L6060 Engine Noise Getting Louder

[Hilbilly]

When I first got the L6060 I was impressed at how quiet the engine was, almost as quiet as my F350 6.7l. However as time goes by the engine is getting louder and louder. Initially the engine ran quietly all the time and then it started to develop a knocking sound after warming up for a few minutes. The sound is like the older loud diesels, just not as loud. Lately the knocking occurs on start up and then gets louder again after warming up for a few minutes. What would cause this and should i be concerned about it?

My 2 year warranty will expire in a couple of months and I would like to make sure this is not an expensive problem in the making.

 

[mikester]

When did you last check the oil, and/or change the oil and filter? My machine is quieter after a service.

 

[Hilbilly]

I checked the oil level a week ago and it was fine. I changed the oil and filters at 50 hrs and it's just about due for the 400 hr service, which includes engine oil and filter. I have all the supplies on hand and will change them when I hit the 400 hr mark. Kubota sure doesn't give their stuff away. The HST filter alone was $100 and it made in China.

 

[ptsg]

I'm not sure about Kubota but usually the engine oil change interval is somewhere between 200 and 250 hours. If that's the case, looks like you're about 100 hours over that. Wondering if fresh oil would fix that?

Again, I don't know about Kubota service intervals and this may not make sense at all.

 

[Seven Gables]

If it's still under warranty I'd be getting in touch with the dealer you bought it from asap.

 

[Hilbilly]

I'm not sure about Kubota but usually the engine oil change interval is somewhere between 200 and 250 hours. If that's the case, looks like you're about 100 hours over that. Wondering if fresh oil would fix that?

Again, I don't know about Kubota service intervals and this may not make sense at all.

I just double checked the owners manual and it clearly states the engine oil and filter to be changed every 400 hrs. You scared me for a minute but I'm good now, lol.

If it's still under warranty I'd be getting in touch with the dealer you bought it from asap.

I think I will contact them on Monday.

 

[sandyc]

Valve adjustment or timing.

 

[RickB]

If it's still under warranty I'd be getting in touch with the dealer you bought it from asap.

First thing a dealer will say is change the engine oil & filter.

 

[SDT]

I just double checked the owners manual and it clearly states the engine oil and filter to be changed every 400 hrs. You scared me for a minute but I'm good now, lol.


I think I will contact them on Monday.

That's what I would do as it's still within warranty.

Be advised that Kubota will not pay a warranty claim if the dealer does not find anything wrong. As a result, Your dealer may charge you. Mine most certainly would.

 

[oosik]

I would DEFINITELY contact the dealer where you purchased the tractor. My engine oil/filter change is every 400 hours OR annually.

 

[amhicks21]

the l6060 with 2200 hours i ran until last year before trading for a new l6060 ran exactly the same way then as the new one but i did find it sounding a bit louder if i actually went with the 400 hour oil change. every other kubota ive run got changed at 200. After about 1500 hours i started changing the oil sooner because i really didnt like the way the oil looked waiting so long. I'd still get with the dealer for sure though because the increase in noise from mine was barely noticeable. also, for me 400 hours was about 8 months so it wasnt terribly old oil, just thin and dark.

 

[Hilbilly]

the l6060 with 2200 hours i ran until last year before trading for a new l6060 ran exactly the same way then as the new one but i did find it sounding a bit louder if i actually went with the 400 hour oil change. every other kubota ive run got changed at 200. After about 1500 hours i started changing the oil sooner because i really didnt like the way the oil looked waiting so long. I'd still get with the dealer for sure though because the increase in noise from mine was barely noticeable. also, for me 400 hours was about 8 months so it wasnt terribly old oil, just thin and dark.

Thanks for that. I'm going to change the oil in the next few days and see if that makes a change. I think I will also start changing the oil and filter at 200hrs too. No point taking chances for a few dollars in savings.

Here is a link to a video I took of the tractor starting up and running. The engine knock took about 4 minutes to start but I trimmed the video down to just over 2 minutes. The loud noise starts somewhere after 2 minutes.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

My first thought was a possible exhaust leak developing. But after listening to your video, the sound changes abruptly.

I've had exhaust manifold gaskets fail twice on my L5740, but that was a gradual change in sound over some time. Not a quick sudden change as yours does in the video.

It will be interesting to see what's going on here. I have a L6060 with about 800 hours on it, and I haven't noticed anything like this.

 

[Grandad4]

Are you totally sure it's an internal engine knock and not some bit of sheet metal, a loose bracket or an exhaust pipe buzzing as it gets hot? I've had cars that did stuff like that and drove me nuts trying to track down where the racket came from. Definitely get the dealer on it It's under warranty and shouldn't do that regardless of what's causing the noise.

 

[mikester]

400 hours between engine oil changes seems high to me. My machines have 200 hour service intervals and I can tell you they run a lot quieter after changing the oil and filter.

 

[Like Tractors]

Thanks for that. I'm going to change the oil in the next few days and see if that makes a change. I think I will also start changing the oil and filter at 200hrs too. No point taking chances for a few dollars in savings.

Here is a link to a video I took of the tractor starting up and running. The engine knock took about 4 minutes to start but I trimmed the video down to just over 2 minutes. The loud noise starts somewhere after 2 minutes.

I have an L6060, bought in 2016 which has the same diesel combustion sound change. It has done it from the day I got it, it is temperature related, on a cold day it takes longer, warm summer day it occurs very soon after start up. It appears to be triggered by engine temperature. I have 500 hours on mine

 

[MooseOnTheLoose]

My L3800 called for oil changes at 200 hour intervals. I was rather shocked when my MX5800 only called for the 400 hour interval. Since I only do 100-150 hours/year, I decided to go with a 200 hour oil change just because it had been a few years.

Even on my pickup, I try to change annually even when I don't get miles. I pulled our fifth wheel from Colorado to Maine and back and had an analysis done on the oil and they said it was good yet, but after that hard 7500 miles, I was changing it anyway. Newer gas cars I have are calling for 10k intervals with synthetic.

So, yes, miles are going longer, but with the tractor I'm still going to do the 200 hour interval - cheap insurance. I know my 6 Leaker Ford sounds better after an oil change (and with snake oil in it for helping the sticky injectors)

 

[Username Taken]

If it were me, and I know it isn't, I'd put some quality fuel treatment in her. God only knows what your version of the EPA is making them put in the fuel these days.

But you've got a Direct Injection engine and the fuel pumps can be pretty noisy when they don't get the lubricity they want. Don't overdo it.

At least, if you do it and there's no improvement, you're not out a lot of money and it doesn't do any harm, might even do some good.

 

[fruitcakesa]

300 hr oil change interval on my M6040

 

[crashz]

I've got 272hrs on my L2501 and it will be 4 years old in June. I've changed the oil in it at 50 hours and pretty close to every 50-75 hours after. I simply do the annual change and it is what it is for hours. If I followed the manual, I still would be well within the first oil change at 50 hours.