engine/hydraulic oil recomendation for Kubota Tractor
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
engine/hydraulic oil recomendation for Kubota Tractor
Hello,
I recently got my first real tractor. It's a 1996 Kubota M5030. 6-cyl diesel engine.
It's quite a machine! I want to go through it real good because I dont have much maintenance history on it. Any recommendations for fluids?
I was planning on running Rotella 15w-40 in the engine (like i do in my truck) even though the service manual says to use 10w-30. Any input on that??
Also, what about the trans/hydro fluid? I see that Sam's club has some as does Wal-Mart (tech 2000 brand), has anybody had good luck with these brands of Hydro fluid?
I am sorry if this is not the right forum, I have found so much good info on this site for my truck i thought I would try to get some insights for my tractor.
I attached a pic of my trailering it home, and a page of the service manual
Looks like I can find all of the filters fairly easily
Thanks for any replies
Matt
I recently got my first real tractor. It's a 1996 Kubota M5030. 6-cyl diesel engine.
It's quite a machine! I want to go through it real good because I dont have much maintenance history on it. Any recommendations for fluids?
I was planning on running Rotella 15w-40 in the engine (like i do in my truck) even though the service manual says to use 10w-30. Any input on that??
Also, what about the trans/hydro fluid? I see that Sam's club has some as does Wal-Mart (tech 2000 brand), has anybody had good luck with these brands of Hydro fluid?
I am sorry if this is not the right forum, I have found so much good info on this site for my truck i thought I would try to get some insights for my tractor.
I attached a pic of my trailering it home, and a page of the service manual
Looks like I can find all of the filters fairly easily
Thanks for any replies
Matt
Last edited by mattn124; 09-09-2012 at 08:45 PM. Reason: added picture
#2
Administrator
I was planning on running Rotella 15w-40 in the engine (like i do in my truck) even though the service manual says to use 10w-30. Any input on that??
Also, what about the trans/hydro fluid? I see that Sam's club has some as does Wal-Mart (tech 2000 brand), has anybody had good luck with these brands of Hydro fluid?
Also, what about the trans/hydro fluid? I see that Sam's club has some as does Wal-Mart (tech 2000 brand), has anybody had good luck with these brands of Hydro fluid?
As far as the transmission/hydraulic fluid goes, I'd do a Google search on any of the brands your manual lists and get the spec's and ratings for that oil. Then I'd make sure the off brand stuff you mentioned has comparable spec's and ratings. If it does, use it!
Nice looking tractor!
#3
Registered User
So far, the best TDH I have found for the kubota product, is the Kubota branded TDH fluid.
That said, just about any name brand TDH will work.
Kubota recommends 10W30 diesel rated oil in their engines. I have used 0W40 in my kubota stuff for years, as most of the engines I run are used in the winter, more than summer. That said, Kubota knows what is best for their gear.
Good luck with it
That said, just about any name brand TDH will work.
Kubota recommends 10W30 diesel rated oil in their engines. I have used 0W40 in my kubota stuff for years, as most of the engines I run are used in the winter, more than summer. That said, Kubota knows what is best for their gear.
Good luck with it
#4
Registered User
If the engine isn't worn and the bearing clearances are normal, running a heavier oil will not oil as well as the right one. I'd run the recommended oil till I had a better feel for the engine. If you're worried about extended temperature range operation, go synthetic.
One solution might be Rotella T6.
One solution might be Rotella T6.
#5
Registered User
When I tried running 15w40 like all my other trucks and tractors in my Kubota M108S the oil pressure was slow to come up especially in the winter.
Sort of a pain because I buy Delo 15w40 by the drum but really should be using the 10w30 in the Kubota.
Finally broke down and bought 10w30 in gallons just for the Kubota, it definitely likes it better.
For hydro fluid I use Napa Premium Universal Tractor Fluid, equivalent to JD Hi-Gard.
Sort of a pain because I buy Delo 15w40 by the drum but really should be using the 10w30 in the Kubota.
Finally broke down and bought 10w30 in gallons just for the Kubota, it definitely likes it better.
For hydro fluid I use Napa Premium Universal Tractor Fluid, equivalent to JD Hi-Gard.
#6
Registered User
Thread Starter
Thanks for all the feedback!
That Rotella T6 is good stuff, I run it in all my air-cooled equipment (1 riding mower, 1 push mower, and a John Deere 420 LGT). It is kinda pricy though
As for if the engine is worn, I really haven't ran it much yet. There is 4500 hours on the meter, but there are mechanics notes in the shop manual referencing the engine was rebuilt at 2800--ish hours. Even if that is true, the engine should be good and broken in by now.
What little I have ran it it runs great! Starts up very fast and easy too.
I think I may go with a cheaper, 10w30 oil for the engine for now. Based upon how it runs, and if it uses/leaks much oil will help me determine if I want to put the expensive R6 in it or not.
As for temperature extremes, here in Missouri we do get into the low 100's in summer and dip into the single digits occasionally in winter. Most winters here see lows in the teens, usually only overnight. I do plan on using the tractor to push snow off the driveway (if we get any this year) so if I am going to put in the Rotella I would rather have the Synth R6 (5W-40?) than the regular in case it gets cold.
Then based on how things go when I use it, next spring I could put the R6 in it.
I'll do my research on the hydro fluid.
Thanks!
That Rotella T6 is good stuff, I run it in all my air-cooled equipment (1 riding mower, 1 push mower, and a John Deere 420 LGT). It is kinda pricy though
As for if the engine is worn, I really haven't ran it much yet. There is 4500 hours on the meter, but there are mechanics notes in the shop manual referencing the engine was rebuilt at 2800--ish hours. Even if that is true, the engine should be good and broken in by now.
What little I have ran it it runs great! Starts up very fast and easy too.
I think I may go with a cheaper, 10w30 oil for the engine for now. Based upon how it runs, and if it uses/leaks much oil will help me determine if I want to put the expensive R6 in it or not.
As for temperature extremes, here in Missouri we do get into the low 100's in summer and dip into the single digits occasionally in winter. Most winters here see lows in the teens, usually only overnight. I do plan on using the tractor to push snow off the driveway (if we get any this year) so if I am going to put in the Rotella I would rather have the Synth R6 (5W-40?) than the regular in case it gets cold.
Then based on how things go when I use it, next spring I could put the R6 in it.
I'll do my research on the hydro fluid.
Thanks!
#7
Registered User
Thread Starter
infidel,
once warmed up, was there any noticeable difference between the 30 and 40 weight oil? Was the only thing you noticed the slower ramp-up of oil pressure when cold?
once warmed up, was there any noticeable difference between the 30 and 40 weight oil? Was the only thing you noticed the slower ramp-up of oil pressure when cold?
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#8
Administrator ........ DTR's puttin fires out and workin on big trucks admin
I run Kubota 10/30 year round in my B7610, it only holds 4-5 qts. I use the tractor all winter and summer and have never had a single issue with it. Kubota UDT for hydro oil also.
Just make sure the 10/30 you use is diesel rated.
Just make sure the 10/30 you use is diesel rated.
#9
Registered User
With 10w30 it would fire right up, only had to use glow plugs below 35F.
My guess is the heavier oil slowed cranking down just enough so that the fuel wouldn't light up.
#11
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I wouldn't go cheap on the hydraulic oil. Some of the cheaper oils are thinner and causes more leaks. I would use the manufacturers recommendations and use a name brand. That being said, I usually buy the oil from KOI since most of my tractors leak anyway. I just tell myself the tractors change the oil all on their own.
#12
Registered User
Thread Starter
I decided to use Rotella T5 10w-30 oil in the engine.
I found the part numbers for all of the filters here:
http://www.wixfilters.com/Lookup/filterlookup.aspx?
I couldn't believe I could look up my exact tractor and get every part number for a WIX filter I can buy close to home! (Kubota dealer 20 miles away)
I am going to run hydraulic fluid from O'Rielly's auto parts. I felt better about it than the WalMart stuff. Also i have a friend who runs this in his tractors for years with no problems (some Kubota tractors)
Now I just need to find the time to do it!
Thanks for all the replies!
I found the part numbers for all of the filters here:
http://www.wixfilters.com/Lookup/filterlookup.aspx?
I couldn't believe I could look up my exact tractor and get every part number for a WIX filter I can buy close to home! (Kubota dealer 20 miles away)
I am going to run hydraulic fluid from O'Rielly's auto parts. I felt better about it than the WalMart stuff. Also i have a friend who runs this in his tractors for years with no problems (some Kubota tractors)
Now I just need to find the time to do it!
Thanks for all the replies!
#13
Administrator
Sometimes you have enough safety margins, sometimes not, I always try and run it as close to specifications as possible.
#14
Registered User
On hydraulic and hydraulic/transmission fluids, it's always best to stick with a name brand oil. Some of the store brands and the cheap stuff at TSC has been sent in for testing when new hydraulic pumps went bad after a short time, and the sample of new oil came back "depleted/replace immediately".