? Oil for New tractor

[zjohnson]

I have a new MF 491 coming Saturday. I do not have the owner's manual yet, But I guess it will call for a 15-40. I use "regular" oils in my car and trucks with 3k mi changes with good success. I want this tractor to last our farm for many years so I dont mind the expense of high quality oils. What would you guys use?

 

[gsxr1100]

Welcome to TBN and before this "hot" topic starts I would personally do a search on the forums. There are gigs and gigs of info here.

Some like the better PAO and ester based oil (hroup 4 and 5) and some like the good-old dinos and hydro-craked oils. It is up to you to choose.

 

[RalphVa]

My JD 4010 manual calls for 5w-30. I just switched to Mobil 1 of this grade at 13.5 hours. Got Mobil 1 in all my engines now.

I use 50/50 5w-30/15w-50 in Benz and Gravely, to get 10w-40 for them. All others use either 5w-30 or 0w-40. Have been using 5w-30 since it became prevalent at Walmart and Sams. Before that, they seemed to only have 0w-40 or 15w-50.

Ralph

 

[cowboydoc]

Rotella 15w-40 or Delo 15w40 would be my choice for a diesel. Both are specially formulated for diesels and between the two of them probably supply 90% of the diesels out there. We have tractors with 10,000 hours on them that have never been touched running Rotella.

Synthetic is certainly great to use but with the soot issue and contaminant issue from sitting, idling, etc. I don't like to prolong oil changes.

 

[teddydo]

Mike with respect I think you can do better than that. The gentleman knows how to do a search, he wants an opinion from some posters that have already studied the pros and cons of these oiols and applications that we use them in. Thanks mike and no offence /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Teddy

 

[gsxr1100]

ok, my opinion (we all know what these are) is that I would use a real synthetic (group 4 or 5) and call it a day.

These oils, not naming brands, since MOST oil in this class (group 4 and 5) have high ZDDP and TBN. Hence better oil more $$$. You will NOT see these oils at your local Wal-mart if you go looking. Last I knew that had a $5 per qt limit on oils.

There are some oil in class 3 (Rotella, Royal Purple, Delo etc) that are lower in these areas. Hence less $$$ and every shop from east to west carries them. Are they good? Depends onwhatis being compared too. Will they work? Sure but the longevity is much less.

For the sake of saving electrons here (and not re-inventing the wheel), do a search on oil topics and I bet 99% of them I have stated what I think. It comes down to group 1 to 3 are good but group 4 and 5 are the best. Better resistance to nox and oxd, way better TBN, better protection and way better ZDDP.

Also most times the 15w-40 are good. The exception is product like Amsoil 5w-30 HDD that have one of the best add packages out there while being a 5w-30. It will beat any 15w-40 out there.

I also have done/do extended oil changes and if you use a good oil and filter, it is not even an issue. You will need to worry about tbn and a few others. Again, the key is a good oil. My oil I used worked very well in my old Powerstroke diesel with between 11 to 12K mile drains. My lexus and motorcyle and my bx all do 1 year drains.

Maybe it is me, but I want the best for my little BX22.

**The search function is a powerful tool, when used. Not flaming etc, but it is there for a reason.

 

[DmansPadge]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I want this tractor to last our farm for many years so I dont mind the expense of high quality oils. What would you guys use? )</font>

Mike (gsxr1100) knows what he's talking about. I'm not even trying to start anything here. But if you use a "regular" oil like Delo, Rotella, or whatever MF recommends and keep it changed with a quality filter you will not have any trouble. I have seen many tractors that have used off brand oils and not kept as well as they should and they never look back. If you want to spend the money on a good synthetic... have at it! It will only be better off. I use Chevron Delo in my Kubota and I'm sure it'll rust to death before the engine gives up because I used Delo.

Everyone has their opinions on this topic. I'm giving mine.

 

[gsxr1100]

That is all I was trying to do. Everyone has reasons why they use oils. Some are based on test results, some are on virgin oil anaysis, some are where they can buy them, some are how non expensive it is, some are becuase someone said to use it and so on. Some of these reasons are a good bases and some are taking it for face value. Again the key buzzzzz word here is opinions and again every has one. Most times it is not even based on anything remotely scientific.

All will work, yes but if you test the oil then the better oils come to life. The problem for some, not all, is the price. Or they do not understand what they are getting for the increase in price.

That is why I said to use the search function since opinions mean zero to some. Now oil test numbers mean more since we at least have something (data) to go by...that is it.

 

[teddydo]

Dmans you are exactly correct I think. Rotella or the other oils whether dino or not will normally do a very good job and whatever it is used in will last a long time. What I think I am looking out for, or one of the things I am looking out for is the day when my radiator gets a little pluged and my temp goes up and I don't notice it right away is the fact that this Higher Grade Oil should not degrade as quickly as the lower grade stuff. Also when I am in a push to use this machine and it's time for an oil change, my Higher Grade oil will most likely still have the qualities to keep my engine lubed as needed. In the winter I think my higher grade oil has the puor point to lube me engine at start up on a cold day. This Red Line just looks better to me on the dip stick. So please, I am no contending, but I paid a lot for my Kubato 4330 and I have peace of mind with this Higher Grade oil. All my best...teddy

 

[DmansPadge]

Teddy, I don't blame you a bit for using the Red Line in your Kubota. I run a synthetic in my Tacoma pickup but I paid a lot more for it than my tractor and I put about 20-25k miles a year on it. My tractor might see 100 hrs a year. Like you and Mike were saying, the extended period between oil changes is a very nice benefit.

I guess you can use a dino oil and change it more often or a quality synthetic and have extended oil changes. It's all personal preference. The main point of all this oil talk is no matter what you use... just make sure you change it when it needs to be and use a quality filter. You can't go wrong with that! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif