Best oil for your diesel-based engine; make 1996 Kubota M5400S

[tstex]

Hello to all,

I have been using Shell Rotella 15W-40 conventional oil for diesel engines in my tractor since I bought it new in Dec 1995. Since I now started changing the oil in my trucks 10 yrs ago [2014 F-150, Q-State 5W-30 Full Synthetic & 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Q-State 0W-20 Full Synthetic], I have now been learning about synthetic motor oils.

Question: has anyone changed from conventional oil to synthetic oil in older contemporary tractors [1990-2000[ and if so, has there been any specific positives or negatives? I can pick-up a 5gal bucket of Shell Rotella 15W-40 for $65/bucket. But if synthetic is now the way to go for X good reasons, didn't want to make the investment in the conventional oil.

Thank you very much.

Note: I did a search on this w/in this forum and nothing solid was yielded...thx

 

[big bubba]

for your location, proven conventional diesel oil such as Rotella 15/40 should be just fine to continue. some will say that going full syn may put engine seals at risk but personally, would not worry about it. then there are the syn blends.

Rotella is a field tested product, you chose well in that name. Personally, i've gone Rotella T6 5/40 since new on my rig w/845 hrs. Even in the south where we both are & esp w/polar vortex, etc, i like the lower cold starting viscosity of 5/40 syn. Ever change oil & look at the flow rate of 15/40 in 30 degree weather? but you should be fine where you are using what you do.
maybe more importantly are change interval frequency & quality filter, etc. but you already know that, regards

 

[mjonesnh]

Ran 10w-30 Rotella in my tractor for years. That weight was suggested in owner's manual as factory fill. 5 years ago, I changed over to 5w40 Rotella T6. Easier to come by than the T4 I was using. Glad I done that, so much difference in cold weather starting and easier to source. Tractor seems happy also with no lowering on dipstick on 100hour changes

 

[tstex]

Great, thank you big b.

I would rarely ever fire up the tractor at freezing or subfreezing temps. But i love wking in the cold weather w chainsaws & similar. Can you plz provide your tractor yr make & PTO? Thx again.

 

[tstex]

Thanks mj

I believe the 15W-40 is more prevalent in warmer climates. I saw a whole pallet of 15W-40 T4. They were 5gal buckets

 

[gengine]

I have used Mobil Delvac 1300 conventional 15w-40 for years in all my diesel equipment, starting in all temps from our hottest days of 90°F to our coldest days of -40°F without block heaters plugged in. My '06 Cummins (w/400,000+miles) doesn't care. My Case 75c, '085 Cummins, and the '03 Cummins groan when they're cold, but run great. It's all about the maintenance. That being said, good filters, good lubricants, and regular maintenance is the key. Rotella, Mobil, and Valvoline Premium Blue are the oils I personally like, but I don't know if any are better than the others, including the "cheap" ones. I feel you get what you pay for. The different additives and detergents cost money, so I stay away from store brands in my expensive equipment.

 

[Texasmark]

Hello to all,

I have been using Shell Rotella 15W-40 conventional oil for diesel engines in my tractor since I bought it new in Dec 1995. Since I now started changing the oil in my trucks 10 yrs ago [2014 F-150, Q-State 5W-30 Full Synthetic & 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Q-State 0W-20 Full Synthetic], I have now been learning about synthetic motor oils.

Question: has anyone changed from conventional oil to synthetic oil in older contemporary tractors [1990-2000[ and if so, has there been any specific positives or negatives? I can pick-up a 5gal bucket of Shell Rotella 15W-40 for $65/bucket. But if synthetic is now the way to go for X good reasons, didn't want to make the investment in the conventional oil.

Thank you very much.

Note: I did a search on this w/in this forum and nothing solid was yielded...thx

I go the syn. 5w-40 when new and after they get older I go with the 15w-40. I see your point and no reason why it wouldn't work. I just do what I do because the oil is thicker and stays in an old engine better and is cheaper. I used Shell Rot-T for years but have been using wally world oil for the last decade and have had no problems.

When WW got their auto/light truck synthetics Delos (or however that rating is spelled) rated, having a Chevy PU with the Delos requirement, I felt that WW oils were as good as any......so far I have no regrets and buying their oil from them saves me a lot of moolah.

If I lived up North, I'd go the extra bucks and continue to use the 5w-40 syn. oil in my older tractors.

 

[nyone]

I mean the machine is 30yrs old at this point. I can see not changing what's not broken but a few more bucks for oil on a machine you want to keep for another 30yrs may be worth while.

Personaly I use walmart synthetic 5w30 on all my gas vehicles and rotella t6 15w40 for the diesel stuff. I own a 1990 kubota 19hp excavator and a 2001 new holland Tc40.

For small gas engines I use the cheapest oil I can find.