Castrol 0w40 a3/b4 for tractor?

[North to Alaska]

2020 Branson 4520r. Cummins engine, no turbo, and the emission is a simple passive catalyst style.
I live in Alaska and my area is normal -25f at night and I use the tractor when it is still -10f and it sits outside, so the 0w40 is necessary. Only decent choice is John Deere Plus 50 II 0w40.
So out goes T6 5W40 and in goes 0w40.
John Deere is $45 per gallon (four quarts) while Castrol 0w40 a3/b4 is $25 per five quart jug and available in Walmart.

I use the Castrol for my vehicles.
So far response from BITOG forum is go ahead. It is specter for diesel.

Just thought I would run it by dedicated tractor people too.

Thanks!

 

[K5lwq]

Castrol is a good oil and should not be a problem. I prefer the T6 but by the time you order it and pay shipping it would be quite a bit more I am sure. I say go for it.

 

[North to Alaska]

I just figured it was not appropriate for use in a diesel, let alone a tractor diesel. I started to rethink that and decided to ask to make sure.

 

[Robin Veerman]

Well how do you know if the Castrol is appropriate for your diesel tractor? You didn’t state “which” Castrol oil you’re looking at, so no one can advise you either, without knowing which. Let us know…

 

[K5lwq]

Sure he did in his first post.
Castrol 0w40 a3/b4

Here is the SDS

https://msdspds.castrol.com/bpglis/FusionPDS.nsf/Files/8D2B182FAF8D60CB80257D0A0042297A/$File/BPXE-9LXVTX.pdf

 

[Robin Veerman]

Yes he did. Staring me in the face….

 

[North to Alaska]

To clarify, I am talking about Edge as K5lwq provided a link to the pds

 

[IH3444]

https://msdspds.castrol.com/bpglis/FusionPDS.nsf/Files/D335A470AC003D9780258412006CDC96/$File/BPXE-BCXRBQ.pdf

 

[North to Alaska]

So a little update
I was going to return the expensive John Deere oil but one of my kids had apparently opened one of the jugs.
My next change will be the Castrol.
I would like to say that the John Deere 0w40 starts like a charm at sub zero temps. Much better than the 5w40 that was in there which was much better than the factory oil before it.

 

[RalphVa]

2020 Branson 4520r. Cummins engine, no turbo, and the emission is a simple passive catalyst style.
I live in Alaska and my area is normal -25f at night and I use the tractor when it is still -10f and it sits outside, so the 0w40 is necessary. Only decent choice is John Deere Plus 50 II 0w40.
So out goes T6 5W40 and in goes 0w40.
John Deere is $45 per gallon (four quarts) while Castrol 0w40 a3/b4 is $25 per five quart jug and available in Walmart.

I use the Castrol for my vehicles.
So far response from BITOG forum is go ahead. It is specter for diesel.

Just thought I would run it by dedicated tractor people too.

Thanks!

I got some M1 0w30 ESP (rated for gasoline and light duty diesel) from Advanced Auto: $32/gallon.

It would be better there in Alaska. You do not need 0w40.

 

[mo1]

I just figured it was not appropriate for use in a diesel, let alone a tractor diesel. I started to rethink that and decided to ask to make sure.

I looked at the product data sheet and it is rated as API CF for diesel engines and API SN for gasoline engines, and ACEA A3/B4 for passenger car gasoline and diesel engines. Now, CF is an old spec for diesel engines introduced in 1994 and the current spec is CF-4. According to the American Petroleum Institute, who develops those ratings, they state that CF oil generally is not appropriate for a 2009 and later engine. However SN is a current spec for gasoline engine oil. ACEA ratings aren't as often used in the US but an oil designed for a heavy-duty diesel engine gets an "E" rating like E6 or E9, which this oil lacks.

I tried to look for a manual for the Branson online and couldn't find anything, so I can't tell you exactly what it requires. My tractor of a different brand than yours was made the same year as yours and it states an API CJ-4, CK-4, or ACEA E6 or E9 oil must be used. I suspect this Castrol oil is probably a gasoline engine oil that meets some older and lighter-duty specs for diesel oils. I would NOT use this in your tractor unless you see in your manual that an API CF or ACEA A3/B4 oil is specifically acceptable.

 

[North to Alaska]

I looked that up too.
Owners manual says nothing about it but the service manual says CG. CG is a higher rating than CF. CG is for engines meeting 1994 emission standards. CF is 1990.
As I started researching this more it became clear the main difference between these standards is emissions and how they can effect exhaust emissions parts.
The Branson has a passive DPF. It relies on maintaining a high heat continuously to clean itself out.
So no, Castrol is not an appropriate oil. Heck, a CG rated oil really isn’t the best either.
The soot caused by the oil will likely cause issues and eventually ruin the dpf (or def if you have that).
However, I will eventually remove the DPF off of my tractor and replace it with a simple muffler. Right now I am not having a problem with it and it can stay.
By the way, the Branson does not have a computer so it could care less if the DPF was still on. It will likely have more horsepower too.

 

[mo1]

I looked that up too.
Owners manual says nothing about it but the service manual says CG. CG is a higher rating than CF. CG is for engines meeting 1994 emission standards. CF is 1990.
As I started researching this more it became clear the main difference between these standards is emissions and how they can effect exhaust emissions parts.
The Branson has a passive DPF. It relies on maintaining a high heat continuously to clean itself out.
So no, Castrol is not an appropriate oil. Heck, a CG rated oil really isn’t the best either.
The soot caused by the oil will likely cause issues and eventually ruin the dpf (or def if you have that).
However, I will eventually remove the DPF off of my tractor and replace it with a simple muffler. Right now I am not having a problem with it and it can stay.
By the way, the Branson does not have a computer so it could care less if the DPF was still on. It will likely have more horsepower too.

The CJ-4 spec was introduced to limit the amount of sulfated ash, phosphorus, and sulfur (collectively, referred to as "SAPS") to avoid clogging up EGR and DPF/DOC systems. Previous specs such as CI-4 are not necessarily low-SAPS formulations, they may not meet current wear specs, or have some other component that is "out of spec" compared to current specs.