Do I need synthetic oil?

[twes36]

I have a JD 1023e with approx 550 hours on it. I put on about 50 hours/year. I change the oil out once a year.

I normally put conventional oil in it. With that low use, is synthetic or a blend worth the extra money? Will it make a difference in the long run?

 

[goeduck]

At 3 quarts I would say indulge yourself. :thumbsup:

 

[denchen]

I`m not an expert, but my advice would be that modern semi synthetic oils do not break down when really hot like old traditional oils. So for `normal` use semi synthetic. If the motor has a turbo, they get very hot and need lubrication when the first fire up, so thin full synthetic is usually used. Traditional oil seems better for small mowers, general lubrication and on bikes. But as I said, I`m no expert.

 

[oosik]

I would use EXACTLY what your Op Manual recommends. With proper maintenance your JD tractor should still be going strong for your grandson.

 

[RalphVa]

I'd use conventional oil if you insist on changing every year. Use synthetic and go to about every 4 year change. I do multiple years on the Tacoma driven 1k/yr and Isuzu diesel generator engine. Do about every other year on the JD 2025R. All use synthetic.

Ralph

 

[AWSubie]

You have a non-turbo engine so conventional oil is fine. Although synthetics would provide slightly less friction, with the amount of hours you’re using that tractor you will not see any appreciable benefit over conventional oil. Because you live near the Houston area and you have humidity and salt laden air it is good that you change the oil out once a year to get rid of salts and other contaminants that build up in the crank case. Oil doesn’t “break down” per se. Rather additives are depleted and contaminants build up.

If you stay consistent with your annual oil changes; conventional oil is fine.

 

[dodge man]

I use synthetic but I also only change my oil about once a year, but I’m closer to 100 hours a year. I also live where it gets cold so it provides easier starts. Where you live it’s not as critical but the price difference on three quarts is small, so I’d still get the good stuff. If you have a bunch of regular oil on hand I’d use it up, as long as it’s for diesels.

 

[DEWFPO]

I'd use conventional oil if you insist on changing every year. Use synthetic and go to about every 4 year change. I do multiple years on the Tacoma driven 1k/yr and Isuzu diesel generator engine. Do about every other year on the JD 2025R. All use synthetic.

Ralph

I agree, if you're going to change it every year anyway and it's non-turbo, don't waste your money. If you're going to leave it in for a few years at a time (that is what I also do in all of my equipment) then go synthetic. I never change just by time. Only hours and/or mileage. But I also make sure the engine/driveline is good and hot to burn off all condensation before letting a piece of equipment sit a while.

DEWFPO

 

[RalphVa]

Those recommendations giving time, like for tractors and vehicles, assume that the small # of hours/miles is due to short trips. However, if you run the tractor/vehicle for at least 15 minutes or so between shutdowns, these are not small trips and would serve to vaporize otherwise harmful stuff that would condense and go into the lubricating oil.

It's the # of hours/miles and short runs < 15 minutes that cause the need for oil changes, not time.

The main difference between conventional oil and synthetic is the amount of contaminants. Conventional oils still have ppm levels of bad stuff that the solvent processing did not remove. Whereas, synthetic oils have virtually no contaminants and generally very few additives. Contaminants come from hours/miles and running very short runs.

Ralph

 

[RickB]

Those recommendations giving time, like for tractors and vehicles, assume that the small # of hours/miles is due to short trips. However, if you run the tractor/vehicle for at least 15 minutes or so between shutdowns, these are not small trips and would serve to vaporize otherwise harmful stuff that would condense and go into the lubricating oil.

It's the # of hours/miles and short runs < 15 minutes that cause the need for oil changes, not time.

The main difference between conventional oil and synthetic is the amount of contaminants. Conventional oils still have ppm levels of bad stuff that the solvent processing did not remove. Whereas, synthetic oils have virtually no contaminants and generally very few additives. Contaminants come from hours/miles and running very short runs.


Ralph

Environmental contaminants also accumulate, water may volatize, other contaminants will not. I strongly disagree that synthetic oil and a 4 year drain interval is beneficial to the OP regardless if he accumulates 50 hours per year in many short runs or a single operating period.
His manufacturer is comfortable with conventional oil and his operating routine does not lend itself to the benefits of synthetic oils; high miles/hours in relatively short intervals.
If this were my tractor I would use conventional oil and run a 24 month/100 hour drain interval.