Oil & Fuel For the Texas contingent; Oil grade?

[DiezNutz]

I have a compact tractor, and in the summer I'm running it all the time under conditions of extreme load and heat. The throttle is wide open almost all the time. The temperature gauge is frequently above operating temperature, and I have to be careful not to overheat the engine. The big weakness of Kubota engines is the radiator, and Texas is hotter than where I live, so I assume lots of Texas tractors are running really hot.

Because the weather here gets colder in the winter, when the Kubota gets used for utility work, and because there is no electricity where the Kubota gets parked, I run Delvac1 5w-40. You are right about the synthetics, but they are very expensive. Our big field tractor starts up and runs 18 hours between shutdowns, plus it gets parked near electricity and has a factory block heater, so it runs straight 30w.

Larry, I'm rather curious what you're doing that constitutes 'extreme load'? Wide-open throttle does not necessary mean high load or high heat, but I guess I can't debate the fact that from what you described, your engine is running hot. Even in some of the 100ｰ days that we have here, no matter what I've been doing the highest I have ever seen my temp gauge is 1/4 above C. So, I'm curious.

I wouldn't dare tell you not to run the straight 30. If it works for you, that's great. :thumbsup: I just don't think I would tell everybody to avoid multi-vis, in this day & age. The best recommendation I could make for extreme heat/extreme load is synthetic (after break-in).

Regards,
-DN

 

[rdsaustintx]

15W-40, dino or synth, is entirely appropriate for Texas, which is why it's no accident that that's what the OP sees everywhere on the shelves.

Very well stated. I live about 50 miles from the OP and Rotella is available everywhere.

 

[jinman]

Here is a link to more info on Shell Rotella T.