diesel oil

DIM · Jan 17, 2020

I remember they use to say you had to use an oil made for diesel is this still true. This is my first diesel tractor

old · Jan 17, 2020

You don't have to but in the long run it is better to use the type of oil that is made for the type of engine

Russ from MN · Jan 17, 2020

This subject just got beat to death on Tool Talk, first page, read it!

Steve@Advance · Jan 17, 2020

Your first source of information should be the owners manual. If no owners manual, you can get one online. If it's an older tractor, the general go-to oil is 15w-40 diesel oil. If in very cold climate, drop to a lower viscosity.

When looking for diesel oil, start with the stand by brands, Dello, Rotella, Delvac, etc. There are others, there are different varieties, straight petroleum, synthetic blends, pure synthetic. It's your choice, all will work. Probably a good idea not to mix them, or switch brands or blends. Find one and stick with it.

Then for the final decision, look for the "API SERVICE" circle.

That is where the owners manual comes in handy. It will list the minimum oil requirements for that engine.

On the top of the circle there will be a 2 letter suffix, sometimes followed by a number.

The first letter you want to see is a "C". That designates the oil is for a "compression ignition" (diesel) engine, if there is an "S", that oil is rated for a "spark ignition" (gasoline, LP, CNG) engine.

The second letter, and possibly a number, will designate the additive package in the oil.

The letters are always increasing in alphabetical order as the older products become obsolete. If your manual says "CH", then anything with an H, I, J, K... will work. Just don't go down in the letter rating, and the only way that would happen would be to find some old stock, as the old designations become obsolete and go out of production.
Oil Catagories

DIM · Jan 18, 2020

Steve Thanks for information. FYI the oil the manual says to use is not made any more.

derwen1959 · Jan 18, 2020

What is make and model of diesel tractor you have bought??

sotxbill · Jan 18, 2020

(quoted from post at 20:04:29 01/17/20) Your first source of information should be the owners manual. If no owners manual, you can get one online. If it's an older tractor, the general go-to oil is 15w-40 diesel oil. If in very cold climate, drop to a lower viscosity.

When looking for diesel oil, start with the stand by brands, Dello, Rotella, Delvac, etc. There are others, there are different varieties, straight petroleum, synthetic blends, pure synthetic. It's your choice, all will work. Probably a good idea not to mix them, or switch brands or blends. Find one and stick with it.

Then for the final decision, look for the "API SERVICE" circle.

That is where the owners manual comes in handy. It will list the minimum oil requirements for that engine.

On the top of the circle there will be a 2 letter suffix, sometimes followed by a number.

The first letter you want to see is a "C". That designates the oil is for a "compression ignition" (diesel) engine, if there is an "S", that oil is rated for a "spark ignition" (gasoline, LP, CNG) engine.

The second letter, and possibly a number, will designate the additive package in the oil.

The letters are always increasing in alphabetical order as the older products become obsolete. If your manual says "CH", then anything with an H, I, J, K... will work. Just don't go down in the letter rating, and the only way that would happen would be to find some old stock, as the old designations become obsolete and go out of production.
Oil Catagories

"""""""Good info, but remember,,,, the older tractor manuals call for oil that was available back then... and therefore its an inferior oil to what is available today. In the 1940s,50s, 60s, and 70s oil technology was no where near what is is now.

Then there is a period where the diesel oil was the best oil money could buy, but the recent addition of catalytic converters and particulate filters, made it necessary to remove some of the zinc and moly additives... so in some cases finding some diesel oil from the late 90s could actually be better than the present oils...

buickanddeere · Jan 18, 2020

(quoted from post at 06:57:43 01/18/20) Steve Thanks for information. FYI the oil the manual says to use is not made any more.

A few minutes of searching will find a cross reference to new oils and what is back comparable .
Diesel oil is not as important in some ways as the fuel is now low sulphur. There is less acid to neutralize.
A non emission solid lifter diesel needs a high pressure point oil . A two stroke needs a low ash straight weight oil .
An emissions engine needs a low ash oil to reduce particulate filter plugging .

buickanddeere · Jan 18, 2020

. Read the articles by Bob the Oil Guy. He has 99% figured out .

BarnyardEngineering · Jan 18, 2020

(quoted from post at 10:43:39 01/18/20) . Read the articles by Bob the Oil Guy. He has 99% figured out .

...and 99% will tell you that what he says is pure BS. That's how oil discussions go.

Most people's opinions are based on anecdotal accounts of using one kind of oil in one engine one time, and nothing bad happened, so therefore that kind of oil should be used in ALL engines at ALL times, and anyone that tells you otherwise is dead wrong and too stupid to live...

buickanddeere · Jan 18, 2020

Have to 99% agree with you.

diesel oil

DIM

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old

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Russ from MN

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Steve@Advance

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DIM

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derwen1959

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sotxbill

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buickanddeere

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buickanddeere

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BarnyardEngineering

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buickanddeere

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