Oil & Fuel Engine Oil

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I bought a used Kubota L3430 a couple of months ago. This is my first Kubota, not my first tractor. I am going to change the oil. The manual says use 10W30 or 10W40 CD CE or CF. This sounds like just regular off the shelf oil. I thought diesel engines required a specialty oil like Rotella. Is the Kubota oil you buy at the dealer anything special or just oil in a Kubota container for twice as much money? What type oil do you guys use? Is Rotella a good alternative?

 

[Danno1]

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I use Rotella.

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[vic4news]

The "C" designation in CD, CF, etc means the oil is made for diesel engines.
Gas engines have an "S" designation. Use any oil that is made for diesels.
I use Rotella 10w-30.

Vic

 

[thatguy]

If you look at the rotella label it is rated for diesels and gasoline engines.. BUT most other oils you see on the shelves are NOT rated for diesel use - So pay attention carefully if you dont use the rotella

Brian

 

[Hvytrkmech]

The C in any oil rating such as- CJ, CI, CI+4, stands for compression fired engine.


The S in oils rated as such- SL, SI, Sh etc, etc stands for spark fired engine.


You can use a C rated oil in a gas engine, you can not use an S rated oil in a diesel engine.


Tim

 

[DickS]

Posted before:

Simplify your life.

I run Shell Rotella Synthetic 5W-40 in my Chev 2500 HD diesel, Kubota BX 24, BMW R1150 RT, Yamaha FJR1300, JD 265, Honda 50 and 15 HP outboards, Chev Suburban, Ariens snowblower, Honda Rubicon 500 ATV, Honda 6500 Generator, and Craftsman 22" lawnmower. Never had a problem and never will.

Now go pleasure the Mrs. and forget about this issue for the rest of your life.

 

[Slade]

Yup, keep it simple.

I use the Rotella 10W-40 oil from WalMart at about $10 a gallon, which is for use in diesel engines.

 

[art]

Every manufacturer builds low grade and high grade oils. For diesels you need a high ash count, for gas you don't want ash in the oil only in the lowest amounts.

We see many tractors used in many different applications and definitely see the differences of oils when we work on them! There are oils better suited for tractors then the typical diesel truck oil.

Some people will never use a tractor enough to know or see the difference for the hours they will use it. Others will be faced with engine repairs from the lack of a quality lube.

 

[LazyBoy]

I have seen people use regular "S" code automotive oil in small diesel tractors with no problems, but I don't recommend it.

 

[DieselPower]

The C in any oil rating such as- CJ, CI, CI+4, stands for compression fired engine.


The S in oils rated as such- SL, SI, Sh etc, etc stands for spark fired engine.


You can use a C rated oil in a gas engine, you can not use an S rated oil in a diesel engine.


Tim

Doesn't work like that. Each category is for it's specific engine type. Just because a oil is C rated does not make it suitable for engines calling for a S category oil. There are some C category oils that are very unsuitable for gasoline engines. And the letters actually stand for: S = Service and C = Commercial. It's just easier to remember S for Spark and C for Compression.

http://www.api.org/certifications/engineoil/categories/upload/English_Oil_Guide.pdf