LiuGong Engine (Kubota) Oil Recommendation?

J

jtwrace

Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Messages
447
Location
Central FL
I purchased a new forklift which has a Kubota WG2503 Dual Fuel Engine. I find the oil specifications quite confusing. Originally I thought I'd just use Mobil 1 0W-40, however, the (1) note says do not use low viscosity such as 10w30, however, they show the chart as 10w30 is acceptable. Thoughts?

I'm in Central Florida and it's not something we will use 8 hours a day, it's really just to unload trucks a couple of times per week or so.

LiuGong_Oil_5-21-2023.webp
 
How could having a better oil that pumps better be bad. Go ahead and use that. But if you're going to be running it for hours on end i'd suggest an hdeo. I have a lpg baker forklift and i find that the oil becomes contaminated quick since the engine doesn't run long enough to burn moisture off, gets cloudy and it isn't the head gasket. I run whatever cheap 5w-20 in it since it never gets hot and thus never thins the oil out. i only run it for a couple minutes at a time.
 
In Florida why not run your favorite HDEO in a 15w40 or even a 5w40 viscosity. IMO that manual is confusing because I’ve never seen something like bullet 2. We know that’s a widely known fallacy.

Just my $0.02
 
I don’t think there is a misprint, being a little familiar with Kubota engines, and it is not an argument I would want to make if there is an issue. For that reason, I would ask if there is any reason not to just look at the temp range and use what is recommended? My centigrade translation to Fahrenheit may be off, but in FL I think they are recommending a 15w40.
 
RAVL said:
I don’t think there is a misprint, being a little familiar with Kubota engines, and it is not an argument I would want to make if there is an issue. For that reason, I would ask if there is any reason not to just look at the temp range and use what is recommended? My centigrade translation to Fahrenheit may be off, but in FL I think they are recommending a 15w40.
Click to expand...
15W-40 or 0W-40 is basically the same given the ambient temp, right?
 
My understanding is yes at temperature but the 0w may, as it ages, move towards the “0w” in the viscosity. The 15w will generally have less VIIs to make it a 40 weight at temperature. This is why if the ambient temperature is high like it is in FL there is little point to the 0w.

Also people worrying about lubrication at start up should disassemble a motor that has not been run in a long while and see how long lubrication film remains on components - it is a long time. If you live in the polar outback pumping weight is a concern but in most areas it is not.

Good luck. We have run many Kubota machines for many years, doing little
Other than to read and do what it says in the manual. Happy new year as well.
 
A 2500 cc Kubota water cooled gasser. Sounds like a beast of an engine. I didn’t know they made them that big.

They are calling a 10w30 a thin oil. You’ll have better cold flow, but less engine life. I take this to mean it’s a stupid way of saying use thicker oil if the vehicle is used for towing, thicker is better etc. A Chinese company knows nothing of the EPA.

15w40 is a spot on, easy to find, and warranty compliant choice.
 
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