Best engine oil weight?

[Bearsixty7]

Everyone has their OWN idea about what oil and weight is best, and to be honest, ALL of them will work just fine, IF you keep it changed like you are suppose to.

This is what I put in my loader tractor yesterday,


It's the first time I've ever used that brand, and the first time I've ever put synthetic oil in that tractor.

SR

Report back after using it a few hours if it seems no different or if it runs smoother or quieter.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

To show that I practice what I preach, This is what I put in a tractor today,

The tractor is used in the cold weather a bit, and for the most part, is on light duty...

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Report back after using it a few hours if it seems no different or if it runs smoother or quieter.

I had no intention of reporting back, because I didn't think it would make any difference, at least none until really cold weather set in.

BUT, although the model of AGCO's that I have, have noisy diesels in them,

It seemed like the diesel is a little quieter now, like the noise was just different, in a good way, but by no means is it now quiet.

I kinda just thought I was imagining it as I always wear ear plugs when running equipment... BUT, then my buddy says to me, your tractor has a different sound now, it's a little quieter!

Well, I guess I wasn't imagining it after all! lol

SR

 

[Bearsixty7]

I had no intention of reporting back, because I didn't think it would make any difference, at least none until really cold weather set in.

BUT, although the model of AGCO's that I have, have noisy diesels in them,


It seemed like the diesel is a little quieter now, like the noise was just different, in a good way, but by no means is it now quiet.

I kinda just thought I was imagining it as I always wear ear plugs when running equipment... BUT, then my buddy says to me, your tractor has a different sound now, it's a little quieter!

Well, I guess I was imagining it after all! lol

SR

LOL! You're not alone. People often report quieter running engines and drivetrains after switching to Synthetic oils and fluids. I sell and use Amsoil and some things run noticeably quieter to me and some don't. I have had a few customers report their engines run quieter after switching.

 

[RalphVa]

I switched the 1996 Tacoma's steering fluid to synthetic, and it blew the rubber line loose going to a steel line down below. Had to put a clamp on that connection that was never there for near 100k miles.

Ralph

 

[mangler]

Mobil Delvasc ESP is an excellent diesel oil. I even use the 0W40 in all my air cooled small engines. Very good TBN, good for engines that get "forgotten".

You can definitely hear a sound difference in my gas Saturn Vue, switching from synthetic 5W30 to 0W40, so you would definitely hear it on a clangy diesel engine. Most of that is the 40 weight oil making it smoother/more refined, at the expense of a nominal/smalll power and fuel efficiency drop.

 

[John0829]

Most of that is the 40 weight oil making it smoother/more refined, at the expense of a nominal/smalll power and fuel efficiency drop.

Not always, modern engines are now designed to use the thinner weight oils and the use of the heavier lubricants can shorten the life. Tolerances are machined much tighter now so the thinner lubricants will maintain the proper "cushion" between moving parts and the heavier weights do not/cannot flow in these tighter clearances as readily. Best to use what meets the manufacturer recommends for longevity, shadetree recommendations may sound good but most times these days are not.

This from an old school, "heavier has got to be better" belief. Times they have ah changed and by necessity the belief in what is best when it comes to lubrication.

 

[mangler]

Not always, modern engines are now designed to use the thinner weight oils and the use of the heavier lubricants can shorten the life. Tolerances are machined much tighter now so the thinner lubricants will maintain the proper "cushion" between moving parts and the heavier weights do not/cannot flow in these tighter clearances as readily. Best to use what meets the manufacturer recommends for longevity, shadetree recommendations may sound good but most times these days are not.

This from an old school, "heavier has got to be better" belief. Times they have ah changed and by necessity the belief in what is best when it comes to lubrication.

Agreed heavier is not better. And when you stray from manufacturer recommendations you do so at your own risk. However they usually give you a range of oils that are recommended depending on operating temps. If you stay within that range of weights (especially hot weight) you are good.

For cars the recommended weights are usually fuel economy driven. You an find the same engine in Europe that has a heavier weight oil recommended. The clearances don't magically increase as the engine crosses the pond...
I personally would not put a drop of 0W20 in a car i owned, if I could find an OEM recommendation that allows 5w30 weight oil anywhere else in the world. 0W20 is mandated in North America so they can bring down their CAFE fleet fuel economy average and sell you more overpriced pickups. And the oil itself is just not as good.

 

[daugen]

the oil itself is just not as good.

but is it good enough?...seriously.
Cutting edge oil has a comprehensive additive pack, needed in some high performance or
long change interval oils. But for those of us who change our oil every 5-10,000 miles, and don't normally get
below 20 degrees,
is it the 0 that bothers you?
My Ram truck used 0 something oil and I needed new roller tappets by 15,000 miles.
My version of the Hemi tick. I think the too thin oil and the variable displacement timing system in general
did it in.

I don't need oil that is rated for lunar vehicle lubrication.
Walmart full synthetic or just about any high line product made by Warren Distributing is half the cost of
Amsoil or other top dollar oils. For my non demanding applications, always thought good quality full synthetic oil that met or exceeded
the API class was all I needed. And this comes from a guy who started out with Mobil 1 more than 30 years ago.

Unless I move further North, which I have no intentions of doing so, I think full synthetic 10W30 will serve me fine for small 4 cycle engines..
I also think oil should not be the point of failure on a 500,000 mile pleasure or 1M mile commercial vehicle engine.
How many hours should we expect a diesel generator engine to last? How about a cheap gas one?
The assumption has been that better oil will make them last longer, but over a certain quality level, I'm just not sure.

 

[mangler]

I 'm sure if you change your oil diligently, never lug your engine, never overheat it, and trade-in the car in at 100k miles you could be fine with 0W20. But why take the chance? I consider oil as one of the very few aspects of car reliability I can actually influence. So I like to do what I can, within reason. Viscosity switch is certainly within that envelope.