LD1
Epic Contributor
Use minimum spec fluid, but waste both time and money trying to make sure it's synthetic. Pointless.
synthetic 15w40
- Thread starter murse72
- Start date
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Use minimum spec fluid, but waste both time and money trying to make sure it's synthetic. Pointless.
d155
New member
what would be the normal operating oil pressure for a 155 tractor at operating temperture?
pretty harsh statement soundguy..... thought the idea of a forum was an open and respectful exchange between tractor users regardless of original intent.
in terms of practice typing, it is "everybody's" time
best regards
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Oil jihads tend to get louder than Which Pickup Brand is Better threads..... even on this site, which is often more civil than most.....
While I will use wider ranging and alternate viscosities as I see fit, there is an important distinction between my old equipment and OPs - murse has a warranty.
I don't see it as murse wanting to use an inferior product, rather trying to stick to what the OEM has listed for a documented requirement for viscosity. As murse has stated, if the tractor OEM provides a statement that xW40 will meet warranty requirements, then that becomes a workable option. Sticking closely to OEM specs during warranty is just prudent equipment ownership, as is asking the same OEM to authorize a deviation.
What is considered common knowledge amongst us wrenches who have been playing with engines a long time doesn't necessarily cut it if a OEM decides to run a UOA on a warranty engine and finds an out of spec viscosity in the sump.
Where OP lives, I can't really see the tractor being "abused" by a synthetic 15W40. See attached pdf - even Amsoil's basic 15W40 has a -36F Pour Point.
View attachment Amsoil_OE_g2885.pdf
For the record, I like T6 just fine... that's what went into my 7.3 last change.
Rgds, D.
While I will use wider ranging and alternate viscosities as I see fit, there is an important distinction between my old equipment and OPs - murse has a warranty.
I don't see it as murse wanting to use an inferior product, rather trying to stick to what the OEM has listed for a documented requirement for viscosity. As murse has stated, if the tractor OEM provides a statement that xW40 will meet warranty requirements, then that becomes a workable option. Sticking closely to OEM specs during warranty is just prudent equipment ownership, as is asking the same OEM to authorize a deviation.
What is considered common knowledge amongst us wrenches who have been playing with engines a long time doesn't necessarily cut it if a OEM decides to run a UOA on a warranty engine and finds an out of spec viscosity in the sump.
Where OP lives, I can't really see the tractor being "abused" by a synthetic 15W40. See attached pdf - even Amsoil's basic 15W40 has a -36F Pour Point.
View attachment Amsoil_OE_g2885.pdf
For the record, I like T6 just fine... that's what went into my 7.3 last change.
Rgds, D.
Copperhead
Veteran Member
Schaeffer, my primary brand for most of my needs, their 700 15w40 is a synthetic blend. A very good oil I use it in the warmer months, then go to their 9000 5w40 synthetic in the cold months. Using them in a 12.7L Detroit 60 factory reman with 606,000 miles on the reman. Uses 2 qt in 20,000 miles / 400 hrs. Never have to add oil between oil changes. I also use their 10w30 HDEO blend in a CUT and a zero turn mower and their 5w30 PCMO in a pickup and a gator.
It is true that both a 15w40 and a 5w40 will have essentially the same viscosity at operating temps. I operate my truck in the upper midwest all winter long and the 5w40 is a better choice for cold flow starts. If most of my operation was in the lower tier of the country, I would just use the 15w40 blend all the time.
Rotell, Delvac, Delo, all have 15w40 syn blends also, as they also have full syn 5w40's. Availability is different in different areas. I get a good bang for the buck using Schaeffer, but then I buy in bulk as opposed to the off the shelf. Pricing is competitive with anything on the shelf, and they give me free oil sample kits and analysis and deliver everything to me for free. No one else can match that deal.
Shipping in general is usually a way better deal in the USA, than up here. Amazon has changed that a bit, but can't say I've found oil that way, yet.
I think my buddy may have picked up Schaeffer retail in Washington state, but I gather that availability is not common even in the USA - definitely finding a white-rhino during a blue-moon rare up here.
I've seen your cost and performance #'s on that oil, listed in other threads - that is a very good deal, with UOA kits as a nice bonus. If I knew someone personally/close by that was ordering as you do already, I'd ask if I could add my small order to their next one - I don't know what Schaeffer's minimums are, but may be more years qty than many small users want to order.
Rgds, D.
Copperhead
Veteran Member
Yeah, Schaeffer is not targeting traditional retail markets. They seem comfortable with the commercial side of things, though any Schaeffer rep will get what any consumer wants. And Schaeffer reps are not the multi level marketing kind of thing. They are direct reps to the company and have their own regional areas they service. And very knowledgable about their products. The reps at Schaeffer have strong interaction with each other (Schaeffer demands that), and Schaeffer has even set up a separate area at their HQ for reps themselves to experiment with various oils and even work on different formulations to meet a particular need. In a whole different league than some of the other boutique oils. They even make some specialty products for Shell and other major names. The wife and I were given a personal tour by the CEO of Schaeffer of their facility and I saw all they were doing and met many of their technical team. And I am just a average commercial user of their products. They are very open about what they do and customer oriented.
There are not too many corporations today that impress with the hands-on attention they will give one guy. Stanadyne is another one I can name.
Thanks for sharing your impressions of/interactions with Schaeffer, that backs up what I've heard elsewhere. They are a long established company that marches to their own drum, not the marketing flavour of the quarter. Good reps will do it anyway, but they are smart to mandate a high level of interaction with other reps - as technology changes and markets evolve, the field reps are often the first to encounter issues, otherwise known as new business opportunities....
Rgds, D.
WilliamBos
Super Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2004
- Messages
- 5,278
- Location
- Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
- Tractor
- MF 1635 12x12 Powershuttle
Exactly. 15W40 is an old dinosaur that some can't let go of.
Go 5W40 full syn and don't look back.
x2...don't really see the cost benefit of a 15/40 syn blend over say T6 with superior cold flow properties (& occasional sale promotions). with our wide swings in temps now, i'd be more comfortable in single digit weather using syn 5/40 even where the OP resides. imho
