Oil Dipstick (L2501)
- Thread starter muddhogg
- Start date
Tropical Jack
Active member
Equipment
Kubota L3301 w/ FEL & BH, tilt and trim, chipper, box blade, grading blade
I would be careful here.
My L3300 manual calls for 3.5 qts oil in the crankcase .
That puts the oil level at the dash between the numbers on the stick, so
1/2 way between the holes .
How I found out is doing an oil change. The previous owner went by the
the holes and had filled it to the top hole which made it 5 qts.
That was 1.5 qts more than it was suppose to have. Arrgh !
I'll hold back on cussing out the previous owner here but makes me wonder
how many Kubota owners are running their tractors with too much oil in their crankcases. Not that hard to find a owners manual and fluid capacities on these tractors.
Anyone else care to chime in ? Probably not the best dipstick design.
My L3300 manual calls for 3.5 qts oil in the crankcase .
That puts the oil level at the dash between the numbers on the stick, so
1/2 way between the holes .
How I found out is doing an oil change. The previous owner went by the
the holes and had filled it to the top hole which made it 5 qts.
That was 1.5 qts more than it was suppose to have. Arrgh !
I'll hold back on cussing out the previous owner here but makes me wonder
how many Kubota owners are running their tractors with too much oil in their crankcases. Not that hard to find a owners manual and fluid capacities on these tractors.
Anyone else care to chime in ? Probably not the best dipstick design.
Last edited:
Thanks Woodsy, since this is a new tractor I can’t really tell how many quarts are in the tractor without a drain and refill, so that was my question on where the dipstick level should be.
OrangeKrush
Well-known member
Equipment
BX2680, LA344 with Piranha tooth bar, LP PF 1242, LP Rear Blade, KK 60" BB
Where was the level showing on the stick from the dealer? Can't always trust dealers to do the right thing when it comes to prepping them but should be close.
OrangeKrush
Well-known member
Equipment
BX2680, LA344 with Piranha tooth bar, LP PF 1242, LP Rear Blade, KK 60" BB
I checked mine again just to make sure and it is in the exact same spot as your red mark when cold. I done a 50 hour oil change on it and can't remember exactly how much oil I used but it was really close to manual recommendation. I specifically make sure it's to the top line whenever changing oil or real close on anything I own.
I do what most likely do and put in the majority and start it to idle for a bit and then recheck and fill as needed to top it off. You're making sure it's in the pockets, filters and also warming it up. They say between the lines but I'd rather it be closer to topped.
Although mine is a Bx2680, shouldn't matter if you do the recommended minus a quart and then go from there. Took this pic but did not realize it didn't focus.
Mine came from the dealer filled near the top hole and I changed the oil and added to the same level. I just checked manual and it says:
To check the oil level, draw out the dipstick, wipe it
clean, replace it, and draw it out again. Check to see
that the oil level lines between the 2 notches.
If the level is too low, add new oil to the prescribed
level at the oil inlet.
I personally would not like to see the level near the bottom hole, but there is probably not much capacity difference between both holes. I have an old John Deere tractor that I thought I was keeping the oil at the right capacity because the dipstick had an arrow pointing to a line. Wellll, turns out there were TWO arrows. That was the lower arrow pointing at the minimum and there was another arrow further up, pointing to a maximum hash mark. It turned out that it was barely a quart difference between the low mark and full mark.
To check the oil level, draw out the dipstick, wipe it
clean, replace it, and draw it out again. Check to see
that the oil level lines between the 2 notches.
If the level is too low, add new oil to the prescribed
level at the oil inlet.
I personally would not like to see the level near the bottom hole, but there is probably not much capacity difference between both holes. I have an old John Deere tractor that I thought I was keeping the oil at the right capacity because the dipstick had an arrow pointing to a line. Wellll, turns out there were TWO arrows. That was the lower arrow pointing at the minimum and there was another arrow further up, pointing to a maximum hash mark. It turned out that it was barely a quart difference between the low mark and full mark.
OK, but while this question does not relate to me personally, lets apply a bit of common sense.
Two marks are indicated. One obviously is the high level, and the other is the low level.
What is acceptable? Obviously anywhere between the two marks.
Is this rocket science? I wold not think so...
Seems like a wide range for a crankcase oil level given a capacity of 3.5 qts w/filter per manual in my particular case .
According to my calcs low mark on MY dipstick would be 2 qts,
high mark 5 qts .
But its your tractor so do what you want with it. I prefer to follow the specs.
According to my calcs low mark on MY dipstick would be 2 qts,
high mark 5 qts .
But its your tractor so do what you want with it. I prefer to follow the specs.
The dipstick on an L2501 goes into the oil at quite a low angle.
The difference between both holes translates to very little difference in oil depth.
Also affected greatly by how level the machine is.
As long as you have the machine fairly level, between the holes is fine.
The difference between both holes translates to very little difference in oil depth.
Also affected greatly by how level the machine is.
As long as you have the machine fairly level, between the holes is fine.
Sadly it seems that Kubota takes a "one size fits most" approach. If it fits in the hole and doesn't bottom out, it's good. I refilled my engine with the correct amount of oil plus tax (for the filter) and made my own mark on the dipstick. Life is good.
the books ain't always right.
fill to the top hole, with the tractor on level ground.
Really as long as it's between the marks its fine.
BUT-remember-a lot of them have two sumps (prop shaft runs between them), and the oil pump pickup is only in one side, oftentimes the dipstick in the other side. I have actually tested this and on one of them I had the pan off, 3 quarts filled one sump but not the other. it took 5 1/2 to fill both sumps. Book said 3.5 to fill it.....
It's cheaper to punch two holes in the stick than to make hashmarks, also easier to read since the hash marks are harder for older eyes like mine to see. Also an enginerd told me that stamping the hashmarks into a stick weakens the end of the gauge, which we don't want.
fill to the top hole, with the tractor on level ground.
Really as long as it's between the marks its fine.
BUT-remember-a lot of them have two sumps (prop shaft runs between them), and the oil pump pickup is only in one side, oftentimes the dipstick in the other side. I have actually tested this and on one of them I had the pan off, 3 quarts filled one sump but not the other. it took 5 1/2 to fill both sumps. Book said 3.5 to fill it.....
It's cheaper to punch two holes in the stick than to make hashmarks, also easier to read since the hash marks are harder for older eyes like mine to see. Also an enginerd told me that stamping the hashmarks into a stick weakens the end of the gauge, which we don't want.
Hello all, I just did a 200 hr oil change 11/11/2022. Heres what i have to say. Filled with 6 quarts of kubota 10w-30 oil the dip stick reads just above the top hole on dipstick as pictured on this forum.
now what makes you wonder is before i did this oil change my dip stick read about an inch or 2 down from the top hole. Both oil plugs were offdraining for atleast 30 minutes ( I had multiple things going on).
after i did the oil change i put the used oil into the oil jugs and it only filled the 1 gallon jug. That means i was 2 quarts low and was only just below thetop hole on dip stick.
Enjoy!
now what makes you wonder is before i did this oil change my dip stick read about an inch or 2 down from the top hole. Both oil plugs were offdraining for atleast 30 minutes ( I had multiple things going on).
after i did the oil change i put the used oil into the oil jugs and it only filled the 1 gallon jug. That means i was 2 quarts low and was only just below thetop hole on dip stick.
Enjoy!