L-4600F oil change, WIX filters and Rotella T6?

[Sid Post]

Sorry if this is an often asked question but, my search came up empty.

I did my first oil change with a factory Kubota oil filter (~$13) and Rotella 15-40W oil.

While at a the local auto parts store, I cross matched it to a WIX oil filter that was <$6. Should I worry about running a WIX filter on my tractor (think the model number is 53107 but, that's from memory and may be wrong)?

On the engine oil, on previous tractors (big ag tractors and dozers) I had great success with Rotella 15-40W. I have heard the new synthetic Rotella T6 is the best oil out there for diesel engines currently (at least for industrial and ag engines). Is anyone running this oil? What are your thoughts on it? Is it worth the price premium?

TIA,
Sid

 

[Bulldog]

I'm not a fan of Wix filters based on a bad experience I had several years ago at the quarry. We got a number of Wix filters that had bad seals / gaskets and had issues with leaks. Had some bad air filters during that time and lost one engine in a Cat D8L that cost over $100K to replace. I lost all faith in Wix after that, but some people love them.

I do think that Rotella is a good product and the Synthetic T6 is the better choice of the 2. I'll have to choose to disagree with you that Rotella T6 is the best oil for your engine but that's my opinion. I don't want another oil war so I'll leave it at that.

 

[Sid Post]

I've used Amsoil with great success in the past with gasoline automotive engines. Castrol has treated me well too.

I've never used Mystic but I know a few who swear by it.

I've never had a bad WIX experience myself but, my uses have been pretty limited which is what prompted my post.

 

[Bluegill]

I've run Wix for years without issue, hadn't looked to see if one fits the tractors, will do that soon. Rotella T6 5/40 is what goes in the tractors here.

 

[Bulldog]

Sid, I looked back to your first post and gave it more thought. Most likely you won't change oil over one time per year so the cost difference between Kubota filters and Wix really is nothing. If Rotella is your oil of choice then yes, the T6 is worth every penny.

I have tried the T6 but it's not my first choice. However if I was out of Amsoil I wouldn't hesitate to use Rotella. They make a quality product.

 

[Sid Post]

I'm probably looking at 3 or 4 oil changes a year so, an extra ~$60 × 3 or 4 isn't huge but it does add up over time.

 

[Bulldog]

I'm probably looking at 3 or 4 oil changes a year so, an extra ~$60 × 3 or 4 isn't huge but it does add up over time.

Just curious, what do you do to put that many hrs on one tractor in a year? That's a lot of oil changes unless you do commercial work.

 

[Bluegill]

Yes 3-4 oil changes a year is crazy. I'd also like to know how many hours a year?

 

[Bulldog]

I can understand multiple changes if it's used that much but most tractors aren't. When I was a full time loader operator at the quarry I changed engine oil 13x per year. I averaged 250 hrs every 4 weeks though.

 

[Bluegill]

I can understand multiple changes if it's used that much but most tractors aren't. When I was a full time loader operator at the quarry I changed engine oil 13x per year. I averaged 250 hrs every 4 weeks though.

60+ hours a week?

 

[Daren Todd]

60+ hours a week?

Some of my light towers will run 24/7 out on a job site. They get hooked up to a small rv as a make shift job trailer. So it gets an average of 168 hours per week and needs to be service every 10 to 11 days to keep the oil changes at around 250 hours. The ones not hooked to an rv will run dusk till dawn if the hired hands remember to shut them off. So they are done every 2 to 3 weeks depending on the season.

 

[Bulldog]

60+ hours a week?

I'm afraid so Bluegill. That was just my average week. During the summer I have worked 100+ hr weeks and now I look back and wonder why. It made a old man out of me way before it should have and the stress about killed me. If I could go back and change things I would have spent more time with my wife and kids. I works on stretch on the road traveling with a trackhoe going to which ever quarry needed help. I was home 10 days out of 11 months. I enjoyed what I was doing but I'll never put any job in front of my family again.