Engine and Trans Oil change/flush

[Red_Texan 4]

Hello all,

310-8 owner here (and not the most mechanically inclined), wondering what type of oil yall run in your Kohler engines and in the uni-drive transmissions. The engine oil change seems simple enough, as the maintenance literature clearly shows the drain port/fill tube. However I am wanting to drain and refill the transmission (manual NOT hydro) but am unable to locate the drain tube. I see what looks to be a fill hole in the top left side but do not see any drain... Any recommendations on fluids and the possible location of the drain would be greatly appreciated. Additionally, I have seen some guys online saying to run a light diesel mix, then run with the back end lifted to "flush" out but am hesitant to do so.. Thanks in advance. 

 

B

[oliver2-44 10,549]

Shell Rotella 30 wt or 10w30 for the engine

For the transmission use &0w90 gear oil. WAL-MART store brand is good since these are not fancy transmissions.  There is an Allen head drain plug under the transmission just in front of the rear hitch. Clean the Allen socket head out good so the Allen wrench goes all the way in and doesn’t strip out. This is a tapered pipe thread Allen. So don’t over tighten when reinstalling. Put some teflon tape on it. There is a hump in the middle of the transmission. So When you drain it lift up the front of the tractor as high as you safely can. If the oil you drain out is whiteish gray or creamy brown it has some water in it. The diesel flush is a good way to clean any watery oil out if needed. 

[mrc 895]

engine...summer use---straight 30W  rotella 'T'   has high zinc i'm told which is good for our old kohlers

 

tranny...put your hand under the back of the tranny and you should feel the drain plug.  (near the drawbar)  if i remember correctly it uses a 1/4 inch allen wrench.    jack up the FRONT of the tractor very high  to get the used oil to flow over the casting hump inside the tranny and out the drain port.   if oil looks ok  then refiil with  90 weight gear oil. 2 qts..  if used oil looks milky flush with kero or diesel and drive around a bit.  then drain and fill with the fresh gear oil

[mrc 895]

oliver2-44 types faster than me!

[Red_Texan 4]

Thanks everyone, I found the drain (don't know how I missing that) and will be doing the service tomorrow. I am going to bight the bullet and do the diesel flush, can anyone tell a dummy exactly what and how much to mix. I'm assuming once you run it and drain it (the diesel mix) its understood that trace amounts will still be left and will not harm anything..? Thanks again guys, this forum is a lifesaver! 

[8ntruck 7,602]

Does the gear oil for the transmission need to be 'safe' for brass?

 

I might be mixing Wheel Horse and 8N transmission oil needs up, though.

[mrc 895]

Red-Texan,

 

straight diesel

2-2.5 qts.   

then drive it around in all gears and hi-lo range.

then jack up front of tractor and drain.  have a beer while it drips.

then refill with 2 qts gear oil  (90W)

trace amounts of diesel will be left but, should not harm anything

[953 nut 59,111]

4 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

'safe' for brass?

No brass in the Wheel Horse transmission.

[clueless 3,178]

10 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

Shell Rotella 30 wt or 10w30 for the engine

For the transmission use &0w90 gear oil. WAL-MART store brand is good since these are not fancy transmissions.  There is an Allen head drain plug under the transmission just in front of the rear hitch. Clean the Allen socket head out good so the Allen wrench goes all the way in and doesn’t strip out. This is a tapered pipe thread Allen. So don’t over tighten when reinstalling. Put some teflon tape on it. There is a hump in the middle of the transmission. So When you drain it lift up the front of the tractor as high as you safely can. If the oil you drain out is whiteish gray or creamy brown it has some water in it. The diesel flush is a good way to clean any watery oil out if needed. 

[Red_Texan 4]

9 hours ago, mrc said:

Red-Texan,

 

straight diesel

2-2.5 qts.   

then drive it around in all gears and hi-lo range.

then jack up front of tractor and drain.  have a beer while it drips.

then refill with 2 qts gear oil  (90W)

trace amounts of diesel will be left but, should not harm anything

great, ill git er dun!

[Handy Don 13,622]

5 hours ago, clueless said:

Put some teflon tape on it

I am ok with this advice for 8-speeds, but for hydros that circulate the transaxle oil, I would avoid tape lest a stray piece go where it wouldn’t be welcome. 

[pfrederi 18,547]

40 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

I am ok with this advice for 8-speeds, but for hydros that circulate the transaxle oil, I would avoid tape lest a stray piece go where it wouldn’t be welcome. 

 

And no RTV in hydros either

[Red_Texan 4]

21 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

Shell Rotella 30 wt or 10w30 for the engine

For the transmission use &0w90 gear oil. WAL-MART store brand is good since these are not fancy transmissions.  There is an Allen head drain plug under the transmission just in front of the rear hitch. Clean the Allen socket head out good so the Allen wrench goes all the way in and doesn’t strip out. This is a tapered pipe thread Allen. So don’t over tighten when reinstalling. Put some teflon tape on it. There is a hump in the middle of the transmission. So When you drain it lift up the front of the tractor as high as you safely can. If the oil you drain out is whiteish gray or creamy brown it has some water in it. The diesel flush is a good way to clean any watery oil out if needed. 

ANY Rotella T oil I am finding is saying its HD diesel engine oil.. are we talking about the same thing? Does it matter? The only reason I am getting so specific, is the manual calls for "API Service SF" oil exclusively. After a little research it looks like this is a thing of the past and is no longer considered safe to use due to it not handling modern and offering sludge protection . I am hoping that modern OIL does not have any additional additives that the engine shouldn't have..? I know I am getting caught up in the weeds on this but I need this machine to last trying to do everything right the first time and just make it part of my normal maintenance routine. 

[8ntruck 7,602]

  Rotella T oils are designed for diesels.  In general terms, that oil has a better extreme pressure package that also helps the flat tappers and  rod bearings in our now antique Kohlers and Onans. 

 

The current passenger car oil is designed for roller tappets and tighter clearance journal bearings, which also might have some sort of lube enhancing coatings.

Edited 10 hours ago by 8ntruck

[oliver2-44 10,549]

The Rotella diesel oil comes closer to meeting the additives of the old spec oil. 

[Red_Texan 4]

1 hour ago, oliver2-44 said:

The Rotella diesel oil comes closer to meeting the additives of the old spec oil. 

copy that, just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

[lynnmor 7,693]

Of course you can buy oil made for your gasoline engine and know that you have the correct oil.  Kohler and Kintix are two.