Oil change help?

sherpa · Feb 4, 2011

I am getting ready to change the engine oil on my TC33D.
The tractor has a total of 370 hours on it so I have only changed it three times.
The last time I changed the oil I use Rotella-3 15W40.

I was thinking about going with a full synthetic oil or a semi synthetic oil?
Do I need a different weight oil or stay with 15W40?

What are your recommendations?
Thanks,
Sherpa

bp fick · Feb 4, 2011

Well, Rotella comes in 5w-40 in the synthetic. Not 15w-40 AFAIK

RalphVa · Feb 5, 2011

I'd use the 5w40 Rotella. That 15w40 stuff is too heavy to give you good protection in colder weather startups. Even the 5w40 will be heavier at startup than 40w is at operating temperature, even in the summer.

In my JD, I use 0w30 Mobil 1.

Ralph

JJT · Feb 5, 2011

Full syn with an annual oil change, (or 100 hours). I like the Rotella 5w-40 syn for the diesels, Mobil 5w-20 for the modern gas engines.

Transit · Feb 5, 2011

If you are happy with the Rotella brand, a 5 or 10 W will give you good cold weather starting and the 40 will protect to 120 deg. F weather.

sherpa · Feb 5, 2011

What about Mobil One full synthetic 10W30 oil, would that work well in a diesel engine?
I use it in some other vehicles. I hate having to have 4 or 5 different kinds of oil on hand?

If you could use just one oil in everything tractor, motorcycles, cars and motorhome what would you choose?
sherpa

JJT · Feb 5, 2011

sherpa said:
What about Mobil One full synthetic 10W30 oil, would that work well in a diesel engine?
I use it in some other vehicles. I hate having to have 4 or 5 different kinds of oil on hand?

If you could use just one oil in everything tractor, motorcycles, cars and motorhome what would you choose?
sherpa

I could be wrong, but I don't think M1 is diesel rated. If I could only use 1 oil - Rotella Syn, 5w-40.

DEWFPO · Feb 5, 2011

JJT said:
I could be wrong, but I don't think M1 is diesel rated. If I could only use 1 oil - Rotella Syn, 5w-40.

Several of M1's oils have diesel ratings.

DEWFPO

Maxamillion · Feb 21, 2011

I use the shell Rotella 5W40 synthetic, this is suppose to be good for -30F and 122F. 15W40 is only good down to 15F and up to 122F. I used the Shell Rotella 15W40 but it will be black on the dipstick after about 10 hours. I use the Shell rotella 5W40 and the oil is still like you just put in after 40 hours. I would recommend the Shell Rotella 5W40 synthetic. :thumbsup:

retiredmgn · Feb 21, 2011

DEWFPO said:
Several of M1's oils have diesel ratings.

DEWFPO

If I may ask, how does one determine 'diesel rating' when looking over the container?

Gary Fowler · Feb 22, 2011

I think I would be a little suspicious of a diesel oil that stayed clear rather than black. Diesel oils are high in detergents so they can keep the carbon cleaned from diesel engines. IF the oil stays clear, it is not doing a good job of cleaning the engine. The carbon is still being produced regardless of the oil used. I have never seen a diesel oil that wasnt black after a few hours of running it and the black color doesnt hurt a thing, it is actually a good thing to see in your oil on a diesel

SunnyJim · Feb 22, 2011

- Shell Rotella T5 Synthetic Blend Technology would be a good option. Its a syn-blend with the higher detergency and ZDDP of a modern diesel oil. It is CJ-4 rated for diesels and SM rated for petrol engines. This would allow you to have 1 oil that will work well in any engine.

Jay4200 · Feb 22, 2011

Maxamillion said:
I used the Shell Rotella 15W40 but it will be black on the dipstick after about 10 hours. I use the Shell rotella 5W40 and the oil is still like you just put in after 40 hours. I would recommend the Shell Rotella 5W40 synthetic. :thumbsup:

That fact would make me lean toward Shell Rotella 15W40. Where is all that soot ending up if it is not in the oil??

I put Rotella 15W-40 in just about everything I own. I don't worry about cold weather starting - if it is below 15 degrees, I'm not going to be there either

.

JayC

daman1 · Feb 28, 2011

Stick with a better diesel rating like CI or CJ-4 the Mobil specs like 0w30 and other passenger car oil's unless it's a full diesel rated oil will have a much weaker light diesel rating and will not have the soot dispersant and acid neutralizing capability's a full CI,CJ-4 rated oil will have.

i see this posted here allot i would never use Mobil 0w30 in a diesel,soot is wear particles and this oil just can't handle it,it's not what it's intended purpose is it was designed as a fuel saving oil with a (bad for diesel) low HTHS meant for mileage increase.

klm · Mar 11, 2011

Has anyone found Rotella 5W40 synthetic in anything other than quart or one gallon size? I would like to buy it in five gallon containers.

daman1 · Mar 11, 2011

klm said:
Has anyone found Rotella 5W40 synthetic in anything other than quart or one gallon size? I would like to buy it in five gallon containers.

try a search for a distributor in your area. I've never seen them anywhere in 5 gal.

- National Shell Distributor Directory

WM75Guy · Mar 11, 2011

Here is the NH manual recommendations. Notice that new tractors are shipped with 10W30.

jonyyuma · Mar 11, 2011

Gary Fowler said:
I think I would be a little suspicious of a diesel oil that stayed clear rather than black. Diesel oils are high in detergents so they can keep the carbon cleaned from diesel engines. IF the oil stays clear, it is not doing a good job of cleaning the engine. The carbon is still being produced regardless of the oil used. I have never seen a diesel oil that wasnt black after a few hours of running it and the black color doesnt hurt a thing, it is actually a good thing to see in your oil on a diesel

I completely agree with this idea. It only varies on the clearances of the cylinders and piston ring designs, plus cold weather operation affects combustion. Plus it doesn't take very long..Jy