quote:
Originally posted by 427Z06:
So...apparently Strjock81's tractors have been blowing up every winter without your advice.
Go back and read Strjock81's original post: He commented that he still plugs in 4 hours before starting. The tractor cranks MUCH easier. I'll buy that, the 5W-40 will be much easier to crank at 0 F than a 15W-40.
So by plugging in, he avoided catastrophic damage, that is, to quote you, "blowing up every winter." However, he may have caused increased wear, certainly higher diesel consumption, by running an oil that heavy in winter.
Strjock81 also commented he is running Rotella 5W-40 in his air compressor, apparently located outside or in an unheated space. He is doing that as before, he couldn't even start the compressor without tripping breakers (Too stiff for the motor, so it stalled and the breaker tripped).
I personally would run Exxon Synesstic 32 in a reciprocating compressor, and Exxon Teresso 32 in a rotary screw compressor, for winter startups. The Rotella 5W-30 is ok but may knock a lot of carbon deposits out of the crank, so the oil should be inspected/changed more frequently.
I have +20 years experience in HD trucking, in a climate that can dip to -42. So I've learned the hard way what works and what doesn't work, especially in temps below 0 F.
I have personally witnessed the catastrophic engine damage to a Cat 3406B motor that had been running 15W-40 year round. To "save money." Of course, my dire warnings of not using the 15W-40, but a 0W-30 at the SAME PRICE (Esso XD-3 on sale) went unheeded.
The logging truck had sat for a week over Christmas, in temps of -40. They couldn't plug in, but the temps had "warmed" to -10 F. They tried boosing and ether, and finally got started.
There was immediate loud knocking, and when they attempted to move the truck about a minute later, a rod went out. So much for that little science experiment.
I'm also old enough to remember the "good 'ole days" when I needed to stock the following viscosity oils to meet ambient conditions: 10W, 20W-20, 30, and 40. Colder than -30 F, 10W mix up to 10% kerosense.
In a moderate climate you can run a single oil, say a synthetic HDEO 5W-40 year round. In an extreme climate, a 5W-40 synthetic or a mineral 15W-40 for most of the year, and a 0W-30 or 0W-40 for the extreme cold.
Again, fresh HDEO may meet the minimum MRV values. Used HDEO loaded with soot most certainly will NOT and is quite a bit thicker. So if you have any fear of running a "water thin" 0W-30 in winter, it won't stay "water thin" for long.
I suggest that Strjock81 consult his shop manual or look for updated viscosity recommendations from his implement and compressor dealer.
A lot of the obsolete specifications (10W, 20W-20, etc) have been superceded by modern specifications, such as 15W-40 above +15 F, and 5W-40 down to -22 F.
Or to cover the widest operating range, say -40 F to +40 F, run a synthetic HDEO 0W-30 or 0W-40 for the winter only, and to save money a regular 15W-40 the rest of the year. Your motor will thank you.
