Motor Oil for a 1996 John Deere 5400

[Danny Jo]

My neighbor’s dad past away two years ago and he had a 1996 John Deere 5400 tractor that his dad always used Quaker State 10W30 motor oil in, now that he is taking care of his equipment should he continue using this oil or switch to a different oil more suited for a diesel tractor?

 

[90cummins]

If it’s a diesel Absolutely!!!
90cummins

 

[Danny Jo]

My neighbor’s dad past away two years ago and he had a 1996 John Deere 5400 tractor that his dad always used Quaker State 10W30 motor oil in, now that he is taking care of his equipment should he continue using this oil or switch to a different oil more suited for a diesel tractor?

I’ve got a 2006 John Deere 3520 and run Shell T4 Rotella 15W40 in it and a 2018 Silverado HD2500 with a Duramax and run Shell T5 Rotella 15W40 in it.

 

[ruffdog]

I’ve got a 2006 John Deere 3520 and run Shell T4 Rotella 15W40 in it and a 2018 Silverado HD2500 with a Duramax and run Shell T5 Rotella 15W40 in it.

I'm thinking that you are using the correct oil that should be in the neighbor's tractor.

 

[mo1]

My neighbor’s dad past away two years ago and he had a 1996 John Deere 5400 tractor that his dad always used Quaker State 10W30 motor oil in, now that he is taking care of his equipment should he continue using this oil or switch to a different oil more suited for a diesel tractor?

Deere publishes a viscosity vs. temperature chart that lists a bunch of options based on expected air temperature (see below.) 10W-30 would be fine as long as it doesn't get above 104 F or below about 15 below zero.

The issue is that the oil has to be a diesel engine oil and not a gasoline engine oil. As far as I can tell Quaker State doesn't make a diesel engine oil. A diesel engine oil would have an API "C" rating like "API CK-4" on the bottle. If it only has an API "S" rating such as "API SN PLUS" or has the "For Gasoline Engines" logo on the bottle, do not use it in a diesel engine. It will not have enough dispersants to keep the blown-by soot suspended properly in the oil. The Deere Plus-50 II or Torq-Gard in the chart below would work, so would Shell Rotella, Mobil Delvac, Chevron Delo, or many other diesel engine oils.