John Deere small tractors - best engine oil?

[dadohead]

Now I'm seriously thinking about dumping that oil for some 5w-40 before the real cold weather hits. It's either gonna be that or look into what it takes to install a block heater?

Like Rat says in his blog... "Motor Oil Industry is the worst for fraudulent claims and false advertising. Buyer beware…" It can really be confusing. I've been waiting for years for him to do a full shoot-out on diesel oils so I can see the rankings on Deere oil, Cat, etc.

I'm a retired Deere engineer. I can tell you the machines run field/lab test hours with the same oils and schedules that you and I run... including Winter testing with some pretty crazy low temperatures (MI UP). Those diesels are running the 15w40; they run 2 shifts and have 'cold starts' every morning. Never are there engine/oil related issues. Unless you need a block heater for start-up, I wouldn't install one (or dump the 15w40) just to avoid possible 'cold start' lubrication issues.

To your point though: if my local Fleet Farm carried Amsoil 5w40 diesel... I'd probably be snagging some too. Amsoil products are amazing! I run their Signature Series 5w30 (Rat rated #2) in our '68 LS powered Camaro... Fleet Farm carries that!

 

[RalphVa]

Read the owner's manual to a B2301. They strongly recommend 10w30. Only recommend 15w40 (along with 10w30) when really hot. Doesn't make sense. Water cooled engines operate at 210-230 F as set by a 190 F thermostat. If 10w30 is okay at up to 77 F, it's also okay at high air temps because it "sees" the thermostat set temp.

I plan to continue with M1 0w30 ESP. Will switch the Isuzu off its 5w30 next year for the 10 year change of everything.

 

[milkman636]

The blog made a lot of sense to me when it pointed out that the 5w-40 doesn’t sacrifice any high temperature performance, and also enhances oil flow at cold temperatures. So it really seems like a win-win to me to find a good 5w-40 oil.

In relation to the original post about cost, my local farm store has Mobil Delvac 1 in 5w-40 in their flyer for 24.99 a gallon right now and there’s a $10 rebate available on it. So that may be my next oil. I paid about $17 for a gallon of Deere Plus50 15w-40 at the dealer on Saturday. The regular Delvac 1300 in 15w40 is currently selling at $12 a gallon at the same farm store. The Deere branded oil didn’t seem too extravagantly priced to me, especially when I consider that I was already going there to get filters anyway.

 

[RalphVa]

Better would be a 5w30 or 0w30. DO NOT NEED 40W oil in water cooled diesels.

 

[dadohead]

My machines live in a heated shop so 'cold' start is a non-issue. I put less than 50 hrs/yr on them so change oil once/year. The OM shows XXw30 operating range to 100 deg F. XXw40 pushes that to 125 deg F. I do plenty of hot Spring/Summer mowing where the hood and radiator screens become pugged with debris in just one session before clean-up. I see nothing better about 5w30 for me.

Way bigger deal to fuss over transaxle services anyway.