Oil & Fuel Oil question

[lspat]

Hello LS enthusiasts,

I am doing the first oil change on my LS 3038. And I am wondering what you guys run for Oil? Is a 10w-30 better then a 15w-40? Or visa versa? I’d like to choose the Oil that has the best engine protection.
I know In my older tractors we ran 15-40, but I’m unsure about the new type engines.

Looking forward to your guys/gals input.


Patrick

 

[robertsa]

The weight is based on temperature. From your manual:

 

[Ortimber]

K7LN hit the nail on the head.

There is also a new T6 Rotella in 5W-30 that is rated for both gas and diesel engines.

 

[lostcreekranch]

A lot of the members here use Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 full synthetic. It's good oil, satisfies all the temperature ranges and can be used in gas or diesel engines allowing you to only stock one oil for everything.

IMHO using synthetic oil in a diesel engine is a huge waste of money. We use Shell Rotella T 15w-40 in tractors and F-350 truck.

Mobil 1 in Corvette.

 

[Peter 315]

IMHO using synthetic oil in a diesel engine is a huge waste of money. We use Shell Rotella T 15w-40 in tractors and F-350 truck.

Mobil 1 in Corvette.

I think it depends where you live , How cold it gets

 

[goeduck]

I use Rotella T6 and do not get hung up on the owners manual spec in diesels. Very good oil. In gas engines I use what the owners manual says.

News to me that there is a new T6 5W30. Good to know

 

[tcreeley]

Check the manual for recommended oil for your tractor (temp range + viscosity). Not all oil is the same. Buy a manual on line. Never heard of oil for a gas and diesel engine being the same until today. I generally don't trust the one size fits all way of thinking. Get the specs on the LS recommended oil. then look for an equivalent that meets the same specs. Tractor is too valuable to experiment on unless money is no object.

 

[LouNY]

I'm using the Rotella T6 5W-40 in my Branson 8050, IH 574, RAM 1500 eco diesel the little JD lawn tractor 110, a couple of small engines, the lawn vac and sander, plow truck 1999 Chevy with a 350 gas motor, I guess it's in every thing here except my wife's Equinox it requires a DOXOS spec oil and my old dynahoe with a 4-53 Detroit which specs a straight 30 or 40 weight oil and the HD which gets Syn 3.

 

[goeduck]

Check the manual for recommended oil for your tractor (temp range + viscosity). Not all oil is the same. Buy a manual on line. Never heard of oil for a gas and diesel engine being the same until today. I generally don't trust the one size fits all way of thinking. .

If you wait a few years the manufacturers recommended oil may not be available so you end up using 15W40, 5W40 or the like. As far as Rotella, Delo and the higher end broad multi viscosity diesel oils go, kajillions of truck drivers are not normally wrong.

 

[Deere Dude]

IMHO using synthetic oil in a diesel engine is a huge waste of money. We use Shell Rotella T 15w-40 in tractors and F-350 truck.

Mobil 1 in Corvette.

I think it depends where you live , How cold it gets

I lived in Wisconsin for many years and used Rotella T 15/40 for my diesel trucks, CUT and half a dozen diesel garden tractors. Works like a charm and not all that expensive. I never had a problem starting or with viscosity until I got down to 0 to -10 or so. Then I plug it it or just go back to bed.

Now in TN I have been getting Mobil Delvac 1300 or something like that which is the equivalent, simply because I have been getting some killer deals with it..

I change the oil yearly or 100 hours which is about the same span for me so I cannot see paying extra for a synthetic when I need to change at those intervals anyway. But that is just me.

 

[Peter 315]

I lived in Wisconsin for many years and used Rotella T 15/40 for my diesel trucks, CUT and half a dozen diesel garden tractors. Works like a charm and not all that expensive. I never had a problem starting or with viscosity until I got down to 0 to -10 or so. Then I plug it it or just go back to bed.

Now in TN I have been getting Mobil Delvac 1300 or something like that which is the equivalent, simply because I have been getting some killer deals with it..

I change the oil yearly or 100 hours which is about the same span for me so I cannot see paying extra for a synthetic when I need to change at those intervals anyway. But that is just me.

I go 150 hours and use Mobil Delvac 1300 super with kubota filters. What deal are you getting on the oil?

 

[revver6]

mobil Delvac 1300 super 10w-30,year around.

 

[robertsa]

The weight is based on temperature. From your manual:

View attachment 536572

You need to ignore all the "this is what I use in other engines in who knows what climate" and refer to the manual. I put it into the above post.

There's no one size fits all answer, which is also stated in the manual. It is based on the operating conditions. Don't use what Joe Blow in this thread uses because you don't know if (s)he lives in Toronto or Phoenix. Use the excerpt from the manual and get the correct oil for your conditions. As for brand, dino vs blended vs synthetic, you'll have to decide for yourself on that. Anytime you ask about those specifics, you're going to get 100 different answers based on a sample size of 1 person.

 

[tomplum]

Well, the chart shows from a 5W to a 40 grade 5W40 let the oil do the math.

 

[robertsa]

And same with the CF-4 & CG-4 specs - OBSOLETE! Where can I find a 20W-40?

You can order 20W40 if you really want to. It makes a lot more sense to review their ballpark recommendations, check the chart, and if 20W40 isn't readily accessible to you, go with a 15W40 oil from a reputable manufacturer. If you have more questions about specifications, you can always contact your dealer for advice. It makes much more sense than gathering opinions from people online when you have no clue what their qualifications are. The internet is a treasure trove of information, but we must be careful to thoroughly vet the information we are considering, especially in matters as opinionated as oil.

 

[2ndhalf]

Hello LS enthusiasts,

I am doing the first oil change on my LS 3038. And I am wondering what you guys run for Oil? Is a 10w-30 better then a 15w-40? Or visa versa? I壇 like to choose the Oil that has the best engine protection.
I know In my older tractors we ran 15-40, but I知 unsure about the new type engines.

Looking forward to your guys/gals input.


Patrick

I would not run a 15w in the winter in New Brunswick; not good for startup and oil flow before it is warm. As was mentioned; check your manual for the viscosity for cold weather. I run 5w 40 Rotella year round; I think a lot of guys do. The first number being low (5w) is better for cold weather starting and faster oil flow in cold weather. The second number (40) is the viscosity when the machine is warmed up to operating temperature. It is important to know what your manual say about these two numbers and not deviate from them too much.

 

[Gary Fowler]

The weight is based on temperature. From your manual:

View attachment 536572

The Shell Rotella T6 5w-40 is good for -30F thru 104F weather temps. You may be pushing the envelope up in Canada with the -30F rating at a few times but if you use a block heater (which is pretty much required for any engine in Canada) then you should be OK.
Shell Rotella meets or exceeds the API CG spec listed in the 3038 fluids manual (remember all higher spec oil is retroactive to the lower spec as in CJ is acceptable for CF or CG but not vice versa.

I use Rotella T6 in everything I own that runs on hydro-carbon fuel. I even put it in my compressor crankcase. I don't find that $19 per gallon to be that budget busting and it is worth the few extra $ to not have to stock multiple brands and grades of oil.

 

[lostcreekranch]

You need to ignore all the "this is what I use in other engines in who knows what climate" and refer to the manual. I put it into the above post.

There's no one size fits all answer, which is also stated in the manual. It is based on the operating conditions. Don't use what Joe Blow in this thread uses because you don't know if (s)he lives in Toronto or Phoenix. Use the excerpt from the manual and get the correct oil for your conditions. As for brand, dino vs blended vs synthetic, you'll have to decide for yourself on that. Anytime you ask about those specifics, you're going to get 100 different answers based on a sample size of 1 person.

The Shell Rotella T more than exceeds requirements for my LS XR4155HC, New Holland TL100A, and Ford F-350 Power Stroke. The 15W40 meets temperature requirement in this end of Texas. My point was to respond to OP and save him the cost of buying expensive synthetic oil.

I run Mobil 1 in Corvette because that’s what Chevrolet recommend and that’s all it’s ever had.

You told OP to read his manual and ignore the rest of us. He could have done that without posting asking for advice?

Best regards
Joe Blow

 

[arits74]

i worked for a guy on the farm when I was a kid that put straight 30 diesel oil that the co-op sold in everything he owned. I don't ever remember any problems we had with anything.I've always used regular 15w40 rotella in all my equipment

 

[2ndhalf]

You need to ignore all the "this is what I use in other engines in who knows what climate" and refer to the manual. I put it into the above post.

There's no one size fits all answer, which is also stated in the manual. It is based on the operating conditions. Don't use what Joe Blow in this thread uses because you don't know if (s)he lives in Toronto or Phoenix. Use the excerpt from the manual and get the correct oil for your conditions. As for brand, dino vs blended vs synthetic, you'll have to decide for yourself on that. Anytime you ask about those specifics, you're going to get 100 different answers based on a sample size of 1 person.

Actually if that is also from his manual... it seems that 5w 40 is a one size fits solution according to the manual; which is why a lot of guys run it.

This is not rocket science.