Oil & Fuel Viscosity

[Gale Hawkins]

Unless you spend a lot of time maxed out in hot climates a 30 weight oil is ample. Most of these machines spend their lives at not much more than idle. All a heavy oil does is cause internal engine drag and fuel efficiency.:2cents:

kuboman where does the drag come from if we are talking about at a 1000 RPM? When I drain 30 and 40 weight oil at 200F I can not see much difference in flow rate. Based on that I would assume there is effectively not drag increase using 40 rather than 30.

 

[kuboman]

kuboman where does the drag come from if we are talking about at a 1000 RPM? When I drain 30 and 40 weight oil at 200F I can not see much difference in flow rate. Based on that I would assume there is effectively not drag increase using 40 rather than 30.

If there is no difference in flow rate than there is no advantage/disadvantage to using 40 weight oil? We know that is not the case granted it may not be a huge difference but I proved this fact to myself when i ran an old VW diesel. When I went from 15-40 to 0-30 I gained noticeable power and economy. I ran that car to 300000 on 0-30 and it was still going strong and did not use a drop of oil. Convinced me.

 

[MHarryE]

A neighbor blew the rear seal out of his engine, a Cummins, on his 135 HP tractor this winter. The dealer asked what oil he was using 15W-40. Dealer said that is a no - no for our cold weather even with engine heaters. I go by the Cat DEO guidelines.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Thinner is better I have heard. I like Rotella 5W-40 for gas and diesel for the better flow on cold starts.

 

[kuboman]

Thinner is better especially in a cold climate.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Thinner is better especially in a cold climate.

After looking at some temp range charts I see your point. 30 and 40 are both good up to around 100F air temps. If I lived that far north and was not breaking ground, etc a 100 hours a week I would just run the thinner oil option year round too.

 

[WilliamBos]

Thinner is better especially in a cold climate.

Totally agree!! Ran 15W40 semi syn last summer, will probably run it again this summer. Between mowing and running the log splitter, does not spend too much time at idle.

Or would 5W40 fit the bill better!

 

[PHILIP8N]

Totally agree!! Ran 15W40 semi syn last summer, will probsbly run it agsin this summet. Between mowing and runnig the log splitter, does not spend too much time at idle.

Or would 5W40 fit the bill better!

Run 5w-40 and be done for year around use. Are you changing oil twice a year per the season? Philip.

 

[WilliamBos]

Run 5w-40 and be done for year around use. Are you changing oil twice a year per the season? Philip.

Yes, a spring & Fall maintenance program. Fuel filter every fall regardless of hours.

 

[PHILIP8N]

Yes, a spring & Fall maintenance program. Fuel filter every fall regardless of hours.

Is that just so you can change viscosity of oil for the upcoming season? Or, for some other reason? Same time, money, and help environment by using 5w-40 for year around protection, and just change once a year. Unless, you are racking up over 200 hours a year. Philip.