Which synthetic oil???

[GaryG]

What year Subaru did you have? I bought the first year coupe they imported. I think it was a 72 or 73. It went through head gaskets in less than 10K miles. If was covered by warranty. However in Alaska at the time the dealer was 8 to 10 weeks behind on warranty work and I changed my own. It was just a water cooled VW and easy to work on.
DO you use Mobil 1 in your Kubota BX22? If so is that OK with Kubota?

 

[TresCrows]

Gary, it was a 1600cc 1980 model 4WD station wagon in yellow. I bought it just before I graduated college (for the second time) for my new wife. I traded in a Mazda RX7 for it. Prior to that Mazda I had a Chevy Vega (thus my hatred of all things GM) and a VW beatle. I was not terribly impressed with that Subaru. I guess I began using Mobil 1 in 1980 know that I think about it (I guess I am not quite as old as I sometimes think I am /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif) and have used nothing else since execpt in aircraft where I have used Aeroshell and Phillips Cross Country.
I don't think companies can bully you into using their oil product. If you use the grade spec they call out or better then they cannot complain. The Mobil Tech Line said Mobil 1 was sufficient for light diesel engines. I think a 24 horsepower 70 ci diesel and a 22 horse 55 ci diesel is rather light. They said Delvac 1300/1 would be fine also. I called Kubota and they told me that they were in the process of bringing their requiremnts up to date, CC and CD being a rating now superceded. This is directly from the Mobil 1 Tech Manual; "Mobil 1 exceeds API service ratings SL/CF--bla bla--is reverse compatible (to earlier ratings) and bla bla as a CF rated oil can ALSO be used in diesel engines calling for a CD oil." The Kubota manual calls for a CC or CD oil---THUS Mobil 1 is fully compatible with small Kubota diesel tractor engines. That is pretty clear to me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Since it meets or exceeds the requiements--THEY SPECIFIED-- Kubota cannot say diddly squat about it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.
Yes, I use Mobil 1 in my tractors. J

 

[neilw]

I'm not orange. However, it seems that many Kubota's call for CC, CD and CF rated oils. In that case regular Mobil 1 will serve well. Although for the same price you can get a much newer rated CI-4 synthetic in Shell Rotella T ( Blue Bottle).

I would be wary of trying to extend the drain intervals or using Mobil 1 in an engine that is not in good mechanical condition.

The reason being Mobil 1 does not have the buffering capacity, detergents or anti-foam additives diesels need to achieve extended drain intervals or make-up for faulty injectors or excessive blow-by.

 

[TresCrows]

Problem with the Rotella I hear both on TBN and several other websites (and it is probably urban legend) is that it just barely squeaks by API testing only due to triple pass testing. Since I cannot find this info yet myself I look at it somewhat skeptically. Even if it were true that means it met requirments, if only barely, for the most recent and most stringent API tests even if a few other oils did better.
Mobil 1 is a high detergent oil and a recent oil test that included the Mobil 1 auto oil it showed a very high TBN. That is the total base number for buffering agents. It is also a high detergnet oil.
I agree about extended drain intervals. I don't know why there seems to be this link always with synthetic and extended drain intervals /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. I use the Kubota recommended 100 hour drain and filter interval. As to orange vs green, I imagine the Mobil 1 is just as good in a Yanamar diesel as it is in a Kubota /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.
Shell has always made good products, I cannot imagine that the 5W-40 Rotellea is anyhting but a fine product. J

 

[shady1701]

Rotella T passes CH-4 and CI-4 by the triple pass and double pass loop I seen some technical documents where it has passed only 1 out of 3 times on certian parts of the tests.. i use to have the article it was on one of the websites on oil..

 

[TresCrows]

I was cleaning out the garage and had this opportunity to take a pic emerge. This is only a part of my total sparkplug count. All of these use Mobil 1 /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif except for the LawnBoy which has long used Pennzoil for Aircooled two-stroke engines but was recently switched to Mobil 1 two-stroke oil. On the next tear down I will get to make some comparisons (it is 20 plus years old). J

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I was cleaning out the garage )</font>

Yep, you definitely have too much stuff to maintain there, and needed to clean out the garage. Let me know which ones you want to get rid of and I'll come get them. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[JerryG]

TC,
I'm with Bird, between the two of us /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif, we could really cut down on your maintenance time. Give us a call. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[TresCrows]

Yeah, Mr. Bird, that is what my wife says too but I tell her I am just getting started good /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. What is not included is my BX in La., three Honda 90's, assorted weed whackers and Sthil chainsaws, the airplane I am building oh so slowly /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif and lest I forget two Bultacos and a couple of other motorcycles hidden away in my hanger back home. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif ----but, /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gifsad to say that back when we had the spark plug count here on TBN I came in barely mid field but I am working to improve my condition. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif J

 

[Tractor_Tim]

Any synthectic oil is better than conventional. But you should look at the point of... Why Synthectic? Do you have extreme operating conditions? (temperature, extended high RPM's) Is Fuel economy a factor? You should be aware that sysnthetic oil was developed for servere applications heat and cold. Where I live synthectic oil is almost manaditory for heavy equipment operation the winter time for starting reasons. The rule of thumb about oils is change them (and filters) when required and your engine life and performance will benefit with synthectic or regular oils.