[AT] Engine oil

Mon Aug 17 03:13:05 PDT 2020

In all of my modern vehicles, I run exactly what the owner's manual calls
for.  There are certain cases (like for example back when I had the VW TDI)
that using the wrong oil  could be literally disastrous.  One of our
current fleet is turbocharged, and there's another place where the vehicle
manufacturer has done extensive testing and knows best.

My "modern" (early 1990s) diesel tractor gets Rotella 15W-40.  I'm not
against using any other major brand diesel-rated oil in 15W-40, but it's so
easy to find Rotella that I can play the brand-loyalty game even though I
don't really believe it.

All the gas-powered equipment gets a suitable viscosity oil in SJ grade.
That standard goes back to before they reduced the ZDDP content, pre-2004.
Typically I can find this at the parts store in brands that claim to be
"Motorcycle" oils.  Usually 10W-40 and 20W-50 exist.  For stuff that needs
to run in the dead of winter (It sometimes gets down to 0F where I live)
like for example the snowblower and the generator, get 10W-40.  Mowers get
20W-50.  Those high-output aircooled  engines (Kawasaki 17HP  and 24HP
V-twins) run quite hot and I'll get the protection of the 50 end of the
spectrum.

I haven't even thought about what I'm going to run in the "new" old Cub yet.

SO

On Mon, Aug 17, 2020 at 1:53 AM magreer67 <magreer67 at gmail.com> wrote:

> My son runs the same 15W40 Rotella T in his 7.3 PowerStroke. He says it
> runs quieter and leaks less than the synthetic that was in it when he got
> it.
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Spencer Yost <spencer at rdfarms.com>
> Date: 8/16/20 12:54 AM (GMT-05:00)
> To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Subject: Re: [AT] Engine oil
>
> Hey Tyler, I use Rotella 15w-40 in all my diesels too.    Never had a
> problem related to oil that I’ve been able to discern.   I think your
> friend emphasized it because it’s proven and widely used.   No idea if the
> chemistry is actually better but I try not to mess with success,
>
> John:   The timing of your problems and your switch to a different oil
> does seem more than coincidental.   I’d definitely experiment with a
> different brand if I were you.  The compression test is probably a good
> idea too.
>
> Spencer
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 15, 2020, at 1:13 PM, Tyler Juranek <tylerpolkaman at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Hi John
> This May I needed to change oil in my Oliver 770. Yes, it is diesel,
> so maybe my answer here is not rellivent to your question.
> Anyway, it was the first oil change since I have owned it. I wondered
> what I should put in it. The book said 20w20 but the local Bomgaars
> didn't have any, so I called our family friend who is a mechanic at
> night, and always seems to know a little bit about a lot of things. He
> suggested I use 15W40 in it, but he said "do not buy anything but
> Rotella brand oil." I forget why he said Rotella, but maybe try that
> brand and see if it makes any difference?
> They do have 10W30. The only two gas burners left are my John Deere A,
> and Dad's 550 Oliver. Everything else here is diesel.
> Let us all know how it goes.
> Take Care,
> Tyler Juranek
>
> On 8/15/20, John Hall <jtchall at nc.rr.com> wrote:
>
> What this group needs (in my opinion) is a good farm equipment discussion.
>
> Engine Oil--but wait, this isn't your ordinary oil discussion!!! Long
>
> story short, I have a fleet of old gas powered working FARM
>
> equipment--not talking about lawn equipment. We have always ran big name
>
> brand oil. I switched from Exxon Super HDII about 3-4 years ago because
>
> it was getting really hard to source. I switched over to Chevron Dello
>
> 400 (both are 30W). The Dello is formulated for diesels, but supposedly
>
> works in older gas engines. I now have 2 engines that drink oil when
>
> being worked hard. My Farmall M can drop 2-3 qts in a couple hours of
>
> pulling a cultimulcher--yet you don't really notice it smoking. It does
>
> foul plugs. That work is a very heavy load. Also I have a 3300 Deere
>
> combine that will drop a qt or so every truckload of corn. Now I've only
>
> had this combine about 8 years and the oil consumption just started
>
> about 3 years ago--I swear some days it is worse than others. I really
>
> wonder if its the oil I'm using. I have on hand some CaseIH low-ash oil
>
> I run in lawnmowers--considering putting it in the combine for this
>
> fall. Supposedly the same stuff IH has been selling for 40+ years. The
>
> cost is about $3-4 more a quart, so an extra $25 to change oil. For the
>
> record, the rest of the gas powered fleet doesn't run hard/long enough
>
> to notice a problem. The combine is such a gas hog, can't help but
>
> wonder if its a fuel issue causing dilution.
>
>
> What you guys think, worth a shot?
>
>
> John Hall
>
>
>
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