L3800 50 hour service

[Recoveryhill]

Oil filters have both filter media and a bypass valve. The bypass valve is to allow sufficient oil to continue to lube the engine components in the case of the oil viscosity being too thick (cold) for the media or in the case of the media being clogged due to age and contamination. Usually the media is fine for filtering out the necessary size of contaminants (2 microns or so) but the bypass valves are suspect with some filters.

I've seen a few posts here and elsewhere with regard to dry filters, after hours of being installed on a working engine. The most likely cause is bad bypass valves.

The very best oil filtration systems include a filter/bypass valve and a secondary filter with no bypass valve that samples a small quantity of oil constantly and has no bypass valve because if clogged, sufficient oil continues to lube the engine regardless, pushed through (or by-passing) the primary filter. Such systems are not stock but available for aftermarket install on critical equipment and for more comprehensive filtering on any engine. These secondary constant filtering systems are installed because of the questionable quality of primary filter bypass valves, period. Toyota, at least, uses cartridge filter media instead of cans on some of their engines because they want to insure that the bypass valve is correct (OEM) regardless of whatever is swapped out in terms of the filter media.

I cannot say that a NAPA gold filter will ruin an engine. I am saying that I depend on Kubota to maintain quality control over the manufacturer of their filters to insure that both the media and bypass valves are correct, every time.

NAPA is convenient - Check
NAPA is competitively priced - Check
NAPA has the same commitment to a KUBOTA oil filter as Kubota Corporation - Nope
NAPA price is sufficiently lower than KUBOTA dealer for a filter that I would bother - Nope

I'm not criticizing your choice of filters, or anyone else's. I am just offering information as to why I purchase OEM Kubota oil filters and will continue to do so.

 

[Brimfield]

Sorry I just can't buy the buy that brand filter because it's the same as my tractor. I have looked all over but nowhere does Kubota talk about what micron size partials it removes. And it's initial filter efficiency rating starts at 93% and climbs up to just below 98% after35 hours. Nothing there impressed me. Am I saying it's a bad filter like Fram no, just that in my opinion based on what I have read that Wix makes a better filter. I do not like not knowing who makes the Kubota oil filter. Wix on the other hand is made in the USA. That being said we can argue oil filters all day long but in the end it's up to you what brand to buy. Blackstone lab oil reports have come back as good on filtration with low insolubles and silicon for my vehicles and they even recommend longer miles between changes so there is my reason for Wix. I will of course be taking a sample of the Kubota, good to know how your engine is wearing.

 

[Brimfield]

Did it at 50 hours on the nose. It started raining hard and it was just at 50, when it let up went out and did it. Shop vac mehtod was the best, I hardly lost any fluid.

 

[teg]

Didn't see anyone talk about how the front axle is usually low on fluid. Several people were over a quart low, so don't forget to check the front axle at the 50 hours service...

 

[k0ua]

Didn't see anyone talk about how the front axle is usually low on fluid. Several people were over a quart low, so don't forget to check the front axle at the 50 hours service...

Good catch teg..

James K0UA

 

[Brimfield]

Didn't see anyone talk about how the front axle is usually low on fluid. Several people were over a quart low, so don't forget to check the front axle at the 50 hours service...

Thanks I will check that. Not on the 50 hour service, never thought of it. Going to get 12 yds of 3/4 stone so it will getr a good work out.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

As a dealer. Bad or improper filter selection does ruin engines... and in reality, we've never seen Napa, Wix, etc stand behind their promise to replace engines that fail when they make a bad recommendation.

 

[WaxMan]

As a dealer. Bad or improper filter selection does ruin engines... and in reality, we've never seen Napa, Wix, etc stand behind their promise to replace engines that fail when they make a bad recommendation.

I agree if you have to save a buck save it somewhere else, paying a couple more dollars for a Kubota filter on 20, 30 40K tractor seems like the right thing to do. My 50hr will be coming up soon, you can be sure I won't be going to Autozone. To not even save enough for a McDonalds meal. Granted I think most people do it for the connivence then price. At least I would like to think so.

 

[Brimfield]

As a dealer. Bad or improper filter selection does ruin engines... and in reality, we've never seen Napa, Wix, etc stand behind their promise to replace engines that fail when they make a bad recommendation.

Yes you as a dealer do have an interest in convincing people that a different brand filter or oil will be bad, you don’t make money on the things you don’t sell. But can you show evidence of any case where a Wix filter failed and ruined a Kubota tractor? I hope you don’t know of any Kubota filter failures ruining an engine, a lot of people buy Kubota exclusively just to get a name they trust. Wix makes a superior filter in my opinion. I love my tractor but I was surprised at the large metal shaving on the magnet of the suction filter at 50 hours. I am talking large metal shavings from a lathe or Bridgeport. I question Kubota’s quality control but after poking around here I saw that this is common and not to worry about it.

 

[WaxMan]

Yes you as a dealer do have an interest in convincing people that a different brand filter or oil will be bad, you don稚 make money on the things you don稚 sell. But can you show evidence of any case where a Wix filter failed and ruined a Kubota tractor? I hope you don稚 know of any Kubota filter failures ruining an engine, a lot of people buy Kubota exclusively just to get a name they trust. Wix makes a superior filter in my opinion. I love my tractor but I was surprised at the large metal shaving on the magnet of the suction filter at 50 hours. I am talking large metal shavings from a lathe or Bridgeport. I question Kubota痴 quality control but after poking around here I saw that this is common and not to worry about it.

Good point, and No answer. Just to let you know My wife and I have been going to Brimfield for almost 30 years. Great memories there and many items to show for it. Great antique show.
Wix does make a good filter, Thats what they do, make filters. Probably even makes it for Kubota, for all we know. If you found a Wix replacement it's as good or better no doubt.
But have there been Kubota engine failures? Just wondering, I thought they just run and run even with the chips at 50hrs.
It's not the lathe and Bridgeport chips to worry about it's the fine chips that miss the filter. My 50 hours is coming up and I want the white filter with blue Kubota logo and willing to pay the two/5 dollars extra just for that. Right now, I have Kubota filers that have been spray painted gray from the factory. Funny I want to
promote Kubota filters but...........

They certainty don't care about promoting their filters, they are on a new 40K tractor but it looks like a no name filter painted gray?
If I was Kubota, I would promote my filters on a new tractor, not paint over them in gray chassis paint.