Gator HPX 4x4 with Kawasaki V engine oil recommendation 10w-30 or 30w?
JD Gator with Kawasaki engine oil recommendation
- Thread starter bigsteve
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Modern day Kawi probably specs 10w30. I don't see the point in SAE30 anymore and haven't used it in years. I prefer a heavy-duty engine oil (HDEO) in any small air cooled equipment. 15w40 and 5w40 are usually the easiest to source off the shelf, but you can find it in SAE30 and 10w30. Shell Rotella, Mobil variants, Amsoil, house brands, etc.
Joel
Joel
How about using a wix oil filter rather then the John Deere?
That's what I do Steve. I use the Napa/Carquest (Wix) X-ref'd engine oil and hydraulic filters.
Joel
Joel
How often should the gear oil be changed and do I need John Deere brand?
bigsteve, I have had good luck with my workplace Gators (regular 4x2) following the recommendations in their manual. They are available (full version) at the JD website:
http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCatalo...g=off&tM=HO
I find John Deere owners manuals to be somewhat inconsistent and sometimes wrong in their maintenance recommendations. I have found wrong filter numbers, capacities, etc.. Sometimes the intervals are goofy. Be careful.
One goofy recommendation is for spark plugs....every 200 hours or annually (whichever is first)....sparkplugs won't go bad (timewise)if you only put 50 hrs. on it in one year.
Your manual (gas engine?) indicates it is water cooled and 10w30 looks correct (they show 5w30/10w30/10w40). Gators tend to do lots of short runs, start/stops, etc.. I like the 10w30.
They list 800 hrs. or 2years (whichever is first) for the transaxle and front differential. I do ours every two years....800 hrs. in two years is insane. I have found some moisture from condensation in these components if I go longer, but that will vary according to conditions.
Which lube for the transaxle and differential. This one is goofy...go to the appropriate manual section.
Transaxle: they "recommend" the JD J20C Hygard but say the low viscosity JD J20D "may" be used if within the temp charts.
Front differential: They only "recommend" the low viscosity J20D here. Only a few other manufacturers list the J20D spec. and it is hard to find.
I use the JD products for ease of availability. Many products meet the J20C spec.
Here's the link to the transaxle/differential manual page:
http://manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMM157849_A9/Output/Index.html?tM=HO (this link only takes you to the manual, you will have to click on the left to get to the tranny fluid section)
Please confirm all information for yourself....I don't know which exact model/production series you have.
http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCatalo...g=off&tM=HO
I find John Deere owners manuals to be somewhat inconsistent and sometimes wrong in their maintenance recommendations. I have found wrong filter numbers, capacities, etc.. Sometimes the intervals are goofy. Be careful.
One goofy recommendation is for spark plugs....every 200 hours or annually (whichever is first)....sparkplugs won't go bad (timewise)if you only put 50 hrs. on it in one year.
Your manual (gas engine?) indicates it is water cooled and 10w30 looks correct (they show 5w30/10w30/10w40). Gators tend to do lots of short runs, start/stops, etc.. I like the 10w30.
They list 800 hrs. or 2years (whichever is first) for the transaxle and front differential. I do ours every two years....800 hrs. in two years is insane. I have found some moisture from condensation in these components if I go longer, but that will vary according to conditions.
Which lube for the transaxle and differential. This one is goofy...go to the appropriate manual section.
Transaxle: they "recommend" the JD J20C Hygard but say the low viscosity JD J20D "may" be used if within the temp charts.
Front differential: They only "recommend" the low viscosity J20D here. Only a few other manufacturers list the J20D spec. and it is hard to find.
I use the JD products for ease of availability. Many products meet the J20C spec.
Here's the link to the transaxle/differential manual page:
http://manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMM157849_A9/Output/Index.html?tM=HO (this link only takes you to the manual, you will have to click on the left to get to the tranny fluid section)
Please confirm all information for yourself....I don't know which exact model/production series you have.
Great post doitmyself.
bigsteve, I think a 10W-30 HDEO as recommended above is a great choice for 9 months out of the year in Mass. For winter use, I'd get a jug of any of the synthetic 10-W30s out there: Pennzoil Platinum, Valvoline, QS, M1, etc ... and use that. Whatever's on sale will fit the bill, I'm sure.
Definitely go with an aftermarket engine oil filter. Wix is one of the best ... but Purolator will probably also have a good filter for this engine and will be a bit cheaper to boot.
bigsteve, I think a 10W-30 HDEO as recommended above is a great choice for 9 months out of the year in Mass. For winter use, I'd get a jug of any of the synthetic 10-W30s out there: Pennzoil Platinum, Valvoline, QS, M1, etc ... and use that. Whatever's on sale will fit the bill, I'm sure.
Definitely go with an aftermarket engine oil filter. Wix is one of the best ... but Purolator will probably also have a good filter for this engine and will be a bit cheaper to boot.
Hey doitmyself, I just looked at this page:
http://manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMM157849_A9/Output/OMM157849_A912.html#1428917
Can you tell us what typically found lubes (brand and weight) meet these two specs?
http://manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMM157849_A9/Output/OMM157849_A912.html#1428917
Can you tell us what typically found lubes (brand and weight) meet these two specs?
Bror,
It seems that nearly any of the "regular" Tractor Hydraulic-Transmission fluids meet the J20C spec.
For the low viscosity J20D spec. there seems to be these:
J20D only:
Chevron THF W - http://www.matweb.com/search/datasheettext.aspx?matguid=7f79289f25174207926c226d5b472812
Shell Donax TDL http://www-static.shell.com/static/can-en/downloads/shell_for_businesses/oils_lubricants/1-20.pdf
Citgo Lo Temp Transgard http://www.docs.citgo.com/msds_pi/10022.pdf
Dual J20C AND D:
AMSOIL ATH http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/ath.aspx
Chevron Synthetic All Weather THF http://www.alexisoil.com/pdf/SyntheticAllWeatherTHF.pdf
It seems that nearly any of the "regular" Tractor Hydraulic-Transmission fluids meet the J20C spec.
For the low viscosity J20D spec. there seems to be these:
J20D only:
Chevron THF W - http://www.matweb.com/search/datasheettext.aspx?matguid=7f79289f25174207926c226d5b472812
Shell Donax TDL http://www-static.shell.com/static/can-en/downloads/shell_for_businesses/oils_lubricants/1-20.pdf
Citgo Lo Temp Transgard http://www.docs.citgo.com/msds_pi/10022.pdf
Dual J20C AND D:
AMSOIL ATH http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/ath.aspx
Chevron Synthetic All Weather THF http://www.alexisoil.com/pdf/SyntheticAllWeatherTHF.pdf
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