the shipping charge so I don't have to waste my time and milage.

If you want expensive try my local NAPA store. They are about 50% HIGHER on hydraulic lines and connections than my dealer. I bought a little itty bitty oil filter for my DR Mower and it was over $5. It did not fit. And they could not take it back since I had prefilled it with oil. They just looked at me like I was an alien. The "they" are the owners of the store.

My dealer actually stayed late for me one Friday evening after closing to make me a set of hydraulic hoses for a log splitter I bought at TSC. The hoses where $100. I'm sure NAPA would have been $150-200.

Later,
Dan

 

[art]

You can STILL buy BETTER oil than what the tractor dealer sells for even LESS MONEY! And Im not about to buy "branded filters" online and then have to pay shipping charges on top of that..let alone buy branded oil online and pay to have that shipped to me...:

I haven't found what you have yet otherwise I'd probably have different thoughts. Like I said I know that there is other good oil out there but not at a better price. What do you think is a better value oil for diesel engines?

 

[Sully2]

I haven't found what you have yet otherwise I'd probably have different thoughts. Like I said I know that there is other good oil out there but not at a better price. What do you think is a better value oil for diesel engines?

Do you want good oil or do you want good price? At the same price as the Kubota branded oil sells for..Id go with Chevrom Delo in the bat of an eye! For $2 more a gallon..I went with a SYN oil! Its not like Im doing oil changes every week or anythng