Gear oil: Esso GX 85w-90 and SAE 90 replacement

[freedomlives]

I have an Iseki TS35F (essentually the same as TS3510) tractor as well as two Goldoni Special two wheel tractors, a Goldoni Eco two wheel tractor and Goldoni powered trailer that need oil for their gearboxes.

The manual for the TS3510 states these oils:
Esso Gear Oil GP90
Mobilube HD90
Shell Spirax HD90

The Goldoni Special manual states:
Esso GX 85w-90

The C65 powered trailer:
Agip Rotra MP SAE 80W90

Finally the Goldoni Eco calls for:
Agip Blasia S-220

Other than the Eco, which I think is a totally different type of oil, I will need at least 16l + 3kg + 3kg + 1kg of oil -- I know oil is lighter than water, so I guess that's about 22l of oil. Can 80W90 be used where SAE90 and 85W-90 are called for? The second number is "what counts", right?

 

[RalphVa]

I have an Iseki TS35F (essentually the same as TS3510) tractor as well as two Goldoni Special two wheel tractors, a Goldoni Eco two wheel tractor and Goldoni powered trailer that need oil for their gearboxes.

The manual for the TS3510 states these oils:
Esso Gear Oil GP90
Mobilube HD90
Shell Spirax HD90

The Goldoni Special manual states:
Esso GX 85w-90

The C65 powered trailer:
Agip Rotra MP SAE 80W90

Finally the Goldoni Eco calls for:
Agip Blasia S-220

Other than the Eco, which I think is a totally different type of oil, I will need at least 16l + 3kg + 3kg + 1kg of oil -- I know oil is lighter than water, so I guess that's about 22l of oil. Can 80W90 be used where SAE90 and 85W-90 are called for? The second number is "what counts", right?

Looks to me like the Esso 80w90 gear oil would meet the specs for all these except for the Eco, which is much heavier. Wonder why Goldoni wants such a heavy oil. It's even heavier than Esso 85W140. Online, it says the stuff (Agip stuff) is synthetic.

Ralph

 

[Texasmark]

One thing (I think) a person needs to understand in an owner's manual or any other document of such, is that things are made for usage world wide. Recently I have seen pictures of my Bransons as being used in Korean rice farms. I cannot believe what those tractors are put through. No way do my tractors see anything like that yet the tractor is designed, spec'd., and built to withstand that kind of punishment.

With that said, I adapt my fluids to my application and my environment here in N. Texas. Sometimes that means more than the spec and sometimes less. Just depends. :thumbsup:

 

[freedomlives]

Having read the technical data sheet of the Agip Blasia, I note that it is recommended for also for use in totally sealed gear boxes. Maybe Goldoni specced that for the Eco line under the assumption that the users of a smaller two wheel tractor aren't going to keep track of motor hours, so better to put something that won't ever need changing? The oil spec I got from the repair manual. I actually don't have a reason to be changing that, except if I'll be repairing something in there.

Re: adapting fluids-- I'm trying to figure out what will be the best engine oil choice actually for the Goldoni's-- they face limited use in all seasons, but not enough to justify changing oil twice a year. Right now I have 5w30 in the one with the lombardini diesel engine, but checking the manual that isn't actually recommended for super hot weather...

 

[RalphVa]

You have to also realize that some of those manuals were written before even synthetic oils became available.

I switched my Gravely (that I had from 2000-2004) to synthetic Mobil 1, 20w50, in the engine. After the 3rd change, it no longer burned/leaked any engine oil. Probably could have gotten by with a more normal 5w30 grade by then, but I sold it when I got my JD 4010.

I believe that 5w30 can be used in any (water cooled) diesel engine. It is what was speced for our 2010 VW TDI and what I used.

Do not believe those upper temperature limits on oil grades that you see in owners manuals, except for air cooled engines. They make no sense for water cooled engines, and I've never gotten anything from the ASTM folks to explain why they're there. The upper temperature in water cooled engines (generally around 100 C) is set by your coolant thermostat, not by the outside temperature.

I feel quite comfortable using 5w30 (and 0w30 if I could find it locally) in all my water cooled diesels. It's what I have in both my JD 2025R tractor engine and Isuzu diesel generator engine. For gasoline engines, I'm quite comfortable using 0w20 in all of them that are water cooled. For the air cooled lawnmower engines, I use 5w40. If using an air cooled diesel engines, then I'd look at the upper ends of those bar charts to see what oil grade to use. That may be what you have in the Goldoni; don't know whether it's water or air.

Ralph

 

[Texasmark]

On oil temperature specs and reality. I have 2 non-contact infrared thermometers and I have gone through my engines checking temperatures on a functional basis.... radiator coolant, crankcase, combustion area, exhaust manifold and all that and even on my air cooled engines, less than 200F is the norm other than exhaust manifolds that run 500-600 when working. Looking at oil breakdown charts that's well below any of the dino listings. But I am a full syn guy so in goes full syn in my truck and newer tractors. The old Fords get Rot T dino or WW 15w-40.

 

[buickanddeere]

Some motor oils are also gear box rated.

 

[freedomlives]

The Goldoni's are air cooled. One is a Lombardini diesel, the other an obscure gasoline engine, whichever company it was was eventually also bought by Lombardini, which I guess is now owned by Kohler. The filler caps on them say 40 in summer, one says 20w30 in fall, the other 30, and then 10w below freezing. And now I've found the latest service manual for the 3LD510 diesel motor that just gives an SAE temperature-viscosity chart and a much greater range over which 5w/30 can be used, so maybe as oils have improved over the decades?
For now I'm reading through this: Putting the Simple Back into Viscosity - Bob is the Oil Guy

 

[RalphVa]

Some motor oils are also gear box rated.

The Gravely 5665 speced 10w30 motor oil for the gearbox.

Ralph

 

[freedomlives]

The main thing I get from that document is that 5w30 should be fine. I also see that Briggs and Stratton recommends 5w30 for their air cooled engines.

On the other hand, the newest Kohler engines recommend 5w40 and the manual for the newest revision of the 3LD510 recommends Agip 15w40-- maybe because the climate in much of Italy is warmer?

I may just settle on 5w30. I think is what I use in my VW TDI, so I could get a 60l container of oil for a better price-- my car needs an oil change as well.