Is it okay to use 15w-40 in my b7500? The manual says 10w-30 or 10w-40 depending upon the ambient temp. What does 10w-40 mean. I thought I knew what it meant until a friend asked me to explain. I know it has something to do with the oil having different viscosity when it's hot or cold. Please help me understand...
15w-40 rotella
- Thread starter BILLMAN
- Start date
- Views: 6880
cowboydoc
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2000
- Messages
- 6,725
- Tractor
- JD 8320 MFWD, JD 6415 MFWD, FEL, and cab, John Deere MFWD 4600, John Deere 4020, John Deere 4430, John Deere 455 mower, Deutz, and Gehl 4610 perkins skidsteer
You bet Bill. Rotella is one of the few oils that was designed specifically for diesel use. Alot of oil may be approved for diesel use but that doesn't mean it was engineered for diesels. I buy it by the 55 gallon drum and use it in all my diesels. Don't use it in gas engines though.
Bird
Rest in Peace
<font color=blue>What does 10w-40 mean.</font color=blue>
Billman, you can do a search on Google.com and find all kinds of scientific explanations, but <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.autoeducation.com/autoshop101/oil-change.htm>click here</A> for what I think is a pretty good plain language explanation.
<font color=blue>Is it okay to use 15w-40 in my b7500?</font color=blue>
No only OK, as Cowboydoc said, but in my opinion the best for your tractor.
Billman, you can do a search on Google.com and find all kinds of scientific explanations, but <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.autoeducation.com/autoshop101/oil-change.htm>click here</A> for what I think is a pretty good plain language explanation.
<font color=blue>Is it okay to use 15w-40 in my b7500?</font color=blue>
No only OK, as Cowboydoc said, but in my opinion the best for your tractor.
Bird
Rest in Peace
Billman, I'm no engineer, but at least in theory, the 15W-40 is a little thicker than 10W-40 when cold, and the same thickness when hot.
No.........................40W is 40W is 40W.
The multi viscosity rating simply means that the oil will flow with the same properties of a 40W oil at it's hottest rated operating range and flow with the same properties of a 10W oil at it's coldest rated operating range. It is all in the additives.
Think of it in the same way you would think of a water/antifreeze mix. Water freezes at 32 F. Add a little antifreeze and you lower the point at which it will freeze.
Same for oil. Take a 40W oil and add stuff that lowers the point at which it will thicken and not flow. But, it still has to remain a 40W to retain that rating.
Better living through chemicals........................
The multi viscosity rating simply means that the oil will flow with the same properties of a 40W oil at it's hottest rated operating range and flow with the same properties of a 10W oil at it's coldest rated operating range. It is all in the additives.
Think of it in the same way you would think of a water/antifreeze mix. Water freezes at 32 F. Add a little antifreeze and you lower the point at which it will freeze.
Same for oil. Take a 40W oil and add stuff that lowers the point at which it will thicken and not flow. But, it still has to remain a 40W to retain that rating.
Better living through chemicals........................
JATO_RaT
Veteran Member
Besides Shell Oils Rotella, Valvoline Fleet, Castrol, Chevron Delo, Penzoil, Quaker State, Amsoil (synthetic), Redline (synthetic) are a few more manufactuers of oils for diesel engines, many of which can be used in gasoline motors. NAPA stores carry their label 15W40 diesel oil which to my understanding is made by Valvoline. I think I have used them all except Quaker State and everyone lubricated the engine very succesfully. Rat...
n6ckv
Bronze Member
I have stayed out of the lubricant discussions for a long time. First let me say that I am not a lubricant expert. Second I will say that my dad was. He was a/the industral lubricant marketing engineer at Standard Oil of California (SOCAL/Chevron) for 28 years. He handled all lubricants except for aircraft lubircants. He did everythig from food machinery lubricants, to motor oil.
A quick history of Oil for Diesel engines (for reference see page 105 of "Caterpillar" by Randy Leffingwell). The first Cat Diesels has problems with sticky rings, the problem was worse when the engines were run with the asphalt based oils from the east coast. They ran better when running on the paraffin based oils from the west coast (Standard and Shell). Cat work with Standard Oil ot develope the first detergent oil (Delo). Shell soon followed with Rotella. Th interesting comment in the book is that the drill rings for the oil companies has to use either Standard or Shell products in the Diesels (it did not take them long to develope their own detergent oils). i remember when dad did the introduction of the first multi-viscoity oils to his customers. I also remeber the developement of the first synthetic oils.
The synthetics were developed to handle the problems encountered by the equipement operating on the North Slope. It was so cold that the paraffin in the oil would solidify, so the oil companies deveoped oils without a paraffin base.
My dad thought that synthetics were based used in extreme conditions (hot/cold), and that if the equipment was operating in normal contiditions it was better to spent one's money changing the oil more often rather than using synthetics.
I use Delo in my L3450. My dad said to use it in everything (cars etc).
As far as the viscosity ratings, you will find that the newer oils cover a wider range (15w-40 vs. 10w-30), it is ok to use an oil with a wider rating. Over time (to keep stocking and manufacturing issues down) you will only find the oil with the wider rating as the older rated ol is phased out.
All the major manufactures relable their oil for ohter customers (like Sears, NAPA, the car/tractor dealers). The contracts are for several years and the oil company may change from contract to contract, so when you buy a relabled oil you have no way of knowing which oil comapny made it. When I was in high school we used Sears because my dad had their contract, I do not know who has it now.
carl
A quick history of Oil for Diesel engines (for reference see page 105 of "Caterpillar" by Randy Leffingwell). The first Cat Diesels has problems with sticky rings, the problem was worse when the engines were run with the asphalt based oils from the east coast. They ran better when running on the paraffin based oils from the west coast (Standard and Shell). Cat work with Standard Oil ot develope the first detergent oil (Delo). Shell soon followed with Rotella. Th interesting comment in the book is that the drill rings for the oil companies has to use either Standard or Shell products in the Diesels (it did not take them long to develope their own detergent oils). i remember when dad did the introduction of the first multi-viscoity oils to his customers. I also remeber the developement of the first synthetic oils.
The synthetics were developed to handle the problems encountered by the equipement operating on the North Slope. It was so cold that the paraffin in the oil would solidify, so the oil companies deveoped oils without a paraffin base.
My dad thought that synthetics were based used in extreme conditions (hot/cold), and that if the equipment was operating in normal contiditions it was better to spent one's money changing the oil more often rather than using synthetics.
I use Delo in my L3450. My dad said to use it in everything (cars etc).
As far as the viscosity ratings, you will find that the newer oils cover a wider range (15w-40 vs. 10w-30), it is ok to use an oil with a wider rating. Over time (to keep stocking and manufacturing issues down) you will only find the oil with the wider rating as the older rated ol is phased out.
All the major manufactures relable their oil for ohter customers (like Sears, NAPA, the car/tractor dealers). The contracts are for several years and the oil company may change from contract to contract, so when you buy a relabled oil you have no way of knowing which oil comapny made it. When I was in high school we used Sears because my dad had their contract, I do not know who has it now.
carl
Very interesting post. I have been wondering if I could use a diesel rated oil in gasoline engines. According to your post it would seem that it is OK. I always thought that there were special additives in diesel oil that may gum up a gas motor? Is it really safe to use?
ekrampitzjr
Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2002
- Messages
- 44
- Location
- Drewryville, Virginia
- Tractor
- Mitsubishi D2000 II (= Satoh S630 Bull)
If your gasoline engine permits use of 15W40 viscosity--and be warned that few actually do, so see your owner's manual--then diesel-rated oil of this viscosity should be fine. Diesel-rated oil with a Cx rating usually also has an API SJ rating, meaning that it is good for gasoline engines. However, some diesel oils may not have the newest SL rating, which would be an issue only in the newest cars (2001 and 2002), most of which use far thinner viscosities such as 5W20 anyway.
Diesel oils aren't the problem. Usually they meet gasoline engine specs as well. The problem is that most gasoline-rated oils aren't diesel rated. Be wary of using regular "car" motor oil in a diesel unless it bears a Cx rating. A new CI-4 rating becomes effective later this year, by the way. It is meant for the new diesels meeting 2004 emissions regs.
Diesel oils aren't the problem. Usually they meet gasoline engine specs as well. The problem is that most gasoline-rated oils aren't diesel rated. Be wary of using regular "car" motor oil in a diesel unless it bears a Cx rating. A new CI-4 rating becomes effective later this year, by the way. It is meant for the new diesels meeting 2004 emissions regs.