Oil & Fuel new tractor oil consumption

[firefighter jim]

Is it normal for a new tractor (Kubota L3400 with 82 hours) to use a little oil? 1/4 quart in last 30 hours.

 

[mustangsallysdad]

Is it normal for a new tractor (Kubota L3400 with 82 hours) to use a little oil? 1/4 quart in last 30 hours.

I'd say that's within acceptable limits...should improve with break-in...my tractor has a bunch of hours now and consumes about a half quart between 150 hour changes.

 

[Bob_Young]

Keep an eye on it, Jim. My three K's don't use any at all. Might be a matter of break-in, might be something going on. Mention it to your dealer to be safe. If he says not to worry and things head south later, you might get a little help with repairs.

Are you working it fairly hard or puttering around just above idle? Might be a stuck ring due to cold running and carbon build up.
Bob

 

[beenthere]

Is it normal for a new tractor (Kubota L3400 with 82 hours) to use a little oil? 1/4 quart in last 30 hours.

Direct answer, I'd say it isn't "normal" and should be checked on regularly. At least to monitor if the usage is going up or down over hours worked.

 

[8404]

no way it should use oil. not untill its got 2000hours on it.

 

[banjodunn]

G'day jim can i ask what sort of work your "L" has done to this date ? The reason for this is that alot of people think they are doing the right thing by taking it easy for the first hundred hours or so believeing they are being kind to the eng and breaking it in gently but with modern oils and metalurgy the modern engine is run in when you get it, having said that i think that a quart in thirty hours is a bit excessive and i would talk to your dealer about it. They may want you to bring the tractor in to put on a dyno if one is avail and this may cure the prob if not at least you will have it on paper that the oil consumption is high whilst it was under warranty


Jon

 

[firefighter jim]

Jon, that's 1/4 of a quart in 30 hours and yes, the little L has been getting a big workout with all the snow we've been getting.

 

[firefighter jim]

Thanks all for the replys. I'll keep a watchful eye on it. Jim

 

[art]

The one thing to do when checking oil is to do it the same way every time. Some of our larger tractors can actually gain a quart or two just with warm up! So do it every time the same way in the same spot with the same engine temperature.

 

[bp fick]

Jim, "last 30 hours"? Doing the simple math, these are the hours since your 50 hour oil change?

Question. Did you notice consumption in the first 50 hours? Second question might then be, what oil did you use at that change?

 

[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.