Find an oil for a very very old 1961 David brown 950 tractor

[Therealdusky]

Hi Guys and Gals,

I have an old tractor, 1961 David brown 950.
It's quite a rare thing, people bought either a 850 or 990.
I need to do an oil change, before I used 15W30 "super universal tractor oil".
At this point, I want to go with a somewhat more modern engine oil designed for diesels as the engine has quite a bit of sludge in it, which I already cleaned as much as I can through an acces hole in the oil pan. I was thinking of a "modern" 15W40. Thinking it would help a little with oil consumption.
But, it has flat tappet lifters. The only high zinc oil I can get is a high zinc 20W50, which seems just a tad on the too thick side of things.

What would you advice? The 15W40 i'd pick is MPM super high performance diesel, for diesels in harsh environments. The 20W50 is the mpm high zinc version as well.
Preferably I stay within the MPM range of products, easiest to get for me.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Astro14]

A few thoughts -

1. It ain’t that old - it’s post war…
2. Flat tappet isn’t a big deal unless the cam lift is big, and the spring rate is high. Doubt either of those are the case in your tractor.
3. Modern diesel oils all have enough extreme pressure/anti-wear additive for this engine with its mild cam and lift.
4. Even a modern “detergent” oil won’t do a lot of sludge cleaning, but they will help prevent it from getting worse.

My advice? Find a good diesel oil on sale - like a Chevron Delo, or Mobil Delvac, nothing fancy or exotic, change it, and the filter, often - and enjoy your tractor!

 

[Zaedock]

Reviewing the specs I could find on the MGM 15W40, it would be fine for your old tractor.
I'd run it in my Yanmar powered '81 John Deere.

 

[Astro14]

One other note - I didn’t see that you were in Belgium - so, in your market, if MPM is the easiest to get, then go with that.

 

[JavierH19]

Any 15w-40 will do so if that stuff is a good option go for it. I don't know what else is available in Belgium but it won't matter pretty much any diesel oil will do. You'd be hard pressed to find a diesel oil worse than what that tractor used to get back when it was new these days. The older CH oils tend to have more zinc and phos from what I've seen but CK oils still have enough anyway. And I wouldn't be against using 20w-50 unless it has to start below 0c which can start to make it struggle but it's not too thick for it. You could use a 60 grade and still be fine.

 

[oil pan 4]

Probably some straight 30 weight high detergent off road diesel oil is the American answer.
If you're still in Europe then I don't know what you have over there.

 

[Therealdusky]

Hi All,

Thanks! Contacted MPM as well to ask for the full spec. The 15W40 is 1150 ppm zinc. Which should be ample for my use case.

Thanks all, merry Christmass!

 

[Passport1]

DB also built some very rapid and stylish equipage. James Bond even had one.

Facebook

 

[fantastic]

Yeah, I will throw my 2c in on using a 15w-40

 

[Therealdusky]

A few thoughts -

1. It ain’t that old - it’s post war…
2. Flat tappet isn’t a big deal unless the cam lift is big, and the spring rate is high. Doubt either of those are the case in your tractor.
3. Modern diesel oils all have enough extreme pressure/anti-wear additive for this engine with its mild cam and lift.
4. Even a modern “detergent” oil won’t do a lot of sludge cleaning, but they will help prevent it from getting worse.

My advice? Find a good diesel oil on sale - like a Chevron Delo, or Mobil Delvac, nothing fancy or exotic, change it, and the filter, often - and enjoy your tractor!

I'm a 90's baby, from my perspective that's old
The dream is actually to have something prewar. The more I work on 'old' machinery the more I like it. It's entirely different than working on a car like my Corvette. It's made to be repaired as easily as possible somwhere in a field. I like that very much

 

[TheLastWord]

Hi Guys and Gals,

I have an old tractor, 1961 David brown 950.
It's quite a rare thing, people bought either a 850 or 990.
I need to do an oil change, before I used 15W30 "super universal tractor oil".
At this point, I want to go with a somewhat more modern engine oil designed for diesels as the engine has quite a bit of sludge in it, which I already cleaned as much as I can through an acces hole in the oil pan. I was thinking of a "modern" 15W40. Thinking it would help a little with oil consumption.
But, it has flat tappet lifters. The only high zinc oil I can get is a high zinc 20W50, which seems just a tad on the too thick side of things.

What would you advice? The 15W40 i'd pick is MPM super high performance diesel, for diesels in harsh environments. The 20W50 is the mpm high zinc version as well.
Preferably I stay within the MPM range of products, easiest to get for me.

Thanks in advance!

Obligatory BITOG statement:

Pics or i doesn't exist

Yeah, that David Brown. Aston Martin, James Bond, etc.

 

[tc1446]

I'm a 90's baby, from my perspective that's old
The dream is actually to have something prewar. The more I work on 'old' machinery the more I like it. It's entirely different than working on a car like my Corvette. It's made to be repaired as easily as possible somwhere in a field. I like that very much

How about a pic of your tractor?

 

[Therealdusky]

Obligatory BITOG statement:

Pics or i doesn't exist

Yeah, that David Brown. Aston Martin, James Bond, etc.

How about a pic of your tractor?

Oh gladly!
It needs quite some optical work. Had a cracked engine block which was repaired long ago but still had a pinhole leak. If my fix is successful I promised it it's getting painted.

 

[TheLastWord]

Oh gladly!
It needs quite some optical work. Had a cracked engine block which was repaired long ago but still had a pinhole leak. If my fix is successful I promised it it's getting painted.
View attachment 255108View attachment 255107

Don't paint it !!

At most color sand if (original ??) paint will handle it.

Decals ??

Ok for new upholstery.

Such idyllic setting.

 

[userfriendly]

Probably some straight 30 weight high detergent off road diesel oil is the American answer.
If you're still in Europe then I don't know what you have over there.

Many of the SAE 30 universal tractor/engine oils are Caterpillar TO-4/CD in 20w30 or 15w30.
That way, the farmer has one pail to choose from that will work in engines, transmissions and wet clutch/brake applications.
Usually the smallest packaging is 20L pails priced above engine oils.

 

[Lubener]

I presently use either Valvoline Blue or Shell Rotella 15w-40 in my much older 1940 Ford 9N tractor.

 

[Chris142]

The lowered zddp thing won't matter in that. It won't have stiff valve springs for high rpm use. I would use whatever 15w40 diesel oil is on sale.