Cold Weather Hydraulic Operation

[manualf150]

It's getting to that time of the season, again. This will be my first winter having my BX2200. I was speaking with a few people, including a person in the service center of my local Kubota dealer in which I bought my Kubota about cold weather operation of the front end loader.

Say it is a snowy morning, and I got to clear my driveway of snow using the bucket. How long should I warm up my tractor if say the temperature is roughly 20F?

Some have told me 5 minutes, some have told me 20 minutes. I think 20 minutes is a bit of a waste... but I only want to do good to my tractor as it is a work horse, not a race horse. I like taking good care of my equipment as if I treat it well, it will treat me well for years to come.

Also, should I get a block heater for this tractor? Or are the glow plugs sufficient? I put a new battery in, which is a slightly larger one than the one that came from the factory.

 

[Bulldog]

There are several different factors that can alter these time but this is fairly standard. Assuming you have the original Super UDT fluid which is for cold weather operation and didn't go cheap and use UDT to save a couple of bucks.

above 32F: 10 min at 50% rated engine speed
32F - 14F: 10 - 20 min at 50%
14F - 4F : 20 - 30 min at 50%

Myself I use Amsoil synthetic tractor trans/hyd fluid and it is rated for temps as low as -51F. I know for a fact my L 3000 will start without glow plugs at 11F and the loader worked as smooth then as it does when it 100F outside. Even in cold weather I let mine warm up untill the engine temp come up on the guage some and then go to work. The hyd system is ready and smooth no how cold it gets. The Amsoil 5w30 HDD engine oil is rated down to -56F and it starts as good at 11F as it does in the summer. I can't tell any difference in it at all. I do use my glow plugs when it's real cold but only to make it easier on the engine. It has never been cold enough that they were required.

Here is a easy way to see if your oil is ready for cold weather. Get a qt bottle of your oil and stick it in the freezer for 24 hrs. Get it out and turn the bottle upside down. If you have one big clump in there then think of that in your engine or transmission. Are you ready for winter?

 

[ETRon]

Bulldog,
Sorry to be off-topic a bit but what have you been working in your "M" model? Dealer here told me the SUDT was a waste for me, even with the hydraulic shuttle. No one seems to know what they put in it from the factory for break-in so thought I'd ask.

 

[Bulldog]

Hi ETRon,

All Kubota equipment comes from the factory with SUDT in them. Every dealer will tell you that you don't need SUDT because for the most part people shy away from it because of the price so therefore they don't sell much of it. So instead of stocking 2 oils they try to only stock UDT and then tell the customers that SUDT is not any better or it doesn't offer any performace differences, ect, ect ,ect.

I don't use either one in my tractors but I do understand the difference between them. Tractors cost to much to fix or replace so I choose to go with aa even higher level of protection and that is why I use Amsoil. Yes it does cost more to use but no other oil can do what it does. Look at the total picture and it's really cheaper. You can run Amsoil up to 3 times longer than the SUDT. It has so many other advantages over other oil out there besides the extended I don't even know where to start. I can tell you this for sure. Amsoil lowered my transmission temp on my L 3000 by 70F degrees in the summer while mowing with my 6 ft mower. That's a blessing in itself when you are sitting straddle of the tranny. I can go on for hrs telling you what it did for my equipment but in the end the only way to see the difference is to do as I did. Try it and see for yourself. I tried it in my F150 first and after going from 9 mpg up to 15 mpg it really got me curious. So I tried it in something else. In every thing I tested it in the Amsoil out performed all the other oils I was using including synthetic mobil. I use it in everything I own from my RC cars to my M 9000. It will even make a chain saw more fuel efficient. Another big plus is Amsoil is a American company and has no need for overseas oil. We loose enough of our dollars to them now and get nothing in return but a headache. The less I support big oil the better I feel.

 

[kub3700]

Bulldogs right, I use AMSOIL in my Duramax (oil,tranny,and gear oil in front and rear chunks) it has significantly reduced trans temp. So far I have pulled a sample of motor oil @ 10k the readings came back all within normal limits, and that I can keep running the same. Just for peace of mind I change it a 10k all the time. I will be putting AMSOIL in the Kub once I get a few hours on him.

 

[Bulldog]

Kub3700,

Glad to hear about the good service in your Duramax. I change my powerstroke at 10,000 as well even though the oil can run longer. Normally I don't put over that many miles in a year plus over half the time mine is pulling a trailer with either a Kubota or a load of hay on it's back.

I went with 100% Amsoil in all my Kubotas at the 50 hr service and never looked back. I know that there are myths out there about not using synthetic oil in new engines or equipment. The key word is "myth". Just about every manufacturer out there uses synthetic oil from the factory now. From GM and Ford all the way up to Kenworth and Peterbuilt. You don't have a waiting period so go for it and give your Kubota the best. You already know it will be better for your Orange Baby so go for it.

 

[manualf150]

There are several different factors that can alter these time but this is fairly standard. Assuming you have the original Super UDT fluid which is for cold weather operation and didn't go cheap and use UDT to save a couple of bucks.

above 32F: 10 min at 50% rated engine speed
32F - 14F: 10 - 20 min at 50%
14F - 4F : 20 - 30 min at 50%

Myself I use Amsoil synthetic tractor trans/hyd fluid and it is rated for temps as low as -51F. I know for a fact my L 3000 will start without glow plugs at 11F and the loader worked as smooth then as it does when it 100F outside. Even in cold weather I let mine warm up untill the engine temp come up on the guage some and then go to work. The hyd system is ready and smooth no how cold it gets. The Amsoil 5w30 HDD engine oil is rated down to -56F and it starts as good at 11F as it does in the summer. I can't tell any difference in it at all. I do use my glow plugs when it's real cold but only to make it easier on the engine. It has never been cold enough that they were required.

Here is a easy way to see if your oil is ready for cold weather. Get a qt bottle of your oil and stick it in the freezer for 24 hrs. Get it out and turn the bottle upside down. If you have one big clump in there then think of that in your engine or transmission. Are you ready for winter?

I changed my hydro fluid about 60 hours ago, along with the filter. I also cleaned the strainer as well. I even replaced the front axle fluid as well. All using SUDT from Kubota, along with a Kubota filter. The dealer put a new engine oil filter on and new engine oil, stictly from what Kubota stated in the manual. I also drained and replaced the engine coolant as well with fresh Prestone mixed to the proper 50/50 ratio using distilled water from a sealed container.

From above, do you think I am ok for this winter? Or should I put a lighter oil in the engine?

I plan on changing the engine oil and filter at 75 hours or so again, probably when I do my valve clearance adjustment.

Also, some have told me I should put some Power Service diesel fuel treatment in to aid in cold weather operation.

I notice on this particular tractor, there is no fuel/water separator. Should I add one?

I know it may seem like a lot of questions, but I just want to do good to my little BX.

 

[Bulldog]

I know it may seem like a lot of questions, but I just want to do good to my little BX.

The only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

The SUDT is the best oil Kubota makes for cold weather. You should be fine there. More than likely the dealer used 10w30 in the engine if they went with the first choice in the manual. At least that is listed and the best weight in mine for most weather climates.

As far as the water seperater goes. I'm glad my M 9000 has one and I added one to my L 3000 made by Dahl and use it as a primary filter. It not only does water seperation but filters down to 2 microns. Using this filter I have only had to put 3 of the factory filter on mine in 10 yrs. I think it would be a good move on your part. The Dahl filter claims that if you use it there will never be any fuel pump or injector problems. I don't know about that but it has been good to me so far.

 

[manualf150]

The only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

The SUDT is the best oil Kubota makes for cold weather. You should be fine there. More than likely the dealer used 10w30 in the engine if they went with the first choice in the manual. At least that is listed and the best weight in mine for most weather climates.

As far as the water seperater goes. I'm glad my M 9000 has one and I added one to my L 3000 made by Dahl and use it as a primary filter. It not only does water seperation but filters down to 2 microns. Using this filter I have only had to put 3 of the factory filter on mine in 10 yrs. I think it would be a good move on your part. The Dahl filter claims that if you use it there will never be any fuel pump or injector problems. I don't know about that but it has been good to me so far.

That's why I ask...

I wasn't sure about the Amsoil... so I went with the tried and true SUDT from Kubota.

10W30 is what the dealer put in the engine.

Does that Dahl W/F separator work on the D905 engine?

I don't want to put too much restriction on the fuel line. I'd probably remove the secondary fuel filter to place the W/F separator.

 

[Bulldog]

The Amsoil tractor trans/hyd fluid is what I run in mine and it's been in them since the first oil change. You will be fine with the SUDT. It by far is the better of the two Kubota oils.

The 10w30 will do fine for you as well.

The Dahl filter is a in-line filter that you plumb in. I did mine like this. I come out of the tank into the Dahl, from the Dahl to the factory filter. When I installed mine I just unhooked the line from the factory filter and put the in-line fuel shut off. From the shut off to the Dahl.

I have the smallest one they make on my L 3000 (32hp) and it's rated for engines up to 90 hp.The only time has restriction is when the element needs changing. If you are interested in a Dahl you can still get them thru a Balwin filter dealer.

 

[manualf150]

Awesome! Thanks for the help and the tips.

 

[ETRon]

Bulldog,
Sounds like good advice using Amsoil. I hadn't thought of it till you mentioned it though. I'll have to check and see how far I have to go to get it, rather think there's no dealer out here in Gods' country. Perhaps there's one in Chattanooga or that direction. Thanks again.

 

[NC Bota]

Bulldog and all,

Which Amsoil hydraulic product do you use for the HST transmissions?

Thanks in advance.

Mark

 

[Bulldog]

Amsoil tractor trans/hyd fluid.