Kubota L 175 Oil Level

[DemetriosM2]

Dear Forum members,

We have an older L 175 at the monastery which was donated and serviced a couple of years ago. It has about 1900 hours on it and gets about 60 hours per year of use now. The dipstick has no markings on it at all..Nor do I own the manual for the tractor.

I have been very concerned about where on the Dipstick to fill the oil to. About 1 year ago we did an oil change and filled it to the capacity, 3.7 litres. Every few times I use it I "Top off" with 1-2 cups of oil (I believe we are using SAE 30 or 10W-30), but I am really shooting in the dark here.

Yesterday I was mowing with it. After a couple of hours I felt a lot of heat from the transmission, and I felt very concerned if it could be related to the oil level.

I have done a search of the forum ahead of time, but wasn't able to find a topic about this.

Thank you for your assistance.

Fr. Demetrios

Chaplain of the Sacred Monastery of St. Nina, an Orthodox Christian convent near Frederick MD

 

[8upbowhunter]

Not sure about your tractor but the dipstick on mine has 2 holes in it towards the bottom of the dipstick. The upper hole is the high level mark and the lower hole is the low level mark, anything between the holes is a good level.


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[bucktail]

My L1500 which has the same engine as the L175 has cross hatch on the dipstick where the acceptable range is. A picture of the dipstick would help us help you.

If the heat is coming from the transmission, it is likely not related to the engine, but it could be blowing back form the engine. The L175 does not have a water pump on it; the fluid circulates by convection. It is important to keep the grill, screen, and radiator clear of debris. Mowing creates such debris. Look closely at the radiator as it is hard to see if it is plugged. The transmission fluid level needs to be checked as well. There is a "fill to" plug on the left side of it. Someone will probably be along to post a picture of this if you wait long enough. Low fluid level here could be causing transmission heat, especially if the mower is running off of the PTO and not the front of the crankshaft.

 

[DemetriosM2]

Thank you both for getting back to me so soon.

I have placed photos of the dipstick in a shared Google photos album which can be viewed here, including a photo showing the current oil level.

https://goo.gl/photos/2bzZdw7GyHFhGZ3s9

It doesn't seem to have any marks on it.

Yes, I have been using the PTO. I will look to see if I can check the transmission fluid level.

Sincerely, Fr. Demetrios

 

[MadMax31]

Thank you both for getting back to me so soon.

I have placed photos of the dipstick in a shared Google photos album which can be viewed here, including a photo showing the current oil level.

https://goo.gl/photos/2bzZdw7GyHFhGZ3s9

It doesn't seem to have any marks on it.

Yes, I have been using the PTO. I will look to see if I can check the transmission fluid level.

Sincerely, Fr. Demetrios

Well, now Im confused. What oil did you check? The engine or transmission? My L175 ran a little warm after bush hogging, but nothing too bad.

 

[Russell King]

I suggest you buy a new dipstick for the tractor. That one looks like someone made it and just "knew" where it was full. For what it's worth the oil level looks at a normal height for a dipstick so I doubt it is low.

The transmission will have a fill cap on top between your knees. On the left side of the transmission case, near where the clutch pedal is will be a bolt head with a flange and there should be a gasket or copper ring between the transmission case and the flange. Often there is a bit of leakage and dirt accumulation to help you find it, unless you clean the tractor frequently.

Put tractor on level (front to back and side to side) and remove the plug. Best to have a drain pan on the ground to catch the fluid. If any comes out you are good. If not you will have to decide if you want to just fill the transmission or if you want to change the fluid completely.

Pour in fluid slowly until it runs out plug. Put plug back in and cap on


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[North Idaho Wolfman]

The bottom half of your dipstick is missing.

 

[bgk]

It honestly seems like wolfman knows everything Kubota. Never shocked but always impressed.

 

[DemetriosM2]

Thank you very much for saying something about the Dipstick, Wolfman. I will try and get ahold of a replacement. It always stood out to me that the bottom end looked snipped.

I will check the transmission fluid level today. Yesterday I ran it for about 3 hours in 4th gear with the PTO (LOW), in 95 degree weather. It was really hot. Afterwards, to my shame I saw the screen was about halfway covered with debris.

I mention this because as I was finishing, I was having a little bit of fluid leakage out from beneath the shifter knobs. I felt afraid of a problem so I stopped. I wondered if maybe there's a gasket underneath those knobs which needs replacement, or if it was just because the tractor was running too hot.

Again I appreciate all of your timely help. Fr. Demetrios

 

[Russell King]

The leakage is probably due to a plugged vent in the transmission. It is under the seat on the left (clutch) side. Looks like a question mark laid down on its side. Unscrew it from the tractor with a nut near the base of the vent. Clean it out if needed. It is really just a bent tube so a wire will work.

Wasps love to build nests in it


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[Daren Todd]

Mud dobbers absolutely love the transmission vent under the seat. After cleaning out the vent. You can prevent it from being plugged up again, with a piece of cotton cloth and a hose clamp. I cleaned out my vent the last time, and wrapped the end of the vent with a piece of an an old sock and secured it with a hose clamp. Haven't had any trouble since

On the smaller kubota engines, if someone checks the oil while the engine is running. When installing the dipstick back into the hole, it can contact the rotating assembly. Seen a guy do that to one of my light towers The bottom half of the dip stick is now in the bottom of the oil pan

 

[Diesel N8]

Mud dobbers absolutely love the transmission vent under the seat. After cleaning out the vent. You can prevent it from being plugged up again, with a piece of cotton cloth and a hose clamp. I cleaned out my vent the last time, and wrapped the end of the vent with a piece of an an old sock and secured it with a hose clamp. Haven't had any trouble since

On the smaller kubota engines, if someone checks the oil while the engine is running. When installing the dipstick back into the hole, it can contact the rotating assembly. Seen a guy do that to one of my light towers The bottom half of the dip stick is now in the bottom of the oil pan

Sorry to revive this old thread, my L175 finally got working after I put some time into her and I have changed the fluid for the transmission and cleaned the filter but now it seems to leak and the fluid level is going down after the 10 hours I now put on it, also I have never heard of this vent before but I am trying to find it but can't seem to, I can send a picture if needed so you can point me in the direction of it because I hope this may be my issue.

 

[Daren Todd]

Sorry to revive this old thread, my L175 finally got working after I put some time into her and I have changed the fluid for the transmission and cleaned the filter but now it seems to leak and the fluid level is going down after the 10 hours I now put on it, also I have never heard of this vent before but I am trying to find it but can't seem to, I can send a picture if needed so you can point me in the direction of it because I hope this may be my issue.

The L175 doesn't have that vent. On your model the cap for the transmission fluid is vented. That being the case, you might try a new vented cap before digging in two deep. The cap has a small whole and are known to go bad after a bit.

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[Diesel N8]

The L175 doesn't have that vent. On your model the cap for the transmission fluid is vented. That being the case, you might try a new vented cap before digging in two deep. The cap has a small whole and are known to go bad after a bit.

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Oh wow so the cap that is in the middle of the transmission on top? It may be the stock one for all I know.

 

[Daren Todd]

Oh wow so the cap that is in the middle of the transmission on top? It may be the stock one for all I know.

Probably is. And yes it's center on top of the transmission

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[Diesel N8]

Probably is. And yes it's center on top of the transmission

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Well look at what I found. It was some peice of old wood that was inside that black tube and did not let any air get in, should I put something else in there like cloth? Hopefully this will solve my leaky hyd/trans fluid problem.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

you just need the Question mark hose nothing else.

You can get one here: https://www.hlavinka.com/buy-parts/KUBOTA-Part-38180-37140-BREATHER-1-3394868/

 

[Daren Todd]

you just need the Question mark hose nothing else.



You can get one here: https://www.hlavinka.com/buy-parts/KUBOTA-Part-38180-37140-BREATHER-1-3394868/

Sean, I was under the impression the L175 didn't utilize the question mark breather pipe, but a vented cap on top of the transmission.

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[North Idaho Wolfman]

Sean, I was under the impression the L175 didn't utilize the question mark breather pipe, but a vented cap on top of the transmission.

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You are right, the stock cap just has a vent hole in the side of it.
But someone has changed that cap out for the newer style with the vent out the top, hence why he has a hose on the cap with a wood plug in it, and needs to replace that with the Question mark vent hose.

 

[Daren Todd]

You are right, the stock cap just has a vent hole in the side of it.

But someone has changed that cap out for the newer style with the vent out the top, hence why he has a hose on the cap with a wood plug in it, and needs to replace that with the Question mark vent hose.

10-4, then cover the end of the hose with a piece of sock or rag to keep the mud dobbers at bay If not, he will be cussing them

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