50 hour maint coming up..Synthetic or Not????????

[RickyB]

Got the usual 50 hr. maintenence coming up on my B2910. Loving it so far, no problems to speak, fluids are still full & clean, tractor has run flawlessly so far. Want to do the best thing I can in the maintenence department cause I will probally have this thing for a while. I am a maintence freak and tend to over-do it when it comes to it. (I have greased it twice and it realy only has 35 hours on it now)
I am a big fan of Mobil 1 when it comes to my work and personal equipment, dont buy the inexpensive filters etc......but I am so new to this tractor stuff and I know that alot of you guys have been around it awhile. One of you ( I dont remember who) is a big fanatic on something called Amsol...what is it...where is it etc...What about hydraulics etc...whats the best thing I can do for my tractor in terms of lubricants as far as you guys can tell? Talk to me......

 

[MChalkley]

Why do I have the feeling I'm being baited here? I suppose the "big fanatic" you're talking about is me. But I'm more of a synthetics fanatic than I am an Amsoil fanatic. I use Amsoil because I can get it easily, I think the cost is fair, and they (along with Mobil) have been the primary advocates of synthetics for decades.

Since you are already a user of synthetics, I won't belabor the advantages of them. I would recommend Amsoil ATH for your transmission because it's what I know. I wouldn't switch the engine over to synthetic until it's got 150 or so hours on it, to be sure it's "broken in".

Mark

 

[RickyB]

Hey Mark.......
I must admit you were being somewhat baited. Only because I can only remember that somebody felt pretty strong in the synthetic department and was always being jabbed about it, I just didnt remember who. I figured that somebody that gets as much grief as you have on your commitment to oil must have some pretty darn good excuse for it.
Thanks for your input and why not any synthetic until 150 in the motor? Should I run it in the tranny right off or wait on that too....Again..thanks for your response.......

 

[W5FL]

Gosh, I can answer that and I am not even a fanatic about synthetic oil or named Mark. Go ahead on the synthetic ATH fluid at this time, but wait on the engine oil as Mark has suggested.

I wanted to do the same thing, but so far have not been able to find the synthetic oil for the transmission and front differential and front gearboxes. I need 17 1/2 gallons.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I hate to digress from the group but has anyone ever seen an engine have mechanical failure when regular oil changes, regular air filter changes, and sensible use have been the case?

If you're in a cold climate I see a possible need, 100,000rpm spinning turbos come to mind.

Why aren't the car manufacturers requiring synthetic oil be used? Even if you buy a 7 year 100,000 miles warranty they don't require it.

I often wonder if some of this is more "feel good" than "necessary."

Even Kubota with it's dubious "Super UDT" for all climates all applications (that some of it's own DEALERS don't recommend) doesn't mention synthetics for its engines.

And I don't want to appear gloomy but I'd be willing to bet a big chunk of us are closer to the end of life than the beginning. Are you really going to outlast your tractor if it only has "normal" oil? I have found in selling stuff, a whole slug of buyers don't seem to give a darn about what you supposedly did with the machine, the ones that know just hope you never ran it with the air cleaner dusted, which negates any oil's benefits, permanently.

Sign me "Still Skeptical"



del
[email]oldcarparts@mygarage.com [/email]

 

[Bird]

del, you sorta explained why I'm still using Delo 400 15W-40 in my engine and UDT in the hydraulics. I'm to the point that I believe the synthetics are as good and possibly better than petroleum oils, but I'm sure not convinced that they are cost effective (unless, of course, you add extra filtration, use a lab for analysis, etc. in order to extend the service intervals).

Bird

 

[MChalkley]

RickyB - The reason it's ok to change the transmission at any time (as Wen said) is that it doesn't have compression rings that need to seat and wear in like the engine does.

Mark

 

[RickyB]

Mark...
Point well taken on the rings....These guys are talking longevity of tractor vs owners and cost effectiveness. Luckily I didnt consider either at the time I bought this thing or I would of just depressed myself into not getting a tractor and buying the most inexpensive burial plot I could find. Hell, Im young and healthy, Im going run synthetics and keep my fingers crossed that I just may outlive my tractor. If I dont,
the next guy just might reap the benifits of my optimism.

 

[MChalkley]

Del - I don't disagree with your logic at all, as far as it goes. But I've had one situation where I'm positive an engine that's still going (at 430+k miles) would've been toast at 278k miles. And another situation where I'm pretty sure that would've been the case. The transmission I recently replaced in my '93 Dodge lasted longer than many, despite the fact that it was taking 75% more torque that 90% of them do.

All of which illustrates one of the main reasons I "feel good" using synthetics: there's a huge safety margin you gain using them that you don't have with petroleum. Besides, as I've said over and over again, every car I've ever owned got enough better fuel mileage on synthetics to pay for the difference in price between synthetic and quality petroleum. And reducing friction (and therefore wear) enough to save that much fuel makes me "feel good" about the increased longevity of the equipment.

Mark

 

[Trvler]

I need to jump in here and express a few points. There are only a few reasons to switch from standard petroleum based lubricants to synthetics. Those reasons are, to extend the drain interval, when operation is within extreme environments, extreme cold or heat. Under normal operating conditions synthetic lubes provide no added benefit. With the trucks I own we experimented with drain intervals. the oil was analyzed at each oil change. Some of the things that I look for with extended drains, soot buildup, higher than normal amounts tin, lead, copper, or nickle. We tried standard lubes at intervals ranging from 15 to 60 thousand miles in 5 thousand mile increments. No noticeable changes took place up to 45,000 miles. To reach beyond 45 we found that filters needed to be replaced at the 30,000 mile mark. Synthetic lubes are touted as good for 60,000 miles for heavy trucks with filter replacement at 30,000 miles. In short, under typical use we found no benefits to change to synthetic engine lubricant. The oils that were used during this period were Mobil Delvac 1300, Chevron Delo 400, Shell Rotella T, and Penzoil Extreme duty, all multi grade oils 15w 40w. The synthetic oil used was Mobil 1. The filters were supplied by Fleetguard. The engines we use are all Detroit Diesel 60 series, 430/500hp. All are used in road service with average mileage per truck reaching 130,000 miles annually.

Unless you are planning on using your tractor in extremes, stick with standard petroleum products. You'll save money while providing your engine with no disadvantages compared to synthetic oil.

In both cases, maintianing proper fluid levels, and proper filtration is a must.