I have several older Fords from 1980-1990. All of them are 10 series ranging from 34-70 hp. Should I be using HD oils? And standard 15-40 or the 5-40 synthetic versions. To this point have been running Rotella 15-40 but am wondering if another brand or type is better. Thank you.
Correct Oil Type for Ford Tractors?
- Thread starter Sawtooth
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dnewton3
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Originally Posted By: Sawtooth
... To this point have been running Rotella 15-40 but am wondering if another brand or type is better.
There is no ability for us to really tell you that "another brand or type is better"; we cannot tell you that. You must define what "better" means to you, and to us.
I will caution you to make sure you're being OBJECTIVE and not SUBJECTIVE in your assessment.
First, what grade and API spec do the units call for? As these gas or diesel? I am going to assume diesel, as this is where you've posted the question.
I highly suspect that any decent CJ-4 certified lube in 15w40 will be fine. It does not get cold enough anywhere in NC to warrant concerns for "cold" starts. (Note, what your ol' bones tell you is cold, and what is "cold" to a modern multi-grade lube, are two different things). Don't fret this at all; 15w40 will be fine.
If you intend on running long OCI intervals with high hours, then you might want to consider using synthetics. If not, then syns are a total waste of money.
Despite brand and grade fear-mongering here, I can tell you with absolute certainty that any API qualified lube in a typical grade for your application will do fine.
It's not that there is a "better" choice than the Rotella you've been using. It is that many other brands are just as good. And your tractors are never going to know the difference.
If you want to know with absolute certainty, beyond any doubt, which might be "better", then you'll have to run a LARGE series of tests with used oil analysis. The expense and time just don't warrant such efforts, frankly. Pick a lube you're happy with and leave it be.
... To this point have been running Rotella 15-40 but am wondering if another brand or type is better.
There is no ability for us to really tell you that "another brand or type is better"; we cannot tell you that. You must define what "better" means to you, and to us.
I will caution you to make sure you're being OBJECTIVE and not SUBJECTIVE in your assessment.
First, what grade and API spec do the units call for? As these gas or diesel? I am going to assume diesel, as this is where you've posted the question.
I highly suspect that any decent CJ-4 certified lube in 15w40 will be fine. It does not get cold enough anywhere in NC to warrant concerns for "cold" starts. (Note, what your ol' bones tell you is cold, and what is "cold" to a modern multi-grade lube, are two different things). Don't fret this at all; 15w40 will be fine.
If you intend on running long OCI intervals with high hours, then you might want to consider using synthetics. If not, then syns are a total waste of money.
Despite brand and grade fear-mongering here, I can tell you with absolute certainty that any API qualified lube in a typical grade for your application will do fine.
It's not that there is a "better" choice than the Rotella you've been using. It is that many other brands are just as good. And your tractors are never going to know the difference.
If you want to know with absolute certainty, beyond any doubt, which might be "better", then you'll have to run a LARGE series of tests with used oil analysis. The expense and time just don't warrant such efforts, frankly. Pick a lube you're happy with and leave it be.
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If used in a cold climate, they might benefit from Rotella T6 5w40 synthetic. If not, then I'd stick with the Rotella T 15w40 or whichever 15w40 is easy to obtain.
Anything newer than a Cletrac should prolly be running Rotella T6 with 100 hour changes. It's cheap enough and seems to hold up well enough that there is little reason not to a 5W "synthetic" at start up
Any other comparable oil will do as well. I'd stay away from the independents and stick with the majors. But that's just me ...
Any other comparable oil will do as well. I'd stay away from the independents and stick with the majors. But that's just me ...
dnewton3
Staff member
Originally Posted By: Sawtooth
Ok going to stay the course. Thanks guys.
Wise choice.
Ok going to stay the course. Thanks guys.
Wise choice.
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