Winter Weather Oil and Trans/HYD fluid?

skytracker · Dec 14, 2012

I need to change the oil in my 1967 Ford 3000 3 cyl gas tractor. i need to use it throughout winter for snow removal and firewood hauling.
Thinking of running 5w40 synthetic, what do you guys have good luck with?

And the trans/hyd fluid I believe is AW32 that has been in there a while now, I was thinking of changing that out to a better cold flow UTF.
Any recommendations??
Your input and help is appreciated.

oldnslo · Dec 14, 2012

I don't think your tractor was designed to run on 5w40 motor oil. I lived and farmed in central MN for years and had a 66- 5000 and a 78-5600. Used both of them in the winter with factory recommened oil with no problems.

AW32 is very similar to a SAE 10 wieght oil so it flows at pretty cold temperatures.

IndyIan · Dec 14, 2012

The 5W40 is fine, its still 40 weight oil once the motor is up to temperature and oil can't really be too thin on cold starts. Even 0W20 would be better for startup wear, but only once the motor warms up, does it become to thin.
Alot of the 10W30 diesel motor oils also has similar cold start viscosity as 5W40 as well, and is a bit cheaper.
Shell Spirax TXM S4 is like a 5W30 as are alot of the premium UTF's.

skytracker · Dec 14, 2012

It has 10w30 in it now. That is what was in it when I got it. I was thinking it may be better for it in the colder temps with a 5w30 or 5w40
and with the synthetic flowing better in most things I have run it in. But I was hoping for the benefit of others experience so it will last a couple more decades.

bp fick · Dec 14, 2012

I'm located west of you and we are often 5 or 6 degrees colder than you are, but that's not significant.

I've used the 5w-40 Rotella but have the Rotella 10w-30 Semi synthetic in it, as I did last winter. No issues whatsoever either way. There just isn't the "earth stopping rotating" issue. It's a tractor. The engine has oil in it. It will protect it.

A wise operator warms up his machine properly anyhow. Clean and fresh is way more important than splitting hairs over the little stuff. The oils and fluids of today are much better than when that tractor was made. Hope that helps.