synthetic oil------yes or no

[SDT]

anyone running synthetic motor oil in their diesel-------supposidly better lub with lower wear if one believes the hype- if you are-what brand, how often do you change it and does it affect tractor performance--thanks -getting near time for maint and thinking this might be the way to go.

It will not hurt anything provided you use oil specified for diesel engines.

SDT

 

[wjmst]

Since then I've bought approx 160 different cars and trucks and 15 Kubotas. I've never used any oil other than regular name brand oil (Kubota branded oil for Kubotas) and never had any of them ever develop engine problems related to lubrication.

I was using Kubota oil at first, but then realized I was paying a synthetic oil price for it, so I switched. I figure for the same money why not synthetic.

 

[kevin37b]

You people are confused on a diesel specific oil , any motor oil will work , just keep some in it . They are all CC/DC rated , changing it is the key .

 

[PHILIP8N]

You people are confused on a diesel specific oil , any motor oil will work , just keep some in it . They are all CC/DC rated , changing it is the key .

Never heard of a 'DC' oil. New rating by API? Philip.

 

[Soundguy]

You people are confused on a diesel specific oil , any motor oil will work , just keep some in it . They are all CC/DC rated , changing it is the key .

i have some oil that does not carry a 'C' rating...?? so???

 

[2458n]

mobil one for the Kubota. Went to it when I had trouble with the small aluminum plug blowing out of the block in the winter. 15-40 would blow this small but important plug out of the block. Plug is fixed but I like the flow of the synthetic on cold start up.

 

[workinallthetime]

topics such as this always seem to end up in a debate between those who place less importance on the subject and those who feel the topic is the life blood of the subject, penny pinchers and penny burners, and life long experinces placed against the lucky or misinformed.
I have always used rotilla even though i hear there is or was an issue with it foaming, if i had a second choice it would be delvac. If you have a o'riley auto parts the syn rotella is onsale and has been everytime i have bought it for 2 years, 20 bones for 4 qts. i use mobil 1 in gas burners bacuse several cars including the vette come from the factory with it, i figure their pockets are deeper then mine for research.

 

[George the Beagle]

I was involved in a commercial diesel test oil program over 20 years ago. The trucks were GMC Brigadiers with Detroit 6N71 TA's. We had two different grades of dino oils and one grade of synthetic. The trucks w/synthetic leaked oil noticeably more than the ones with the dino, although two stroke Detroits were known for oil leakage. However, in very cold weather the synthetic engines would spin over much faster on the starter than did the others. The trucks were traded at 500k (mileage), so long term effects really weren't known.

A bit later, I started running synthetic in a '90 Saab that had about 40k on it. In one month's time it leaked a quart of oil all over the garage floor, so I went back to dino and the leaking stopped.

I have found Japanese vehicles to be very happy with synthetics (no leakage) and the experience with cold weather starting with the Detroits leads me to believe it's a better cold weather application. These days, I run it in my Tacoma, my wife's CRV, my Gold Wing, and of course the Kubota (the two vehicles go 10k between oil changes). And, as others have said, newer vehicles across the board will most likely be happy with synthetic. Its cold weather starting improvement coupled with the fact that it won't break down at high temps (hot summer days mowing) makes me draw the conclusion that it's a better oil, and if one extends the oil change intervals (which I believe is not harmful) it will be cost effective as well.