Oil & Fuel Oil question

lspat · Jan 20, 2018

Hello LS enthusiasts,

I am doing the first oil change on my LS 3038. And I am wondering what you guys run for Oil? Is a 10w-30 better then a 15w-40? Or visa versa? I’d like to choose the Oil that has the best engine protection.
I know In my older tractors we ran 15-40, but I’m unsure about the new type engines.

Looking forward to your guys/gals input.

Patrick

robertsa · Jan 20, 2018

The weight is based on temperature. From your manual:

Ortimber · Jan 20, 2018

K7LN hit the nail on the head.

There is also a new T6 Rotella in 5W-30 that is rated for both gas and diesel engines.

lostcreekranch · Jan 20, 2018

K7LN said:
A lot of the members here use Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 full synthetic. It's good oil, satisfies all the temperature ranges and can be used in gas or diesel engines allowing you to only stock one oil for everything.

IMHO using synthetic oil in a diesel engine is a huge waste of money. We use Shell Rotella T 15w-40 in tractors and F-350 truck.

Mobil 1 in Corvette.

Peter 315 · Jan 20, 2018

rlgustafson said:
IMHO using synthetic oil in a diesel engine is a huge waste of money. We use Shell Rotella T 15w-40 in tractors and F-350 truck.

Mobil 1 in Corvette.

I think it depends where you live , How cold it gets

goeduck · Jan 20, 2018

I use Rotella T6 and do not get hung up on the owners manual spec in diesels. Very good oil. In gas engines I use what the owners manual says.

News to me that there is a new T6 5W30. Good to know

tcreeley · Jan 20, 2018

Check the manual for recommended oil for your tractor (temp range + viscosity). Not all oil is the same. Buy a manual on line. Never heard of oil for a gas and diesel engine being the same until today. I generally don't trust the one size fits all way of thinking. Get the specs on the LS recommended oil. then look for an equivalent that meets the same specs. Tractor is too valuable to experiment on unless money is no object.

LouNY · Jan 20, 2018

I'm using the Rotella T6 5W-40 in my Branson 8050, IH 574, RAM 1500 eco diesel the little JD lawn tractor 110, a couple of small engines, the lawn vac and sander, plow truck 1999 Chevy with a 350 gas motor, I guess it's in every thing here except my wife's Equinox it requires a DOXOS spec oil and my old dynahoe with a 4-53 Detroit which specs a straight 30 or 40 weight oil and the HD which gets Syn 3.

goeduck · Jan 20, 2018

tcreeley said:
Check the manual for recommended oil for your tractor (temp range + viscosity). Not all oil is the same. Buy a manual on line. Never heard of oil for a gas and diesel engine being the same until today. I generally don't trust the one size fits all way of thinking. .

If you wait a few years the manufacturers recommended oil may not be available so you end up using 15W40, 5W40 or the like. As far as Rotella, Delo and the higher end broad multi viscosity diesel oils go, kajillions of truck drivers are not normally wrong.

Deere Dude · Jan 20, 2018

rlgustafson said:
IMHO using synthetic oil in a diesel engine is a huge waste of money. We use Shell Rotella T 15w-40 in tractors and F-350 truck.

Mobil 1 in Corvette.

Peter 315 said:
I think it depends where you live , How cold it gets

I lived in Wisconsin for many years and used Rotella T 15/40 for my diesel trucks, CUT and half a dozen diesel garden tractors. Works like a charm and not all that expensive. I never had a problem starting or with viscosity until I got down to 0 to -10 or so. Then I plug it it or just go back to bed.

Now in TN I have been getting Mobil Delvac 1300 or something like that which is the equivalent, simply because I have been getting some killer deals with it..

I change the oil yearly or 100 hours which is about the same span for me so I cannot see paying extra for a synthetic when I need to change at those intervals anyway. But that is just me.