What HD oil would be the best?

[Farmall]

Am switching suppliers because of a major price increase. Our bulk price is nearly $11.50 for Case IH oils.

We have 3 oils I am looking at mostly for ag use.

Delvac MX
Conoco/Kendall Super D-3 $8.50gal

Conoco/Kendall Super D-XA (semi-syn) $9.60

Is the MX a group 1 oil as I may have read. It looks good on the spec sheet and is a CI4+ along with the Super-D 3. The XA is semi-syn. but is CJ4. The TBN on the + oils is a bit higher. Thanks for the help

 

[helix_rider]

Any chance on getting Rotella T?

From your list, it would be hard to pass up the Delvac.

 

[dnewton3]

First of all, there is no "best" for everyone, for every circumstance. There are probably "better" choices for individual situations.

Any of those three, along with a host of others like Rotella, Delo, etc are going to suffice very well.

Not sure about the equipment you're putting it in, but generally any CJ-4 oil will do as well as the earlier variants. One word of caution, but nothing to panic over. If you're still using LSD fuel, AND you're running extended OCIs, then you might want to use a CI-4+ oil for the higher TBN. OTOH, the CJ-4 has much better soot control formulations. It's kind of a trade off in that regard. However, it's likely that your OCI isn't great enough to make a difference anyway. I would suggest a used oil analysis or two to know where you're at.

Of the three you mentioned, I'd choose the one that meets your criteria and costs the least. I realize that some people have the "cost is no object; I want the best" mentality. That's no big deal if you're only putting in 10 qrts. But large farming op's and fleet op's can really get expensive with that mentality. Since any of the fluids you listed will perform very well, then the one that costs the least gives the greatest ROI. Your equipment will likley never know the difference of which one you use, but your wallet will.

 

[Farmall]

Not real concerned about whether it's CJ4 but would like to stay with the older formula if possible. That said I like the semi-syn.

Does anyone know if the Delvac MX is a Group I or II oil?

 

[RedOak]

I think you are spliting hairs here. I do not know the base stock of Mx but it will do a fine job for you. Conoco is a good oil and will do you a fine job also. It is a wash. Use the least expensive and stay with quality air and fuel filters which are as important as your oil selection. I have seen heavy equipment with high hours using both Conoco and Mobil products.

 

[Ken2]

I don't see much, if any, difference between the Mobil MX and the Kendall D-3. I'd use either. (I doubt if any modern 15w40 oil is Group I base stock.) The Super D-XA syn blend oil might pay off if you use longer oil drain intervals as determined by oil analysis, and that is always the best way to get the best machinery protection and lowest cost from lubes.

The Kendall Super D-XA also has the Liquid Titanium additive which does the same job as moly at lower cost. It might save a bit of fuel (you'll have to keep careful records to find this) as well as reducing engine wear and extending engine life. If you're willing to consider using oil lab analysis to determine the oil drain interval, consider talking with your local Schaeffer oil rep. Their oils, when used for the full life of the oil, are money savers in oil cost and equipment life.

By the way, ConocoPhillips Corp. uses the Conoco, Phillips, Kendall, and 76 brand names depending on the product and the part of the country they're sold in. The oils, of the same type, are the same with just the brand names different.

 

[Jim Allen]

I second the recommendation about matching the fuel to the oil. If you are using ULSD (most place have switched over), I advise using CJ-4 oil. The chemistry is very suitable for that fuel. My farm equipment is doing very nicely on CI-4/ULSD. I notice much less smoke and used oil analysis prove the combo works. For me at least.

Beyond that, I predict very little difference at the end of the season, or in used oil analysis, between any of those brands. Get the brand name with the best local, reliable supply and price. I would concern myself more with viscosity, filtration and OCIs. The semi-syn might be advisable for extending the OCI for the hardest worked tractor or the one(s) that you have to fire up in the winter.

 

[NMP]

Talk to your Kendall distributor and see if they will furnish used oil analysis as a part of the deal. If you can get that included the Kendall becomes a bargain.

I am running the Super D-XA semi-syn in a DuraMax. Seems to work just fine.

 

[daman]

Like D3 stated match your fuel to your oil,but as time goes by CI4 is getting harder to come by, what fuel do you guy's have over there have?

the Delvac line has proven to be very good you can't go wrong there.