Overthinking oil of course

[def38]

Your turbo diesel engine will do fine on 15W-40 in your climate. If you're concerned, send a sample to Blackstone Labs for analysis. Ask for a particle count as well to verify your filter is doing well.

I prefer Mobil Delvac 1300 15W-40. It has a good Noack score (tolerates turbo heat well) high TBN and keeps my Perkins engine (non-turbo) very clean. Available at Walmart. The Walmart Super Tech brand is also good. My filter choice is Wix. Their filters are tough and have excellent construction, lots of filter media surface and well crimped base plate. I'm in middle Alabama, Blount county. We're gonna get some snow here likely tonight. The tractor will remain in the garage until I get my plow in the early Spring.

I would also consider some Diesel Kleen in the fuel from time to time. Helps restore lubrication in low sulphur diesel fuel. The fuel injectors will thank you, as well. I put a metal beer can over the exhaust when leaving the tractor outside (rarely). The can is blown off the vertical exhaust pipe when I start the engine if I forget to remove it.

Something I always watch is how quickly the oil pressure light goes out when cold starting the Perkins in the M-F. This tells you how long your engine went without oil pressure during cranking. Conversely, I also watch the oil light during hot shutdown. Time how long it takes for the light to come on after the engine stops rotating, a relative indication of oil viscosity as well as engine bearing clearances. The Perkins oil light comes on at about 3-4 seconds after a hot shutdown meaning a tight engine.

FYI, my 2001 BMW motorcycle engine oil pressure lamp goes out during the first 2-3 seconds of cold start cranking. The oil light comes on after 5-6 seconds of hot shutdown. That engine (an oilhead boxer engine, air cooled) is like brand new...it gets Mobil1 15-50 full synthetic (no turbo but high compression)

 

[dennis103]

I would only use 100% synthetic oil in a turbo. Reason being the coking effect after shut down when hot. This can be eliminated by idling the tractor for a few minutes after using it. I let my tractor warm up until the heater is throwing heat and idle for at least 5 minutes after using it. I live in Maine and use my tractor with snow blower for almost every storm. I have a Kubota Gr L6060 turbo. I use Rotella T6 15W40 full synthetic. I have my tractor in a heated building 40 degrees. I know a lot of guys that run the Rotella T6 5W40 and I would also if my tractor was outside in the cold. If I was in your climate I would use 15W40 full synthetic let the tractor warm up before any hard use and always a cool down after.

 

[RalphVa]

Many many turbo VW TDIs out there running Castrol 5w30. Ours went 10k changes nearly 7 years before we sold it back to VW.

That 15w40 oil will leave your top end starving for oil in cold starts this time of year for a few seconds.

Ralph

 

[mini14]

I use nothing but 15w-40 in all
5 of my diesels with hundreds of thousands of miles and thousands of running hours. I buy whatever is on sale. Most recently the Costco stuff. Zero engine issues and never use synthetic

 

[Sberry]

I got one I like to start in cold weather on occasion. I dont "have to" and dont but. It was made in 68 and was one of their lastest engines to call for straight weight and we added an MW turbo but it didint like multi at all, lost hot oil pressure on them. It wasnt till well north of 2000 or so that 15/40 held up. It was a problem if a guy wanted to use it in the winter and maybe it was or wasnt such a deal and we thought it was but it really starts better on T6 5/40 and runs well hot. I use it in my Kohler mower and conventional in most everything else.

 

[Sberry]

Lately jugs of Mobil been the deal and so easy to use the spec weight. The diesel with the 5/40 uses a little and we sample it a couple times to get a grip and add some, the extra cost makes up for in filters and pain in the *** labor no one likes and fills up barrels of waste. I got 1 at a remote location that back in the day might have taken a pail and changed it but come to think of it hasnt been home in 4 or 5 years and would get serviced most likely when it was trucked for repair. Gets a couple gallons added maybe not sure. Not used below freezing, old and starts easy.
More than the oil I wonder about the filter life?
What happens to the paper and I have seen a couple pinhole over the years. Stuff sat a long time. Had one on a Kohler was used hard once a year and must have been in there 10 yrs and sits on the side, I even snipped around it to see and rest of it looked pristine cept for one tiny spot it corroded thru.