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John Deere Zero-Turn Mower Transmission And Engine Oil Options

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John Deere ZTrak zero-turn lawn mowers are some of the more popular models on the market. Let’s take a look at AMSOIL synthetic transmission and engine oil substitutes for each model. We will also list the oil change intervals for each ZTrak transmission and engine. If you have questions, feel free to contact us using the form on this page.

AMSOIL products discussed on this page include:

Z300 Series Zero-Turn Mower Transmission And Engine Oil

Models include Z335E, Z335M, Z345M, Z345R, Z355E, Z355R, Z365R, Z375R- Gasoline Engines

Z300 Transmission Oil And Service Interval

The transmission used in the Z300 Series is a “sealed unit”. Therefore, the oil cannot be changed.

Z300 Engine Oil And Service Interval

John Deere suggests SAE 30 or SAE 40 for Z300 series motors. AMSOIL Small Engine Synthetic 10W-30 or 10W-40 can replace straight 30 or 40-weight oils.

Deere suggests changing the Z300 Series engine oil every 50 hours or once per year (whichever comes first).

Z500 Series Zero-Turn Mower Transmission And Engine Oil

Models include Z515E, Z530M, Z530R, Z545R- Gasoline Engines

Z500 Transmission Oil Type And Service Interval

The transmissions on the Z500 Series transmission do not require oil and filter changes. However, the oil level should be maintained at the “Full” line.

John Deere suggests hydraulic fluid meeting the John Deere “J20C” specification or 10W-30 motor oil. The AMSOIL product that meets this spec is AMSOIL Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic/Transmission Oil.

Z500 Engine Oil And Service Interval

John Deere suggests 10W-30, 10W-40, 15W-40, SAE 30 or SAE 40 motor oil meeting the API SJ specification (or newer). The AMSOIL replacement is Small Engine Synthetic 10W-30 or 10W-40.

The recommended engine oil change interval for the Z500 Series is every 50 hours or once per year, whichever comes first.

Z700 Series Zero-Turn Mower Transmission And Engine Oil

Z720E, Z730M, Z735E, Z735M, Z740R- Gasoline Engines

Z700 Transmission Oil Type And Service Interval

John Deere suggests hydraulic fluid meeting the “J20C” specification. The AMSOIL product that meets the John Deere J20C spec is AMSOIL Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic/Transmission Oil.

Change transmission oil and filter every 250 hours or once per year, whichever comes first.

Z700 Gasoline Engine Oil And Service Interval

John Deere suggests 10W-30, 10W-40, 15W-40, SAE 30, SAE 40 meeting API SJ or newer. The AMSOIL replacement is Small Engine Synthetic 10W-30 or 10W-40.

The recommended engine oil change interval for the Z700 Series is every 50 hours or once per year (whichever comes first).

Z900 Gasoline Series Zero-Turn Mower Transmission And Engine Oil

Z-Trak Pro Series- Z900B, Z900M, Z900R Z900E, Z920M, Z930M, Z945M EFI, Z945M, Z955M, Z960M, Z970R- Gasoline Engines

Z900 Transmission Oil Type And Service Interval

John Deere suggests a hydraulic fluid meeting the “J20C” specification. The AMSOIL substitute that meets the John Deere J20C spec is AMSOIL Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic/Transmission Oil.

The transmission oil and filter should be changed after a 300-hour break-in period. Then every 500 hours or once per year thereafter.

Z900 Gasoline Engine Oil And Service Interval

John Deere suggests 10W-30, 10W-40, 15W-40, SAE 30, SAE 40 meeting API SJ or newer. The AMSOIL replacement is Small Engine Synthetic 10W-30 or 10W-40.

The recommended engine oil change interval for the Z900 Series (gasoline engine) is every 100 hours or once per year (whichever comes first).

Z994R Z-Trak Pro Series Diesel

Z9994R Transmission Oil Type And Service Interval

John Deere suggests a hydraulic fluid meeting the “J20C” specification. The AMSOIL product that meets the John Deere J20C spec is AMSOIL Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic/Transmission Oil.

The transmission oil and filter should be changed after 300-hour break-in period. Then every 500 hours or once per year thereafter.

Z994R Diesel Engine Oil And Service Interval

John Deere recommends diesel engine oil (0W-40, 5W-40, 15W-40). A 10W-30 motor oil (meeting the suggested diesel specs) can be used at ambient temperatures below 104°F. Motor oil meeting API CD (or higher), ACEA Oil Sequence E3 (or higher) is suggested. Our suggestion is AMSOIL Signature Series Max-Duty Synthetic Diesel Oil, AMSOIL Heavy-Duty Synthetic Diesel Oil or AMSOIL Small Engine Series.

The recommended engine oil change interval is every 250 hours.

Z997R Z-Trak Pro Series Diesel

Z997R Transmission Oil Type And Service Interval

John Deere suggests a hydraulic fluid meeting the “J20C” specification. Our product that meets the John Deere J20C spec is AMSOIL Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic/Transmission Oil.

The transmission oil and filter should be changed after a 50-hour break-in period. Then every 500 hours or once per year thereafter.

Z974R Diesel Engine Oil And Service Interval

Deere recommends diesel engine oil (0W-40, 5W-40, 15W-40) meeting the API CJ-4 (or higher), or ACEA Oil E6, E9 (or higher) or JASO DH-2. Our replacement is AMSOIL Signature Series Max-Duty Synthetic Diesel Oil or AMSOIL Heavy-Duty Synthetic Diesel Oil.

The engine oil change interval after break-in is 50 hours. Then every 250 hours or once per year thereafter.

AMSOIL Synthetic Replacements For John Deere Hydraulic/Transmission And Engine Oil

Hydrostatic/Transmission Oil

AMSOIL Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic/Transmission Oil meets both the John Deere J20C and J20D (winter grade) specifications. This product is ideal for use in all John Deere Z-Trak Zero-turn hydrostatic/transmission systems.

This AMSOIL Hydraulic/Transmission Oil a top-tier, 100% synthetic product. Therefore, it is an upgrade over the mineral John Deere Hy-Gard and also the Low-Viscosity Hy-Gard Transmission & Hydraulic Oil.

Features include:

  • Robust wear protection
  • Consistent performance in extreme heat or cold
  • Capable of long service life
  • Conditions seal and hoses
  • Protects against internal rust and corrosion during storage

Gasoline Engine Oil

For John Deere Zero-Turn mowers with gasoline engines, we can’t imagine a better option than AMSOIL Synthetic Small Engine Series. The 10W-30 or 10W-40 options are suggested for ZTrak gasoline engines. This commercial-grade motor oil is designed to handle long-days and tough conditions. Features include:

  • Robust wear control
  • Over-built to withstand long service intervals
  • Handles extreme hot or cold climates
  • Protects engine internals from rust and corrosion

Diesel Engine Oil

John Deere diesel-powered zero-turn lawn mowers can use 15W-40, 5W-40 or 0W-40 diesel engine oil. This covers both the Z994R and Z997R models. The AMSOIL synthetic diesel engines oils that cover the specifications for these models are the ultra-premium Signature Series Max-Duty or the value-priced Heavy-Duty Series.

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Motor Oil Or A Specific Hydrostatic Transmission Fluid In Zero-Turn Mower?

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Many mower manufacturers will allow the use of 20W-50 motor oil in their transmissions. While motor oil will work in many hydrostatic transmissions, there is a better option.

There’s no question that motor oil will capably work in mower hydrostatic transmissions. The mower will steer and it will be propelled forward and backward. But there are vital differences in the way that motor oil is formulated compared to dedicated hydrostatic transmission fluid. These differences can play a role in long term performance and component life.

The main factor to consider is that motor oil is designed for a completely different operating environment than hydrostatic transmission oil. Engine oils are formulated to deal with combustion and combustion by-products. There are very specific detergents and additives in motor oil that won’t affect performance or protection over the short term. But over time, these motor oil ingredients will limit the oil change interval and this can have an effect on long term component life.

The detergent ingredients in motor oil hold combustion by-products in suspension and prevent deposit formation. These ingredients are vital in an internal combustion engine. But not only are these ingredients not needed in a hydrostatic mower transmission, they can degrade and shear down over time. These degraded detergents can contribute to oil foaming, which can lead to compromised wear control.

AMSOIL 20W-50 Synthetic Zero-Turn Hydrostatic Transmission FluidAnother advantage that a dedicated hydrostatic transmission oil has over motor oil is the ability to fight oxidation and corrosion. The hallmark of a good hydraulic fluid is oxidative stability and strong anti-corrosion chemistry. These attributes lead to longer service life and improved protection during storage.

Hydrostatic transmissions also have gears. The meshing of gears can shear down and thin out engines oils. Hydrostatic transmission oil is designed to withstand gear lubrication to a much greater extent than motor oil. This means that dedicated transmission oil has a superior ability to maintain its original viscosity and provide more reliable wear protection over the long term.

Conclusion

There’s no question that motor oil will work in mower hydrostatic transmissions that allow its use. But a dedicated hydrostatic transmission oil contains specific anti-foaming, anti-rust, anti-oxidation and anti-wear ingredients. This chemistry will allow for much longer service life, consistent performance and maximized transmission life. We recommend the new AMSOIL 20W-50 Zero-Turn Synthetic Hydrostatic Transmission Fluid.

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