Oil & Fuel new tractor oil consumption

[firefighter jim]

BP, First oil change: 18 hours. Second oil change: 47 hours. At 82 hours I added about 1/4 of a quart. This is the first time I've added oil between oil changes. Rotella 15W40. Art, Always check oil in the very same location (garage) in the morning before startup.

 

[bp fick]

OK, based on your schedule of oil changes, you are approaching a change again in a few hours.

If it were mine, I'd break the pattern a bit. I would use 10w-30 or a 5w-40 just to see if the quicker cold flow makes any difference whatsoever.
Might, might not, but you've nothing to lose in finding out.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Tell GM that. I have a Saturn with a DOHC 1.9L engine. It uses a qt of oil ever 1,000 miles and has done so since it had 30,000 miles on it. It is supposed to use 5W30 or 10W30 but I now run 10W40 in it to help with consumption. Has 126,000 miles on it now and never a engine issue.

GM knows there is a issue with the engine and even has a service procedure on it but will not perform the maintenance needed until it uses a qt every 600 miles.

Chris

 

[woodlandfarms]

Telling a dealer is a good idea, IMO writing him is better. Send two letters one to him, and one to yourself. DO NOT open the one to yourself. Keep it in your safe. If something goes south you have written evidence that you had a concern. If it goes to court, you take the sealed envelope that you sent to your self that has the postage marked and show it to the judge. It is a poor mans copyright but currently holds in court.

Carl

 

[firefighter jim]

OK, based on your schedule of oil changes, you are approaching a change again in a few hours.

If it were mine, I'd break the pattern a bit. I would use 10w-30 or a 5w-40 just to see if the quicker cold flow makes any difference whatsoever.
Might, might not, but you've nothing to lose in finding out.

Sounds good. I might give 10-30 a try at 100 hours. Thanks

 

[bp fick]

Jim, yeah... that oil change would also establish a careful FULL benchmark. Precisely on the full mark, established by "first thing in the morning" dipstick check. Then go from there. I would indeed log all this. Date, products used, and photos, with time/date stamp on them of full dipstick. Maybe overkill, I don't know. Correct me if I am wrong, but Kubota tractors come from the factory with 10w-30, at least that is what my dealer intimated.

 

[firefighter jim]

BP, Correct on 10-30 however I now see that they (Kubota) is now approving the use of 15-40 (per my B7800 and L3400 factory operator manuals). Thanks again. Jim

 

[Chilly807]

Mine has 45 hours so far (L3400 DT) and hasn`t burned a drop as far as I can tell.
You mentioned using Rotella 15w40 ? Which version of Rotella are you using? The T3 (newest and greatest) is rated as a CJ-4 oil, which my manual says specifically not to use, since it`s meant for a DPF (diesel particulate filter) engine. Whether it actually makes a difference or not, I really don`t know. I do know it`s getting harder to find an oil that Kubota approves for warranty purposes.

My dealer sold me the Kubota 10w30 for a bit less than I could get the Rotella for, I had planned on using Rotella myself until I saw the warning in the manual.

I think Shell still makes a version of Rotella that Kubota approves, it`s CI-4 or something like that. Check your manual, US spec engines may be different.

It gets pretty cold where I am, so I plan on using the 10w30 unless I do an oil change in late spring with heat of summer approaching. Dealer carries both grades of oil, so I have a choice.

Chilly

 

[firefighter jim]

Chilly, Interesting. I believe I am using the version of Rotella that is currently available. I think it is OK as long as I use the low sulfur fuel. I will have to check this out further! Thanks

 

[bp fick]

This issue has been addressed before. Kubota was slow and cautious about approving CJ-4.

It has NOW APPROVED it. Goto Kubota site, under Support, find Technical Service bulletin regarding maintenance. There it is!!! Approved. Just another case of manuals being printed a long time ago. Plus, manuals are expensive to print and are often out of date years before someone on the line taped it in a plastic baggie and sent it along with your tractor.

This is precisely why the "must follow one's manual" mantra doesn't hold up to scrutiny very well.