Engine oil

[eddieirvine]

I have used Rotella oil in my Kubota L3940 sense i owned it, I figured sense truck drivers use it for there rigs, it is good oil. well i think it is always did a great job for me. I was in Tractor supply the other day and some other places, it seems to be not on the shelf's for whatever reason just like everything else in this world of Stupid!! I talked to a guy in the store that seems to me to know what he is talking about. He said the Traveller oil is made in the same place as Rotella 15w40 any of you use this i usually by it in 5 gal bucket, I even looked close at both here at home seems to be no difference ? I know it is hard to know by looking at an oil but i am changing it in the next couple of days. Let me know if any of you use it and your thoughts, Thanks Eddie. to add a note the
traveller oil is also marked for Diesel engines.

 

[big bubba]

as long as the oil is compliant for diesels & your model, should be ok. i'm also looking for alternatives to T6 5/40 that i use. actually, given your location, if changing oil brands, i'd be looking more at a 5/40 full syn diesel rated rather than 15/40. there have been many conversation over the viscosity differences in those grades of engine oil. good luck

 

[Captain Dirty]

Saying that Product X is made in the same place (town, state?) or by the same company as Product A or Product B is a common bit of disingenuousness often employed when someone selling Product X wants to imply it as good as A or B. The same company may produce A, B, and X in the same plant but to different specifications according to what the brand wants to pay. In the case of oil, that may include the basic feed stock as well as different additives. As big bubba pointed out, go with the API service and viscosity ratings in your owner's manual or what your dealer recommends, at least for the warranty period.
I am also in favor of an oil analysis at each oil change, or as recommended by the laboratory if you are extending the change interval.

 

[Topzide]

Using Traveller's oil in my 3500. Made by Warren Distributor. They been around for quite some time! As long as it meets the requirements of your equipment, you should be fine. There are only so many refineries in the US. Many brands made in same places with just different additives packages added. Doing the oil changes are just as important as using correct specifications of the oil. JM2C

 

[eddieirvine]

Saying that Product X is made in the same place (town, state?) or by the same company as Product A or Product B is a common bit of disingenuousness often employed when someone selling Product X wants to imply it as good as A or B. The same company may produce A, B, and X in the same plant but to different specifications according to what the brand wants to pay. In the case of oil, that may include the basic feed stock as well as different additives. As big bubba pointed out, go with the API service and viscosity ratings in your owner's manual or what your dealer recommends, at least for the warranty period.
I am also in favor of an oil analysis at each oil change, or as recommended by the laboratory if you are extending the change interval.

I understand what you are saying for a sale of there product but the guy i talked to is not this way, i have known him for a long time and put a lot of trust in what he tells me, not about what they sell but information both of us have shared foe quite some time

 

[rScotty]

I understand what you are saying for a sale of there product but the guy i talked to is not this way, i have known him for a long time and put a lot of trust in what he tells me, not about what they sell but information both of us have shared foe quite some time

Some of the Home Depots here carry Rotella T6 and others alway seem to be out. Still, it only takes a couple of stops to find whatever kind I'm looking for. So far the expected shortages haven't happened, although not everystore carries a full stock of every item like they used to do.

On oils I tend to stick to name brands from big companies. For instance Shell Oil's Rotella. I figure the know what they are doing.
I don't buy the common story you hear about filters, fuels, and lube oils all being the same but with different labels and additives.

Us mechanical guys are supposed to be pretty knowledgeable about lubes and oils, but I know I'm pretty much ignorant compared to a real petroleum engineer. That's why I stick to the name brands. I just don't know enough to compare them.
Also not sure I'd feel very comfortable taking advice about oil from a clerk in a tractor parts store. I mean.... come on now....really??
rScotty

 

[JJT]

Do you have a truck stop near you? If so, you'll find a diverse selection of diesel oil. I buy my diesel, diesel treatment and engine oil from my local truck stop. So far no issues with finding synthetic Rotella.

 

[jyoutz]

Some of the Home Depots here carry Rotella T6 and others alway seem to be out. Still, it only takes a couple of stops to find whatever kind I'm looking for. So far the expected shortages haven't happened, although not everystore carries a full stock of every item like they used to do.

On oils I tend to stick to name brands from big companies. For instance Shell Oil's Rotella. I figure the know what they are doing.
I don't buy the common story you hear about filters, fuels, and lube oils all being the same but with different labels and additives.

Us mechanical guys are supposed to be pretty knowledgeable about lubes and oils, but I know I'm pretty much ignorant compared to a real petroleum engineer. That's why I stick to the name brands. I just don't know enough to compare them.
Also not sure I'd feel very comfortable taking advice about oil from a clerk in a tractor parts store. I mean.... come on now....really??
rScotty

I haven’t seen T6 locally since last fall. In any store. I’m switching to Valvoline. Since Cummins endorses it, that’s good enough for me.

 

[JohnDeereJoey]

Saying that Product X is made in the same place (town, state?) or by the same company as Product A or Product B is a common bit of disingenuousness often employed when someone selling Product X wants to imply it as good as A or B. T...

What Captain Dirty said.

 

[oosik]

I changed from whatever Kubota sells to Rotella T6. Works fine for me.

 

[jyoutz]

I changed from whatever Kubota sells to Rotella T6. Works fine for me.

But can you find any for sale? I’m going to change to Valvoline synthetic if T6 isn’t available for my next oil change.

 

[oosik]

Last week I was in O'Reillys - here in Cheney, WA - buying windshield washer fluid. They had T4 and T6. I don't know about the local NAPA store. I don't use synthetic in my M6040 - a waste of money. Now my new Ram 2500 Power Wagon uses 5W40 full synthetic. I purchased the lifetime oil change option with the PW. So....oil changes are done at the dealership.

I wonder - can O'Reillys still get Rotella or do they just have a large stock pile of it.

Your owners manual will suggest oils by specs not brands. Go with that........

 

[eddieirvine]

Thanks guys I will still give it some thought and looking around and decide what i am going to do

 

[RalphVa]

I got 5 gallon containers of 0w30 ESP M1 at Advanced Auto. The two containers are enough to change the oil in both the tractor and the diesel generator. Before, I'd been getting VW diesel oil at VW dealership: 5w30 Castrol.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

I stopped at 6 stores to find 3 gallons of T5 for my 400 hour service. I'd have been money and time ahead to just buy the Kubota oil at the dealer since I had to go there for all the filters and trans fluid. Live and learn.

We have one auto parts store here that had "we have Rotella" on their marquee in the front of the store. They only have a couple of flavors and not what I need in the Kubota.

 

[rScotty]

I changed from whatever Kubota sells to Rotella T6. Works fine for me.

I did too. It's a popular choice.

 

[varmint]

I've always used Rotella T 6, but it's gotten hard to find around here. I grabbed the last T 5 gallon I saw, figured it was good enough being partially synthetic. Then I realized it was 15w-40, and not the 5w-40 I have been using. Any thoughts about using it? I do have 2 qts. of T 6 5w-40 I'd mix with it. I change by time and not hours, because I only run the tractor under 100 hours a year. I figure every 2 years is okay since I always warm it up when I use it, and it lives in a barn.

 

[big bubba]

no telling how long T6 5/40 will be generally unavailable. if you're able to return the T5 i'd do it & find another diesel compliant 5/40 full syn applicable to your model. i am in the same process, regards

 

[newbury]

I've always used Rotella T 6, but it's gotten hard to find around here. I grabbed the last T 5 gallon I saw, figured it was good enough being partially synthetic. Then I realized it was 15w-40, and not the 5w-40 I have been using. Any thoughts about using it? I do have 2 qts. of T 6 5w-40 I'd mix with it. I change by time and not hours, because I only run the tractor under 100 hours a year. I figure every 2 years is okay since I always warm it up when I use it, and it lives in a barn.

If you only run it 100 hours a year the question to me becomes what's the temp when you run it?
If it's summertime I'd expect no problem, but if it's the dead of winter at 0°F I'd be concerned about it being a bit thick.

 

[varmint]

Yeah, the 15w concerns me a bit, although, as I said, it lives in a barn and always starts without any drama after 5-6 seconds of glow plugs, no matter how cold, and the 40 weight is the same once warmed up. The manuals call for 10w 40 for winter temps, so that's why I am unsure. I'd hope I never have to take it out when it's only 0 degrees- which has become extremely rate around here anyway. 25-30 degrees is more typical for cold weather.