John Deere 1 Series Maintenance Guide: Fluids, Capacities, Filters and Schedule

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John Deere 1025R maintenance runs on a simple rhythm. Check fluids and screens every 10 hours. Grease every 50 hours, and change the transmission filter after the first 50 hours.

Change transmission oil and filter every 200 hours. Change engine oil every 400 hours or once a year. Deere’s own documents disagree on a few numbers, and where they do, this guide says which one is current and gives you one figure to follow.

One naming note first. Deere’s 2026 sub compacts are the 1E 23, 1M 25 and 1R 25. Trade press maps them to the 1023E, 1025R and 2025R.

Everything here is verified for the 1023E, 1025R and 1026R. Deere published operator’s manuals for the renamed tractors in June 2026, and their service intervals match the 1025R chart.

Which models does this John Deere 1025R maintenance guide cover?

This guide covers the 1023E, 1025R and 1026R sub compact tractors. That means serial HJ100001 and up for the first two, and HJ200001 and up for the 1026R. Deere lists all three on one filter overview and one capacity table, so the numbers below apply to each.

The 2026 line is the 1E 23, 1M 25 and 1R 25. Deere’s product pages list a Yanmar 3TNM74F-NCJT engine in the 1E 23. The 1M 25 and 1R 25 get a Yanmar 3TNV80F-NCJT.

Those are the same engine model numbers the 2020 manual lists for the 1023E and 1025R. Deere’s 2026 manuals, OMTR146284 (1E 23 and 1M 25) and OMTR146366 (1R 25), keep the same service intervals. The transmission now holds 14 liters on the 1E 23 and 1M 25 and 15.1 liters on the 1R 25, up from 12.3.

Deere does say the new tractors get a one piece hood for easier maintenance. If you own a 2026 model, use this guide as a starting point. Then confirm every number in the manual that came with it.

Why the serial number matters for parts

Deere changed the air filters partway through production. A 1025R built up to serial JJ153036 takes different air filter elements than one built from JJ153037. Read the serial plate before you order anything.

Fluid capacities: John Deere 1025R oil capacity and more

The John Deere 1025R oil capacity is 2.7 liters (2.9 quarts) with a new filter. The rest of the capacities are in the table. Deere calls all of them approximate, so finish every fill by reading the dipstick.

The fuel tank is the one line we could not settle. The 2020 manual says 23.9 liters. The 2021 filter sheet and 2022 parts guide say 21.2 liters, and since it changes nothing about service, fill it and trust the gauge.

The transmission figure is for a base tractor with no implements, and it is a dry fill. After a drain and filter change, some oil stays behind in the hoses and cooler. Owners commonly add about 11 quarts first, then top up slowly against the dipstick.

What engine oil does a John Deere 1025R take?

The 1025R takes Plus-50 II or Torq-Gard Supreme as Deere’s preferred oils. If neither is on hand, the manual accepts other diesel oils that meet its list. That list is API CD, CF, CF4, CI4, CJ4 or CK4, ACEA E3 through E6, or JASO DH1 or DH2.

Both the November 2020 edition and the current Issue E3 edition (OMTR135770, serial NP000001 and up) carry that list. The 2013 edition said API CH or higher and ACEA E3 or higher instead. Match the edition that came with your tractor; in practice a current CK4 heavy duty diesel oil meets either list.

Viscosity comes from the air temperature chart in the manual. Reading that chart, 15W-40 tops out at 122F, 10W-40 at 104F and 10W-30 at 86F. The two 10W grades reach down to about minus 4F and 15W-40 to about 5F, and 0W-40 and 5W-30 are the cold weather bars.

Check the chart yourself before buying for an extreme climate. Our guide to the best engine oil for diesel tractors explains what those API classes mean. It also covers why Kubota’s BX manuals treat CJ4 differently.

How often do you change the oil and filter?

Change the engine oil and filter every 400 hours, or yearly if you run fewer hours. That is what the current 1023E and 1025R operator’s manual says. The November 2020 edition and the Issue E3 edition agree on it.

Deere’s 2021 filter overview and 2022 parts guide say 200 hours for the M806418 filter, and so did the 2013 manual. Treat that as an edition difference, not a mistake. The manual that shipped with your tractor governs.

Most homeowners run 50 to 100 hours a year, so every document agrees on once a year for them. If you do long days of dusty mowing or slow loader work, 200 hours is a cheap habit. The manual chart has no separate break in oil change, though many owners do one early anyway.

John Deere 1025R service schedule: the full interval table

The John Deere 1025R service schedule below merges the manual’s interval charts with the newer filter overview and parts guide. Hours and calendar time both count. Do whichever comes first.

Is there a 50 hour first service on a 1025R?

Yes. Deere’s filter overview and parts guide say to replace the hydraulic filter after the first 50 hours. After that, it is every 200 hours.

The 2020 manual chart lists only greasing, hitch lubrication, front axle level and cab items at 50 hours. Owners report that older manuals included a transmission oil, filter and screen service at 50 hours. Later editions dropped it, and dealers differ on what they do.

Do the filter. Owners commonly find fine metal paste on the suction screen magnets early in a tractor’s life. A filter costs far less than a pump.

John Deere 1025R hydraulic fluid: capacity, spec and change

The John Deere 1025R hydraulic fluid is Low Viscosity Hy-Gard. The transmission and hydraulics share one 12.3 liter (about 13 quart) sump. Deere says the transaxle leaves the factory filled with Hy-Gard (J20D) and says not to mix oils.

The manual rules out type F automatic transmission fluid and engine oil. Other fluids are allowed only if they meet Deere standard JDM J20D or J20C.

Our tractor hydraulic fluid guide explains those standards and the generic fluids that claim them. If you want genuine Deere fluid, John Deere Hy-Gard in the 1 gallon jug (TY22000) is one option. Read the label, because the factory fill is the low viscosity grade and the listing may not say which grade ships.

You need about 13 quarts for the transmission and another 3 for the front axle. One gallon covers neither job. Buy at least four for the transmission.

Checking the level correctly

Let the machine sit for at least one hour before you read the transmission or front axle dipstick. Pull it, wipe it, reinsert it fully, then read it.

The level must sit between the two marks. Do not overfill. The oil expands as it warms, and a high level pushes oil out the breather.

John Deere 1025R filters and part numbers

The John Deere 1025R oil filter is M806418, and the rest are in the table below. The numbers come from Deere’s February 2021 filter overview and its June 2022 replacement parts guide. The two agree on every part number.

Early 1023E and 1026R tractors use primary M113621 and secondary M123378. Later ones (1023E from JJ117914, 1026R from JJ202259) use LVU34503 and LVU34504. Oil, hydraulic and fuel filters match the 1025R on all three models.

If you have seen fuel filter M801101, that number is from Deere’s 2019 sheet. The 2021 sheet and the 2022 parts guide both list MIU804763. Order that one and compare it to the old filter before you install it.

The air filter interval is another split. The manual chart says to service the element and hoses at 600 hours, while the newer sheet and parts guide say 400 hours. Replace the primary at 400 hours or whenever the restriction indicator shows red, whichever comes first.

The LVA21036 kit and its later replacement

Kit LVA21036 is Deere’s Filter Pak for a 1025R up to serial JJ153036. It holds M806418, LVA16054, AM116304, M131802 and MIU804763.

A 1025R from JJ153037 uses kit TA15270, which swaps in the LVU34503 air filter. Early 1023E and 1026R tractors use LVA21035. Later ones use TA15270 as well.

For oil changes only, there is the John Deere oil change kit TY26674A. Retail listings describe it as one M806418 filter plus three 32 ounce bottles of Plus-50 15W-40. We could not confirm the contents on a Deere page, so check the listing and your serial number first.

Three quarts covers the 2.9 quart fill. The 15W-40 grade suits warm weather, so cold climate owners may prefer a 10W-30.

Grease points on the tractor, loader and mower

The tractor has four grease fittings, one at each end of the main driveshaft and one at each end of the MFWD driveshaft. The 3 point hitch has ball joints. Deere’s chart says every 50 hours in normal conditions and every 10 hours in wet conditions.

Deere’s preferred greases are John Deere Multi Purpose SD Polyurea and Multi Purpose HD Lithium Complex. If you use neither, the manual says any general purpose grease rated NLGI grade 2 is acceptable. A plain NLGI 2 grease such as AtomLube all purpose grease meets that rule.

The 3 point hitch ball joints get SUPER LUBE lubricant, not gun grease. The driveshaft fittings hide behind the skid plates. Owners report that rolling the tractor a few inches brings them into view.

A locking grease coupler helps when you cannot get a straight shot at a fitting. Skip it if your gun already holds on well.

Mower deck grease points

The 54D and 60D AutoConnect decks have three grease fittings on the sheaves, which carry the blade spindles. Three more sit on the mid PTO driveshaft. Deere’s deck manual says to grease both sets every 25 hours with the same NLGI 2 grease as the tractor.

Loader grease points

The loader has its own operator’s manual, and Deere’s tractor manual sends you there for service. We could not open the 120R manual. So we cannot give its grease interval or count its fittings.

Owners of other Deere loaders report greasing the pivots every 10 hours. Treat that as a reasonable habit, not a 120R spec. Read our guide to front end loaders for compact tractors before you add one.

Coolant and screens

The 1025R uses Cool-Gard II or Cool-Gard II PG. The open station cooling system holds 3.7 liters (3.9 quarts). Deere also allows other ethylene glycol or propylene glycol coolants that meet ASTM D6210 or D3306 and use a nitrite free additive package.

Mix strength is where the manual looks like it argues with itself. The coolant page allows concentrate at 40 to 60 percent. The fill page says not to exceed 50 percent.

Both are satisfied by a 50/50 mix, which is what premixed Cool-Gard II is. Use the premix, or mix concentrate 50/50 with distilled water. Never run plain water.

With Cool-Gard II and a yearly coolant test, the drain interval is 6 years or 6000 hours. With any other coolant it drops to 2 years or 2000 hours. Never mix ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, and do not use sealing additives.

For the daily check, read the recovery tank. Coolant should reach the FULL HOT line on a hot engine. On a cold engine it should reach the FULL COLD line.

Cleaning the screens and cooling fins

Clear the front grille and side screens whenever they hold grass or dust. Pull the radiator screen up out of its slot to blow it clean. Blocked screens are the usual reason a 1 Series runs hot while mowing.

Blow the radiator and oil cooler fins straight on from front and rear. Keep compressed air at or below 30 psi. Never use a pressure washer on the radiator, because it bends the fins.

DIY 50 hour service steps

The DIY side of John Deere 1025R maintenance starts at 50 hours with a grease gun and one filter. Here is the list, in the order that saves the most crawling around.

1. Park on level ground, set the brake and shut the engine off.
2. Replace the hydraulic filter (LVA16054) using the steps in the next section. Skip the drain and the suction screen if the oil is clean.
3. Grease the front and rear main driveshaft fittings, and the front and rear MFWD driveshaft fittings.
4. Lubricate the 3 point hitch ball joints with SUPER LUBE.
5. Check the front axle dipstick after the tractor has sat for an hour. The level should sit between the marks.
6. Clean or replace the cab air filters and check cab mounting bolt torque if your tractor has a cab.
7. Check the transmission oil, engine oil and coolant levels. Grease the mower deck if you run one.

How to change the transmission oil, filter and suction screen

The 200 hour hydraulic job is the hardest regular task on the tractor, so plan an afternoon the first time. You need about 13 quarts of Low Viscosity Hy-Gard. Use a pan that holds all of it, or drain in two batches.

1. Run the engine a few minutes to warm the oil, then park and shut it off.
2. Place a drain pan under the transmission drain plug and remove the plug. Owners report it is very tight from the factory.
3. Put a second pan under the transaxle oil filter, then spin it off and let it drain.
4. Wipe a film of clean oil on the new filter gasket. Fill the filter one third to one half full. Spin it on until the gasket touches, then tighten another half to three quarters of a turn.
5. Install the drain plug without overtightening it.
6. Remove the fill cap and add oil slowly, starting with about 11 quarts. Replace the cap.
7. Start the engine, check for leaks, then shut it off. Read the dipstick after it settles.

To clean the suction screen, raise the rear of the tractor and remove the left rear wheel. Set a jack stand under the left side of the transmission. Remove the suction hose, the bolt, the manifold hose and the screen assembly.

Clean the screen and its magnets. Deere says there may be one, two or four magnets depending on the build.

Install the screen straight so its free end seats in the socket in the right side cover. A crushed or misaligned screen can starve and ruin the pump. That is why Deere prints a warning about it.

Torque the screen assembly bolt to 28 Nm (21 pound feet). The suction pipe bolt gets 11 Nm (97 pound inches). Then put the wheel back on and torque the wheel bolts.

Engine oil and filter, step by step

1. Run the engine to warm the oil, then park it and shut it off.
2. Put a drain pan under the engine drain plug and remove the plug.
3. Wipe around the oil filter and turn it counterclockwise to remove it.
4. Coat the new filter gasket with clean engine oil. Spin it on until the gasket contacts the base, then tighten one half turn more.
5. Install the drain plug and add 2.7 liters (2.9 quarts) through the fill cap.
6. Start the engine, check for leaks, shut it off and recheck the dipstick.

Owners report that the filter sits in a tight spot and that strap wrenches slip on it. WORKPRO adjustable oil filter pliers grip it from the side. A 2 gallon drain pan from NEIKO is low enough to slide under the engine.

Air filter, fuel filter and water separator

The air cleaner gets a look every 10 hours and a new primary element every 400 hours. Replace it sooner if the restriction indicator shows red. The secondary element is inspected in place and replaced only if the primary fails, and Deere says never to clean it.

To service it, raise the hood, remove the side panel, pull the latch and twist the canister cover off. Replace the primary element and clean the canister without disturbing the secondary. Refit the cover with the rubber dust valve pointing down.

On the fuel side, drain the sediment bowl whenever you see water. Replace the water separator filter at the same time as the inline filter. The inline filter sits under the left foot deck.

Close the fuel shutoff valve and clamp the line between the tank and filter before you pull the spring clamps. After a change, turn the key to ON for 10 to 15 seconds. The electric pump purges the air.

The system is self bleeding. If it still cranks without firing, use our diesel tractor won’t start diagnosis.

Mid mount mower deck maintenance basics

A 54D or 60D AutoConnect deck needs cleaning every 10 hours in dry grass. Grease it and inspect the blades and belt every 25 hours. Check the gearbox oil level and wash the deck every 100 hours, and change the gearbox oil every 500 hours.

Those intervals come from Deere’s operator’s manual for the two decks. The gearbox holds 136 mL (4.6 ounces) of GL-5 gear lubricant. Check it by pulling one side plug; the oil should sit at the bottom edge of the hole.

Blade bolt torque is 122 Nm (90 pound feet) on the 60D. The 54D is listed at 68 Nm (50 pound feet) in the deck’s specification table. The blade procedure page shows 90 pound feet with a 54D pictured, so confirm with your dealer before you lean on a breaker bar.

Before any blade work, remove the deck, shut the PTO off, stop the engine and take the key. Wedge a wood block between the blade and the deck so the blade cannot turn. Never straighten or weld a bent blade.

Keep the tractor side in mind too. Mowing season clogs the grille and radiator screen. Blow them clean after every session in dry grass.

Owners say the AutoConnect deck comes off easily and goes back on with practice. Deere says to use four wheel drive and low range for both. Our PTO guide covers the 540 rpm basics behind mid and rear PTO operation.

Common 1025R maintenance mistakes

The most common John Deere 1025R maintenance mistakes are wrong fluids, overfilled sumps and clogged screens. These are the patterns owners repeat.

• Filling the front axle with 80W90 gear oil. Deere’s manual lists Hy-Gard or Low Viscosity Hy-Gard there.
• Using a generic hydraulic fluid whose label does not state J20C or J20D.
• Reading the transmission dipstick hot. Deere says wait one hour.
• Overfilling the transmission. Add the last quart a little at a time.
• Crushing or misaligning the suction screen on reinstall, which can ruin the pump.
• Blasting the radiator with a pressure washer instead of 30 psi air.
• Mixing ethylene glycol and propylene glycol coolants, or topping up with plain water.
• Skipping the hidden driveshaft grease fittings behind the skid plates.
• Installing a dry filter gasket. Owners report leaks after changes, and Deere’s steps call for an oil film.
• Grabbing an oil off the shelf because another brand allows it, without checking your manual edition’s API list.

When to call the dealer

Valve clearance at 1000 hours and the cooling system flush are dealer jobs in Deere’s chart. Call a dealer if the transmission whines or the loader slows after a fluid change. Call too if the suction screen shows chips rather than fine paste.

Fine gray sludge on the magnets is normal wear in. Flakes you can pick up with a fingernail are not.

Bottom line

Do the daily checks, grease every 50 hours and change the hydraulic filter at 50 hours. Change the transmission oil and filter every 200 hours. Change the engine oil every 400 hours or yearly.

Good John Deere 1025R maintenance is mostly those habits plus the right fluids: Low Viscosity Hy-Gard, a Deere approved diesel oil and Cool-Gard II. Where Deere’s documents disagree, the tables above say which one is current. Confirm anything for a 2026 tractor in its own manual.

If you also run an orange tractor, our Kubota BX maintenance guide lays out the same schedule for the BX line.

Deere’s own documents are the best check. Start with the filter overview with intervals and capacities and the 1023E and 1025R operator’s manual. Deck owners should read the 54D and 60D AutoConnect mower manual.

Frequently asked questions

How much oil does a 1023E take?

The 1023E crankcase holds 2.7 liters (2.9 quarts) with a new filter, the same as the 1025R. Deere lists the 1023E, 1025R and 1026R on one capacity table. Check the dipstick after filling.

What is the 1026R oil capacity?

The 1026R oil capacity is also 2.7 liters (2.9 quarts) with the filter, per Deere’s shared capacity table. The transmission and front axle figures match too. Its oil, hydraulic and fuel filter numbers match the 1025R.

Can I use regular tractor hydraulic fluid instead of Hy-Gard?

Only if the label states it meets Deere standard JDM J20D or J20C. Deere says not to mix oils and not to use type F automatic transmission fluid or engine oil. The manual lists J20C as allowed, not preferred, and the factory fill is the low viscosity J20D grade.

Where are the grease points on the 1025R?

The tractor has two main driveshaft fittings, two MFWD driveshaft fittings and the 3 point hitch ball joints. Grease them every 50 hours. The 54D and 60D decks add three fittings on the sheaves and three on the mid PTO driveshaft, greased every 25 hours, and loader fittings are in the loader’s own manual.

How often should I change the coolant?

Every 6 years or 6000 hours if you use Cool-Gard II and test the coolant yearly. With another coolant, Deere says every 2 years or 2000 hours. Either way, Deere lists the flush as a dealer job.

Do the 1E 23, 1M 25 and 1R 25 use the same filters?

Probably, but we have not checked part numbers. The engines and service intervals match, while the 2026 manuals list a larger transmission capacity. Use Deere’s parts lookup with your serial number before buying filters.