One month on synthetic..so far so good

[Ken_CT]

The label on the Redline 10w-30 synthetic (group 5) container states: "Not for break-in of engines - allow 3000 miles". I don't know if that is the recommendation for other synthetic oils. I switched at the 100 hr maintenance. How long does it take to drive 3000 miles on a tractor? Redline oil is very expensive, but I figure by using it I won't have to rebuild the engine until I'm 115 years old rather than only 100 if I were to use dino.

 

[hsdfcu]

yup, and do not think that a walmart $13 for 5-qts is the same as $40 redline (5qts) or $35 for Amsoil 5-qts.

 

[hsdfcu]

The label on the Redline 10w-30 synthetic (group 5) container states: "Not for break-in of engines - allow 3000 miles". I don't know if that is the recommendation for other synthetic oils. I switched at the 100 hr maintenance. How long does it take to drive 3000 miles on a tractor? Redline oil is very expensive, but I figure by using it I won't have to rebuild the engine until I'm 115 years old rather than only 100 if I were to use dino.

From what I have read, 3000 miles is about 30 hours. If you look for redline online, it is about $6.50 per qt (last time I looked). Good oil with lots of moly. BUt then again Havoline has lots of moly to and $1.98 per qt.

 

[bill6]

Hi hsdfcu; No, 3000 miles is aprox 62 hours. This is calculated by an average car driving speed of 48 miles per hour.

By the way, Red Line Oil is the best there is, at any price, IMO. After a long, scholarly, exhaustive study, I use it in my airplane. Nearly all the test data available confirmed that Red Line has few if any equals. Amsoil and Royal Purple were close. Again, just my opinion (hopefully educated)

 

[hsdfcu]

Hi hsdfcu; No, 3000 miles is aprox 62 hours. This is calculated by an average car driving speed of 48 miles per hour.

By the way, Red Line Oil is the best there is, at any price, IMO. After a long, scholarly, exhaustive study, I use it in my airplane. Nearly all the test data available confirmed that Red Line has few if any equals. Amsoil and Royal Purple were close. Again, just my opinion (hopefully educated)

I was thinking about that last night and when I emailed Lube Control they told me 30 hours was about linear to 1,000 miles on a car. Now, like you stated what MPH are you using.

Redline is good but you need to look for the benefits you want. Example, if you are doing UOA and short drains Redline is not the way to go ($$$ or wear). Redline, looking at it from 2 drains standpoint will have high wear numbers. If you are doing short drains, it will do nothing more then a dino oil.

 

[Dargo]

Nearly all the test data available confirmed that Red Line has few if any equals. Amsoil and Royal Purple were close. Again, just my opinion (hopefully educated)

Not that it would matter squat to anyone else, that is also what I've found when doing all the research I care to do. As a matter of fact, I found that Red Line, Royal Purple (how'd they copyright the color??) and Amsoil are close enough that I simply pick the one I can get for the best price.

Also, my main reason for using synthetic is likely different than what most other people profess; extended drain intervals. I use it for the added protection in those cases where conventional oil is most likely to fail. For example, on my tractor, I've been stuck nearly a mile from my truck and had no easy way to get to my tractor. In low range I couldn't spin the tires hard enough for them to clean. So, I kept just hammering the tractor in M range in both directions while using my FEL to assist. I got out, but I used about 100% of the power with a 100% load on both the engine and hydraulics for nearly 1/2 an hour. Also, when bush hogging I've had my front screens get completely clogged and not noticed until I looked down and saw the temp gauge creeping into the red. I promptly cleaned the screens and all was fine, but still, I got into the red area.

I can list several examples as such where I've stressed my tractors, mowers, and trucks at times. Rather than be overly cautious and stare at my gauges at all times, I prefer to use high quality true synthetics and have a bit of extra cushion for those times. Besides, it is funny to hear the same people say "don't use synthetic oil until your engine is fully broken in" and then later hear the same people say "synthetic oil is no better than conventional oil". Uh, if it protects so well your engine won't break in (according to them), wouldn't it have to provide superior lubrication?

 

[Doc_Bob]

Also, my main reason for using synthetic is likely different than what most other people profess; extended drain intervals.

In my cars, which are when compared to a tractor, light duty, I go for extended intervals. Extended intervals are proven in cars both in the USA and Europe. I don't know extended intervals in tractors.

In both my car and my tractor, I go for improved cold weather flow as it can get very cold here in Wisconsin.
Bob

 

[hsdfcu]

I agree using extended drains with Redline, Amsoil , Royal Puple (racing oil is synthetic) etc is worth the money, benefits etc. If looking at the UOA of Amsoil and Redline, for example, I would select Amsoil for 1 reason only. Redline has Moly (like over 400ppm) which is good in some apps; but, high moly over time/extended drains can come back to haunt you with plugged or excess carbon on items.

I still use one of the items above in my tractor but will be switching to a group 3 and adding LC20. So far using Amsoil is good but you can use a group 3 and LC20 and it will have better wear reductions, better stability, lower NOX and OXD etc while being cheaper per initial cost.

 

[Marcussen]

In my cars, which are when compared to a tractor, light duty, I go for extended intervals. Extended intervals are proven in cars both in the USA and Europe. I don't know extended intervals in tractors.

In both my car and my tractor, I go for improved cold weather flow as it can get very cold here in Wisconsin.
Bob

I have always changed my oil in my cars every 5000 miles. In 30 years I have never had an oil related failure. I usualy keep my cars untill they have 200,000 plus miles on them. Until recently I used whatever brand of filter and oil that was the cheapest (with the right API rating).
My last oil change I switched to Pennzoil synthetic, with 4000 miles on the oil I average 1.5 mpg more than with the dino oil, and I figure I can go to the regular oil change interval in my owners manual (7500 miles).
I don't consider 5000 or 7500 to be extended oil drains.

 

[Ken_CT]

T Redline oil is very expensive, but I figure by using it I won't have to rebuild the engine until I'm 115 years old rather than only 100 if I were to use dino.

That was, of course, tongue in cheek. Will using Redline oil make my tractor last longer? Am I wasting money using a very expensive synthetic? Who knows, but it makes me feel better using it, so it is worth it to me. And I agree with Bill6, Redline is a group V oil, amsoil and royal purple are group IV. Where is GSXR1100 when you need him?.