Today I changed the oil for the first time in my new 997. The book called for the first change at 15 hours, I had 20, so I thought I better get it done. After all the talk about break-in oil lately, I clarified twice with the service manager on it. He said the first oil change in the Operator manual is to get the break-in oil out. So, I went with the JD 15-40 Plus 50 II. I don't know if I will ever use synthetic in this dedicated lawn mower. It will be running in warm weather only, and I will be changing once a year...probably 100 hours.
I did think it was interesting that many people here say that their dealer knows nothing about break-in oil. When I was buying my oil, there was an entire shelf of break-in oil...quarts, gallons, pails. It was the Break-in "Plus" type. I was wondering why they had so much??? I never noticed it before.
Anyway, the oil change was easy. I was a little disappointed with the quality of the oil pan though... It is a stamped steel pan with the drain plug threads kind of extruded. Not like the nice cast one on my X748 and 4720. I will have to be careful with those threads.
I did think it was interesting that many people here say that their dealer knows nothing about break-in oil. When I was buying my oil, there was an entire shelf of break-in oil...quarts, gallons, pails. It was the Break-in "Plus" type. I was wondering why they had so much??? I never noticed it before.
Anyway, the oil change was easy. I was a little disappointed with the quality of the oil pan though... It is a stamped steel pan with the drain plug threads kind of extruded. Not like the nice cast one on my X748 and 4720. I will have to be careful with those threads.