Oil recommendations for 2305

davkir · Sep 9, 2005

I am new to the forum and to the world of JD tractors.
The manual for my new 2305 calls for SAE 10W-30 oil for hot weather and SAE 5W-30 for cold. It recommends JD Plus-50.
The dealer told me that I should use JD Plus-50 15W-40 all year and that they don't make that oil in 10W-30.
I contacted JD customer service and they said I may use 10W-30 and I should get it from someone other then JD.

They list a Plus-50 0W-40 synthetic on their web site and it looks as if it could be used year round.

Does anyone have any recommendations. I plan on using the tractor infrequently in the winter, but I don't want to have a lot of trouble getting it started when it snows.

Thank You.

bigpete · Sep 9, 2005

The standard seems to be JD Plus 50 15W-40 for these JD-installed Yanmar engines

davkir · Sep 10, 2005

Thanks for the info. I looked on the Yanmar web site and the only multi weight oil they sell is 15W-40.
I wonder why JD recommends 10W-30, especially since they don't seem to sell it?

RalphVa · Sep 11, 2005

I swtiched to Mobil 1 5w30 at 13 hours on my 4010. Don't see any problem with using a lower 1st grade all year round. The viscosity is always higher at startup, even in summer time, with cold oil/engine than when operating. So, you're better off using the lowest grade possible, even 0wx, to make all startups easier and to help the oil pump start the oil flow the quickest possible, long as oil consumption isn't very much (on my 4010 it is nil).

If you're really uncomfortable using 30w at the higher end, Mobil 1 now makes an "SUV & truck" oil that's 5w40. Got this in my Benz diesel now.

On multi-grade, that first figure is the SAE grade at 40 C. The second figure is SAE grade at 100 C. You can get vis paper that plots the oil vis as a straight line or use the equation log vis = log log (absolute temperature) + a constant (think this is the equation; it's been a while; got a computer program for it). Starting out vis at around 50-80 F in summer and -40 to 50 F in winter will ALWAYS be higher than operating vis at >100 C.

Ralph

Ray2210 · Sep 11, 2005

I use the JD 0w-40 synthetic all year round.

gsxr1100 · Sep 11, 2005

I would do a search in the oil forum since the topic of oil has been around a few times; like a 1,000+

megotatractor · Sep 11, 2005

sounds like a familiar post. the manual for the 2210 is very confusing in the oils department, for the 2305 it might even be the same manual? My dealer recommends 15w40 and I would agree this is best in 90 degree weather. With a block heater the oil weight is a non issue.