Oil Brand

[B_Bob]

Anyone use or heard of, KING LUBE brand of oil? Have been using HARVEST KING but they don't carry that any more at the local farm supply store.
Need to change the oil in my '40 and '50 JD B tractors and found some KING LUBE non-detergent 30 weight. Just wondering about the oil quality of these brands for these older tractors.
Thanks,
Bob

 

[Anonymous-0]

You shouldn't be using non-detergent oil in anything except as a break in oil for a few hours after an engine overhaul.

 

[pbb]

I use Rotella 15-40 with a half of a bottle Lucas in mine. I have had no problems.If it will hold up in those big rigs going across country putting all those miles on them and some runs for days without shuting them off.It will work fine in a tractor and it will keep inside you engine clean.

 

[Paul from MI]

Using cheap oil is false economy. The best is none too good. Stick with a name brand, Quaker State has proven itself for me. That said, most oils today are far better than anything avaialble when these old tractors were built. Just my opinion.

 

[rlp]

For envirmental reasons they have taken out the zinc in most oils. Engines with flat tappet valve lifters need the zinc to keep from wearing out the camshaft. Most newer engines have roller valve lifters. I think that Rotella, and some racing oils are the only ones that still have zinc in them. I think royal purple is the one that has zinc in it but it costs about $9 per quart.

 

[Dave H]

I can't believe that no one but Tom commented on the non detergent deal. I would not put that stuff in the neighbor's lawnmower - even if I disliked him more than I do now lol.

I have never bought into that ole breaking a hunk of sludge loose deal. I have used detergent in sludged up motors and it took a few filter changes in short order but all of the old beaters just kept on beating.

 

[JD Seller]

I have a 1952 Chev Pickup that my Uncle bought new. In the operators manual it tells you to put in one quart of oil and then fill with K1. Run up to operating temperature at idle. Then drain oil and replace filter. It says to do that every 10k.
I have done that in cars with hydraulic lifters that where making noise and they improved.
As for your oil question. Your older tractors would be fine with those oils. You aren't working them that hard anyway. In an engine that was working hard I would tend to stay with name brand oils.

 

[Roy Crane]

Another source of good oil containing the zinc and phosphorus needed for flat solid lifters is motorcyle oil. Harleys don't have catalytic converters. Mobil One synthetic twin motor cycle oil (sae 20-50W) costs about $10.00 per quart but I run in in all of my antique engines. Valvoline has a similar product for less money. You need an oil rated at SG or lower in the alphabet to make sure it still has zinc or phosphorus in it. There is no such thing as a motor oil that is too good for your engine.

 

[ArnieinChesterfieldVa]

Me..........now after checking some prices on oil for my 60 and finding out I could go to the John Deere dealer and buy their oil recommended for their tractors and finding out I can get it for about #3.75 a quart, I think I'll stick with the John Deere oil.......and I'm normally an Amsoil synthetic guy.