Oil & Fuel Syntheic oil at 50hr service? Old topic, but want fresh ideas

[glc24]

If your tractor leads a "pampered" life, then I'd probably use break in oil till 150ish hours.

What is considered a "pampered" life

Greg

 

[Spudland_Dave]

What is considered a "pampered" life

Greg

Well, when I say pampered I dont mean she sleeps inside, and is always washed & waxed...By pampered I mean is she doesnt see much "grunting" type work...
Kinda like an 85 year old's Buick he drives it 35mph down to the coffee shop & back the whole time never applying more then 20% throttle... Versus an 18 year old's ricer where they run it for all its worth.

What I'm thinking is a engine lugging type job...at rated PTO speed or above and are loading it to 85%-95% power...something that "makes the black smoke roll" to so speak.....

Manufacturer Tech Tip: Breaking In Rebuilt Diesel Engines: Engine Builder

 

[AKfish]

I have a new 4720 with less than 10 hours on it. I did think about changing it at maybe 10-15 hrs and putting break in oil back until maybe 50. I figure the filter change alone will take out a lot of crap.
I was even thinking of changing the filter for the hydraulic oil since I think I can change the filter without draining (on the hydraulic oil.

Hmm... (let me know if you EVER want to sell your 4720..) You're takin' extra special care of it!!

Although, I changed out both oil and hyd charge filter's (not the fluid) at ~10hrs on my JD110 when new. Switched to synthetic @ 50hrs for the engine.

You can drop the hyd filter without having to replace the fluid -- you just have to HUSTLE and get the new filter back on!! (Just a little bit runs/drips down towards your armpit!)

I usually change my hyd filter @ 200 hrs when the engine oil/filter change is due as well.

AKfish

 

[topstoy]

Too much over thinking here. If in doubt, change it out. Oil is still cheap insurance and not worth worrying about waiting for the perfect timing.:thumbsup:

 

[Spudland_Dave]

"Mud Season" is upon us here in Maine....nothing else we can do... Tired of working on "inside projects" and cant use the tractors because SMBO will not be happy with a completely destroyed lawn.. :laughing:

 

[GreenMtns]

When I purchased my 3520 the dealers mechanic said to change the break in oil at 50 hrs to get rid of metal shavings and grit and replace with new break in oil. At 200 hrs change it out to syn oil. The tractor now has 400 hrs on it, does not use any oil, and the oil is changed yearly using Amsoil 5w-40 diesel oil.

 

[RalphVa]

I'd go ahead and switch to the oil you have for the next 100-200 hours. Then switch to synthetic and change it once/year. If you run 200 hours/year, it'll be fine. Even a dino oil would be fine according to the book. I change mine once/year, and it's usually 60-100 hours. I'm using 0w30 Mobil 1 now, not highly diesel rated, but is what I use in all my engines, except for our 2010 Jetta TDI which comes with synthetic from the factory and good for 10k miles. The Mobil 1 I have isn't rated for it, and I have 3 years of free maintenance from VW anyway.

 

[OtterBrookStables]

Too much over thinking here. If in doubt, change it out. Oil is still cheap insurance and not worth worrying about waiting for the perfect timing.:thumbsup:

Not so much overthinking - just trying to get a straight answer. The issue is not about changing the oil it's how long to keep the break-in oil in the machine before switching to synthetic. Still lots of stories, opinions, and conflicting "facts", but I think we're converging on 100-200 hours of break-in oil depending on tractor usage. I do wonder if the Yanmar motors in the 3X20's have a different requirement than the Deere PowerTech's in the 4X20's??
Still blows me away that Deere doesn't provide this information in their manuals.

 

[bp fick]

Not over thinking? Straight answer?

You ask in a public forum and want a straight answer? That is funny. Please no offense, none intended, but this isn't a place for "a straight answer" and surely, you didn't expect one, did you? From anonymous, non-Deere employee posters? Now, that's funny.

I just think perhaps your cabin fever has gotten the better of you.

There isn't a straight answer. Manuals, stickers, revisions, bulletins, opinions from over 50 posts on 3 pages, most of which disagree with each other, about what? An oil change? All the while your dealer gave you your first oil for that change, for free?

In the days that this silliness has been bantered about here, we all could have changed the oil in every tractor in America and washed and waxed them too!!! Man, go wash and wax your tractor. You'll feel better. :thumbsup:

 

[OtterBrookStables]

Not over thinking? Straight answer?

You ask in a public forum and want a straight answer? That is funny. Please no offense, none intended, but this isn't a place for "a straight answer" and surely, you didn't expect one, did you? From anonymous, non-Deere employee posters? Now, that's funny.

I just think perhaps your cabin fever has gotten the better of you.

There isn't a straight answer. Manuals, stickers, revisions, bulletins, opinions from over 50 posts on 3 pages, most of which disagree with each other, about what? An oil change? All the while your dealer gave you your first oil for that change, for free?

In the days that this silliness has been bantered about here, we all could have changed the oil in every tractor in America and washed and waxed them too!!! Man, go wash and wax your tractor. You'll feel better. :thumbsup:

FYI - I mean a straight answer from a reliable source - such as , maybe, somebody like JOHN DEERE! :laughing:

I can see what your point of view is, but you still don't address the real issue at all. This isn't a minor detail - "just an oil change" - it's the proper break-in requirements of a $30K+ tractor. Taking it lightly or just doing something because it seems like the right thing to do (not based on anything factual) is just plain foolish. "Well so-and-so did it and didn't have any trouble, so it must be okay" - utter nonsense.

I'm really not obsessing - just pissed off that a company like Deere can't seem to tell us the required maintenance. From the interest in this post, seems that many others feel the same way. No offense - but if you think this is silliness, then don't read it. :thumbsup:

 

[AKfish]

No blood - no foul... Play ball!

It's important; but not really all that serious. You're not gonna damage your engine or ruin your tractor - going to synthetic after the 50 hr breakin.

Won't happen!

Tractor will run every day after that - likely all the way to 5,000 hrs. without a burp!

I did (50 hr.) cause the next change took me into the winter months. And I didn't want the cold weather start-up issues with dino lubricants in the middle of an Alaskan winter!!

However, JD (after 75 years - or more) surely recognizes that engine failures are; in the majority of cases, due to alot more than whether the break-in oil was at 50 hrs or 100 hrs. Or if synthetic oil was used.

AKfish

 

[glc24]

I'm really not obsessing - just pissed off that a company like Deere can't seem to tell us the required maintenance. From the interest in this post, seems that many others feel the same way. No offense - but if you think this is silliness, then don't read it.

I totally agree.
The last thing I expect here is "silliness".

Greg

 

[Spudland_Dave]

A little OT here, but I'm gonna say it anyways....

Threads like this are exactly why I like TBN more then any other forum... On other forums, alot of people just really post to get a pat on the back or confirmation what they did was right... Here on TBN people speak their honest mind...and say it honestly. Hey, if you believe the first oil change should be done at 1,000 hours and Canola Oil is the best thing for use in Hydraulic Systems.. So be it! Why not post that you've done exactly that since 1992 and have had no problems?
We all have opinions on what the best tiller is, or what the best oil is, etc... at the end of it all, its good to read all the posts with the various thoughts and experiences...

 

[OtterBrookStables]

A little OT here, but I'm gonna say it anyways....

Threads like this are exactly why I like TBN more then any other forum... On other forums, alot of people just really post to get a pat on the back or confirmation what they did was right... Here on TBN people speak their honest mind...and say it honestly. Hey, if you believe the first oil change should be done at 1,000 hours and Canola Oil is the best thing for use in Hydraulic Systems.. So be it! Why not post that you've done exactly that since 1992 and have had no problems?
We all have opinions on what the best tiller is, or what the best oil is, etc... at the end of it all, its good to read all the posts with the various thoughts and experiences...

Agree with you Spud - I too appreciate all points of view -- As long as it stays friendly and people don't take a stand on something because it's what they want to believe, but actually completely false. Here's a pertinent analogy to this thread: I've actually had people try to argue that smoking is not bad for you. Now, if you enjoy smoking, that's okay and entirely your business - just don't try to convince the rest of the world that it's good for you when we all know it's not. The point is people do listen to the advice here and act on it - that's kind of the point of this forum. So we should all make sure that our advice is backed by actual facts and not some other conclusion drawn from subjective observation or what your neighbor says. 'Nuf said.

 

[North585]

Here's a question to throw things off a little.

I'll be changing my 2720 oil/filter in a couple of weeks. It will be it's first oil change and I'm doing it bacause the tractor is 1 year old. I have 25 hours of use (pampered use!--backhoe/loader work). What kind of oil should I use? Break in or??? I was going to use Amsoil (use it in my quads/585) but now I'm rethinking this.

Thoughts?

 

[OtterBrookStables]

Here's a question to throw things off a little.

I'll be changing my 2720 oil/filter in a couple of weeks. It will be it's first oil change and I'm doing it bacause the tractor is 1 year old. I have 25 hours of use (pampered use!--backhoe/loader work). What kind of oil should I use? Break in or??? I was going to use Amsoil (use it in my quads/585) but now I'm rethinking this.

Thoughts?

Check out this link: Frontier Power Products - Deere Break-In Oil

This is the best, most reliable info I can find so far. Your tractor has a 3 cyl Yanmar engine. My 4120 has a 4 cyl Deere PowerTech motor. Not sure if there are different break-in specs, and the info I've found doesn't indicate that there is a difference. I am changing out my break-in oil at 50 hrs for more break-in oil. I'll run that until at least 100 hrs, maybe 150 depending on how hard I work it. Then, I'm switching to John Deere Plus-50 0W-40 Synthetic (We use this in all of our diesels).

 

[glc24]

I am changing out my break-in oil at 50 hrs for more break-in oil. I'll run that until at least 100 hrs, maybe 150 depending on how hard I work it. Then, I'm switching to John Deere Plus-50 0W-40 Synthetic (We use this in all of our diesels).

This is also what I've decided to be my course of action


Greg

 

[OtterBrookStables]

Changed out the factory oil and filter today at 52.5 hrs - put in fresh break-in oil. I'll change that out for synthetic at 100 hours. Couldn't believe how well the 4120 is designed for maintenance - everything was easily accessible without even lifting the hood. Great design.

 

[Kamik]

Otter,

Since I own a model 2520 CUT this thread made me curious about the break-in oil and procedure for it, so I pulled out the manual to see what John Deere actually specifies.

Quotes below are from the John Deere Compact Utility Tractor 2520, TM2288 March 2008, Technical Manual:

"Important: Avoid Damage! Only use this specified break-in oil in rebuilt or remanufactured engines for the first 100 hours (maximum) of operation. Do not use PLUS-50, SAE 15W40 oil or oils meeting specifications API CG-4 or API CF-4, these oils will not allow rebuilt or remanufactured engines to break-in properly."

"The following John Deere oil is PREFFERED:

• BREAK-IN ENGINE OIL"

"If this preferred John Deere oil is not available, use a break-in engine oil meeting the following specification during the first 100 hours of operation:

• API Service Classification CE or higher"

"Important: Avoid Damage! After the break-in period, use the John Deere oil that is recommended for this engine."

I assume John Deere is just as specific in the technical manual for your model tractor. Hope this helps,

Kamik

 

[glc24]

"Important: Avoid Damage! Only use this specified break-in oil in rebuilt or remanufactured engines for the first 100 hours (maximum) of operation.

Hello Kamik
What does it state concerning new engines?

Greg