Overthinking Kubota L2900 Fluids...

[Clarkbug]

Hey everyone.

Hoping to get some thoughts here for a new-to-me Kubota L2900. Not sure of the exact year, but mid to late 90s, has a little over 1000 hours, not much use in the past few years. Filters have a date scratched into them from 2018 so time for full fluid swap on the machine.

From the users manual I found on the web, the transmission likes Super UDT from Kubota, which they don't make anymore, so now its Super UDT2. (It's the Glideshift transmission). As much as it hurts the wallet, Ill put that in there with a new OEM filter and that should take care of that for a bit.

Where I am starting to get hung up is on the front axle. Specs state to use that same fluid, or an 80w-90 gear oil. I'm inclined to go with gear oil, and was trying to find a suitable one, preferably on the SAE J2360 list. NAPA has some Mobilube HD Plus that seems appealing, and its on that list, but Mobil's site does not list that specification, only an older one that looks to be a military spec. Also thinking about some Amsoil in there, but haven't reached out to Pablo on here yet about it.

For the engine oil I was planning to go with Delvac 15w-40 that I have here already, which looks to be a little heavy for what Kubota wants to see (they are good with 10w-30 pretty much year round), but I don't plan on a lot of real low temperature use on the engine so should be OK.
Probably need to do coolant also, and I happen to have a vintage bottle of Prestone green from 1990... Any issues mixing that with distilled water and using it here? Or should I find a more "modern" coolant? Don't have a lot of diesel experience so not sure if these little Kubota mills are going to have hot spots or something else that requires something fancy. The manual just says Ethylene Glycol coolant, not very helpful.

Appreciate any help to put my mind at ease so it stops chewing on itself with choices.....

Thanks!

 

[cptbarkey]

Nice tractor and congrats.

Any name brand 80w90 gear oil will work fine for the front axle. I currently am using cheap Supertech in my BX2350. If you want to spring extra a synthetic 75w90 will work fine too.

Since you are in a colder climate, 10W30 or 5W40 might be worth considering.

For coolant, any ELC will work fine. I'm using OEM John Deere Cool gard and Rotella ELC which can be had fairly cheaply premixed on Amazon.

I bought a 5 gallon bucket of regular Kubota UDT at a dealer about 8 months ago so i'm fairly certain its still being sold. UDT2 is excellent for your cold climate. I'm shifting away from name brand Kubota UDT and Hygard going forward for my tractors after seeing competing VOAs, and some very knowledgeable folks here mentioning they are very similar to each other. I went with Mobil Delvac this past weekend and saved a good $40 over Hygard. https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/post-your-latest-tractor-oil-change.309096/post-7052478

 

[Fitter30]

Prestone pitch it . Pour in another container it's probably lumpy from the inhibitors in it.

 

[Clarkbug]

Nice tractor and congrats.

Any name brand 80w90 gear oil will work fine for the front axle. I currently am using cheap Supertech in my BX2350. If you want to spring extra a synthetic 75w90 will work fine too.

Since you are in a colder climate, 10W30 or 5W40 might be worth considering.

For coolant, any ELC will work fine. I'm using OEM John Deere Cool gard and Rotella ELC which can be had fairly cheaply premixed on Amazon.

I bought a 5 gallon bucket of regular Kubota UDT at a dealer about 8 months ago so i'm fairly certain its still being sold. UDT2 is excellent for your cold climate. I'm shifting away from name brand Kubota UDT and Hygard going forward for my tractors after seeing competing VOAs, and some very knowledgeable folks here mentioning they are very similar to each other. I went with Mobil Delvac this past weekend and saved a good $40 over Hygard. https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/post-your-latest-tractor-oil-change.309096/post-7052478

Thanks! Its a nice little rig, a little more nimble than my older Massey that I will miss the loader lift capacity on...sigh.

I should have clarified... You can still get Kubota UDT, but not "Super UDT", they skipped to the "Super UDT2". My manual just calls out to use the Super. I would use the Delvac Tractor Hydraulic Fluid I have, but it doesn't meet the Super specs, just the regular. Ill hang onto it for now since I am sure Ill find some equipment that will need some hydraulic oil... Tempted by the Hyken 052 Plus from Kendall if I can find someone that carries it.

For the coolant I was just trying to avoid having another bottle on my shelf. I have some Green, Blue, Pink, Red, Gold/Yellow. The joys of multiple cars and manufacturers, and me not knowing better to start. But also makes sense to just pitch the older stuff next time I head to some place that will let me get rid of it. It is really hard to find a place to drop used coolant these days.

 

[Clarkbug]

Prestone pitch it . Pour in another container it's probably lumpy from the inhibitors in it.

Good point on this. I didn't even think about it being junky, but I guess that's reasonable given its 35 years old right now...

 

[IndyIan]

You might do some reading tractorbynet on what fluid the glide shift works well with? I assume the thinner SUDT2 is primarily spec'd for HST's now, and probably works fine, but the GST is much different inside I assume.
I played with one years ago on maybe an L2900, something that size anyways and quite used. It was my first real small tractor experience so it was a bit of a learning curve on how to use it effectively. Seemed like a lot of "clutching" going on it there by something and on my hills it was a bit nerve racking when it shifted as it momentarily disengaged. I ended up with a new Kioti DK40SE HST rops, as it seemed more idiot proof, and hucks around round bales easily.

 

[Clarkbug]

You might do some reading tractorbynet on what fluid the glide shift works well with? I assume the thinner SUDT2 is primarily spec'd for HST's now, and probably works fine, but the GST is much different inside I assume.
I played with one years ago on maybe an L2900, something that size anyways and quite used. It was my first real small tractor experience so it was a bit of a learning curve on how to use it effectively. Seemed like a lot of "clutching" going on it there by something and on my hills it was a bit nerve racking when it shifted as it momentarily disengaged. I ended up with a new Kioti DK40SE HST rops, as it seemed more idiot proof, and hucks around round bales easily.

Most of the reading I have done says that people usually have issues when they run a generic hydraulic fluid, and that tends to go away when they go back to the genuine fluid. I presume the Super UDT was an early synthetic, and now the SUDT2 is just its replacement that is back-spec'd. GST is gear drive, but with some hydraulic clutches in there doing most of the work, and they are pretty picky about the fluid viscosity it seems. I don't see much about using any of the Kendall fluid, and apparently there is one option by Chevron?

I'm going to have to learn not to use the dry clutch as much as I am used to. I get the feeling its not like the one on my Massey that was a little beefier for the constant usage. Will need to just get comfy with the transmission doing its business. Apparently its a cable selector that can get real funky if you don't maintain it, and its a pretty expensive cable replacement....

 

[IndyIan]

Most of the reading I have done says that people usually have issues when they run a generic hydraulic fluid, and that tends to go away when they go back to the genuine fluid. I presume the Super UDT was an early synthetic, and now the SUDT2 is just its replacement that is back-spec'd. GST is gear drive, but with some hydraulic clutches in there doing most of the work, and they are pretty picky about the fluid viscosity it seems. I don't see much about using any of the Kendall fluid, and apparently there is one option by Chevron?

I'm going to have to learn not to use the dry clutch as much as I am used to. I get the feeling its not like the one on my Massey that was a little beefier for the constant usage. Will need to just get comfy with the transmission doing its business. Apparently its a cable selector that can get real funky if you don't maintain it, and its a pretty expensive cable replacement....

I was reading a bit and one fellow never ever used the foot (dry clutch) with his GST for 1000hrs as he doesn't have a left foot, so I guess you can just make it work using the GST alone. I was interested in how the mechanics of these actually work, but didn't find anything definitive. It would be cool if it was a DCT but I think its an automated single clutch manual. I thought they had quit making them years ago, but they are still available in the newer tractors.
Probably sticking with the Kubota fluid would be a good choice as they do still make the GST.
I use Petro Canada Duratran in mine as its a got the best specs of low temp flow and high HTHS viscosity and flash point for a conventional tractor fluid that I could find, as usually I am making the HST work pretty hard.

 

[burbguy82]

UDT2 or gear oil, either one, but no a mix of the two.

I run my tractor in 4wd all the time, when i come time to change the fluid, I think I will go with 80w90 gear oil, I have a l2501.

The key with the front is getting it full......Fill it to the top, wait an hour, and top it off.

 

[Clarkbug]

UDT2 or gear oil, either one, but no a mix of the two.

I run my tractor in 4wd all the time, when i come time to change the fluid, I think I will go with 80w90 gear oil, I have a l2501.

The key with the front is getting it full......Fill it to the top, wait an hour, and top it off.

What I drained out was definitely gear oil, I think long overdue. I went back with 80w-90 oil, and will be keeping an eye on the level to make sure it's actually topped up. Not a lot of use on the machine for me right now, so there is time to check the levels repeatedly.

 

[burbguy82]

What I drained out was definitely gear oil, I think long overdue. I went back with 80w-90 oil, and will be keeping an eye on the level to make sure it's actually topped up. Not a lot of use on the machine for me right now, so there is time to check the levels repeatedly.

Their are a bunch or crvises that the oil has to drain into in the front axle knuckles. Mine when new was a quart low.

 

[dlundblad]

UDT2 or gear oil, either one, but no a mix of the two.

I run my tractor in 4wd all the time, when i come time to change the fluid, I think I will go with 80w90 gear oil, I have a l2501.

The key with the front is getting it full......Fill it to the top, wait an hour, and top it off.

Additionally, I think the key is to top it off, run it a little, let it sit overnight, and check again. Repeat as needed.

Mine was around 2 quarts low I believe. On paper, the front axle holds just under 4 quarts. A complete change and refill used my entire 1 gallon jug of gear oil though.

 

[burbguy82]

Additionally, I think the key is to top it off, run it a little, let it sit overnight, and check again. Repeat as needed.

Mine was around 2 quarts low I believe. On paper, the front axle holds just under 4 quarts. A complete change and refill used my entire 1 gallon jug of gear oil though.

Mine was about a quart low from brand new. I topped it off with factory UDT2.

I run in 4wd quite a bit, nearly all the time, just not sure which fluid is really better, UDT or gear oil. UDT is really no more expensive, and has to protect very well as countless tractor use the fluid.

 

[dlundblad]

Mine was about a quart low from brand new. I topped it off with factory UDT2.

I run in 4wd quite a bit, nearly all the time, just not sure which fluid is really better, UDT or gear oil. UDT is really no more expensive, and has to protect very well as countless tractor use the fluid.

It’s my understanding they are shipped dry from the factory and the dealer fills them once the axle’s knuckles/ hubs are installed.

I had to do a sniff test on the fill hole to see what the dealer used. My wife walked into the garage at that time which made things awkward.

 

[burbguy82]

It’s my understanding they are shipped dry from the factory and the dealer fills them once the axle’s knuckles/ hubs are installed.

I had to do a sniff test on the fill hole to see what the dealer used. My wife walked into the garage at that time which made things awkward.

That is what I was told to by the dealer. They just fill them up and call it good. This is not the correct way though. You are supposed to let it settle then top off.

 

[Chevyc10]

Hey everyone.

Hoping to get some thoughts here for a new-to-me Kubota L2900. Not sure of the exact year, but mid to late 90s, has a little over 1000 hours, not much use in the past few years. Filters have a date scratched into them from 2018 so time for full fluid swap on the machine.

From the users manual I found on the web, the transmission likes Super UDT from Kubota, which they don't make anymore, so now its Super UDT2. (It's the Glideshift transmission). As much as it hurts the wallet, Ill put that in there with a new OEM filter and that should take care of that for a bit.

Where I am starting to get hung up is on the front axle. Specs state to use that same fluid, or an 80w-90 gear oil. I'm inclined to go with gear oil, and was trying to find a suitable one, preferably on the SAE J2360 list. NAPA has some Mobilube HD Plus that seems appealing, and its on that list, but Mobil's site does not list that specification, only an older one that looks to be a military spec. Also thinking about some Amsoil in there, but haven't reached out to Pablo on here yet about it.

For the engine oil I was planning to go with Delvac 15w-40 that I have here already, which looks to be a little heavy for what Kubota wants to see (they are good with 10w-30 pretty much year round), but I don't plan on a lot of real low temperature use on the engine so should be OK.
Probably need to do coolant also, and I happen to have a vintage bottle of Prestone green from 1990... Any issues mixing that with distilled water and using it here? Or should I find a more "modern" coolant? Don't have a lot of diesel experience so not sure if these little Kubota mills are going to have hot spots or something else that requires something fancy. The manual just says Ethylene Glycol coolant, not very helpful.

Appreciate any help to put my mind at ease so it stops chewing on itself with choices.....

Thanks!

1990 antifreeze is too old, throw it out.