30-weight oil?

fishman · Jun 25, 2002

I went to my local Kubota/Case dealer here in Central Texas to get some oil for my first change. Sold me Case 30-weight oil "formulated for heavy-duty diesel engines". Since I asked for the "good stuff" I guess this is the best they had. I notice most everybody here uses a multi-viscosity oil. Anybody have any thoughts on using this oil?

DarrenP · Jun 25, 2002

Go with whatever weight oil your manual recommends, but with the climate in Central Texas, 30 weight should be fine. We've used 30 weight in a Ford 4100 for almost 20 years up here in Northeast Texas with no problems ....got to love these Texas summers (NOT!).

upgw · Jun 25, 2002

My dealer told me the same thing, and that's what's in my BX2200.. 30W Case diesel tractor oil. He said that's all they recommend.

Slamfire · Jun 28, 2002

If it never gets real cold 30 weight would be fine, when the temp drops much below 20 degrees then a thinner oil would be better.

GlennT · Jun 30, 2002

I also live in Central Texas, although south of you a bit (Fredericksburg). When I purchased my John Deere, the dealer recommended 30W oil. I wondered about that so I called and talked to a technician at John Deere and was told that this was indeed the weight recommended for my tractor in the area in which I live. This is confirmed also by the graph of temperature ranges and recommended oil weights in the operator's manual.

fishman · Jul 1, 2002

Thanks to all! The 30-weight is going in the tractor!/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

ekrampitzjr · Jul 6, 2002

Good choice. The most common viscosities for conventional diesel-rated oil are 15W40 and straight 30. Rotella is available in both, as well as a straight 40 and a new synthetic 5W40, also for diesels. But beware. Some convenience and department stores, and even some feed and seed type places, carry 30-weight nondetergent oil that has only an API SA rating--that is, you may as well say, no rating at all. The only use for this oil would be in antique cars (before 1955) that were not designed to use today's oils, and even then today's oils would be better after an engine rebuild or a careful flush. The nondetergent 30-weight does not meet any diesel specs or any API spec newer than SA, which has been obsolete for over 40 years. Usually it's pretty cheap, which is why you must be careful when you buy straight 30 oil. Make sure the oil meets current API specs for diesels (CG, CH, etc.).

Bird · Jul 6, 2002

<font color=blue>The only use for this oil would be in antique cars</font color=blue>

Well, almost the only use maybe./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif There are some electric motors for which it is recommended, and it's also used in the impact mechanism of a lot of impact wrenches and some other air tools./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif So I keep some on hand, but of course, I don't use it in any gasoline or diesel engines.