SAE 30 or Something different

[racerboy832]

Deutz Allis 5220 with 21hp Toyosha Diesel. Book calls for straight sae 30 oil, is says to not use multi grade oils with this motor. The book is from 1989 and the tractor 1991. I just changed the oil and used straight 30. I'm in CT and it seems like that would be kinda thick. What do you guys think?

 

[Willl]

I'd stick to the book.

 

[shade tree welder]

That is very odd.

Motor oils (lubricants in general) in the past few decades have undergone many changes. Motor oils today are primarily blended from Group II and Group III basestock versus Group I just a few decades ago.

Multigrade oils are blended using lower viscosity basestocks than equivalent single grade products. The lower vis. base oil is needed to meet the cold cranking viscometrics. This specification is shown by the 0W, 5W, 10W, 15W or 20W in the SAE clasification system. They viscometrics are run at sub zero temperatures the temp varies based on the grade.

The second part of the multi-grade system the 20, 30, 40 or 50 is the viscosity at 212F (100C) or near the operating temp of an engine.

So a 10W-30 has a maximum viscosity at a very low temp and a viscosity range to meet at 100C. A straight SAE 30 grade oil has no low temp requirements to meet and has the same range as the 10W-30 at 212F.

Now the way they make the lower viscosity oil meet the high temp specification is they use a polymer thickener known as a Viscosity index improver. This large molecule shrinks as the temperature drops and the viscosity of the base oil is the determining factor in the viscosity of the bulk fluid. As the temperature of the oil increase the polymer expands and absorbs oil in to the structure increase the viscosity over what the base oil normally would.

I would recommend an oil that would have the least amount of polymer in it but still be a SAE 30 grade. So a synthetic xW-30 would be you first choice as it would likely not have any VII polymer or a 10W-30 conventional.

If you tractor is cold in the winter a single grade SAE 30 is going to have flow issues at start up and that is bad.

 

[Skyco]

20 years ago a straight weight oil was a common recommendation. Personally I'd have no problem running a current diesel spec 10w-30 or even a 5w-40.

 

[mrutkaus]

Hey Shadetree, informative post, thanks.

Mike

 

[shade tree welder]

20 years ago a straight weight oil was a common recommendation. Personally I'd have no problem running a current diesel spec 10w-30 or even a 5w-40.

Unless the manual recommends a SAE 40 grade oil, would not recommend a 40
grade oil. The base viscosity of the oil is recommended to match the
tolerances of the engine and going with higher viscosity oils over the
recommended grade will result in lower oil flow rates and possibly, lack of
lubrication related failures.

Hey Shadetree, informative post, thanks.

Mike

Thanks, 19 years working for lube companies I learned a little.

 

[racerboy832]

So would I be looking for a synthetic 10w30 or conventional?

 

[Transit]

I agree with skyco, the manual is 21 years out of date. The engine has 19 years of use, how are the hot-operating and idle pressures holding? Maybe a 10w40 or a 5w40 should be considered.

 

[racerboy832]

no oil pressure gauge, Tractor has 600Hrs on it. Would an oil pan heater help me at all. They are easy to stick on and plug in.

 

[shade tree welder]

So would I be looking for a synthetic 10w30 or conventional?

Either, the synthetic will have less VII. Look on the back of the bottle and make sure the API Donut list
Service for CI, CI plus or CJ. These are the diesel engine oil specifications.

I agree with skyco, the manual is 21 years out of date. The engine has 19 years of use, how are the hot-operating and idle pressures holding? Maybe a 10w40 or a 5w40 should be considered.

I would not recommend a 40 grade, I would be concerned with oil flow issues. Especially with the low hours on the unit.

no oil pressure gauge, Tractor has 600Hrs on it. Would an oil pan heater help me at all. They are easy to stick on and plug in.

Yes definitely. I have an engine block heater as well as a magnetic oil pan heater.