winter oil grade

[Bo dawg]

What weight oil do you guys run during winter? My 1959 MF-202 manual says 50 degrees and lower run SAE 20. Then SAE 10 when 10 degrees and lower. So I went to TSC to look for the SAE 20 and I cant find it straight.

 

[Phil Tibbetts]

I run mostly diesel tractors but I would not be afraid to run 5-20 in a gas tractor during the winter. 15-40 year round in my diesels.

 

[brooktre]

A retired MF mechanic (Big Dean) said that the company put out a service bulletin that recommended 10W-30 in pre-1964 tractors. That's what I use in my 202 year round.

Most documents say that 10W-30 is good to around 0 degrees so unless you'll be using it in temperatures below 0 you should be ok with 10W-30.

 

[Hay hay hay]

Thanks for that factual info.

 

[Bo dawg]

(quoted from post at 19:09:28 11/24/19) A retired MF mechanic (Big Dean) said that the company put out a service bulletin that recommended 10W-30 in pre-1964 tractors. That's what I use in my 202 year round.

Most documents say that 10W-30 is good to around 0 degrees so unless you'll be using it in temperatures below 0 you should be ok with 10W-30.

That makes sense since its a standard 4 cylinder like an automobile. What brand oil do most prefer to use in these antiques?

 

[old]

I run 20W-50 O'Reilly's brand oil in almost every thing I own. But i am in Missouri where we do get cold but not many days below zero if any. Any good 10W-40 or a 5W30 if it gets cold where you are will be just fine

 

[Phil Tibbetts]

I'll probably get reprimanded for this but I use whatever is on sale. All oil is made in just a few refineries same as gas and diesel fuel.
This is according to an Exxon Factory Rep that used to service the paper mill where I worked for 30 years. He also told me that diesel fuel
and #2 heating oil come from the same process. The red dye is added to #2 so trucks and over the road vehicles can't use it without risking a
heavy fine if caught. Up here in Maine when the State Police pull a truck over the first thing they cheek is fuel.

 

[steve19438]

I'll probably get reprimanded for this but I use whatever is on sale.

same here.

 

[Bo dawg]

(quoted from post at 05:20:27 11/25/19) I'll probably get reprimanded for this but I use whatever is on sale. All oil is made in just a few refineries same as gas and diesel fuel.
This is according to an Exxon Factory Rep that used to service the paper mill where I worked for 30 years. He also told me that diesel fuel
and #2 heating oil come from the same process. The red dye is added to #2 so trucks and over the road vehicles can't use it without risking a
heavy fine if caught. Up here in Maine when the State Police pull a truck over the first thing they cheek is fuel.

Yea I'm kinda that way too at times, but theres a couple brands I just wont use. So I think I will choose 10w-30 and probably go with Rotella brand from TSC. Although a Massey dealer told me I could also use 15w 40.

 

[ptfarmer]

I run Shell Rotella 15w40 year round in the Z134 Continental engine in my MF2135 industrial with no issues here in Texas.

 

[David G]

That is way too thick for up here.

 

[old]

Well if you read it all I said oils like 10W40 or other such if in a colder area.

 

[bowtieboy77]

Oil grades seems to be one of the most misunderstood. Multi grade oils have pretty much replaced straight grades eg. sae 20. Multi grade oils is identified by the w in the number eg 10w30. The multi grade is explained as this for 10w30 the w stands for winter so in cold temps the cold oil will be no thicker then a sae 10. When the oil heats up and thins out the oil will be no thinner then sae 30. This is how you get multi grade essentially it acts like two different oil viscosities in one. So if your tractor calls for a sae30 and you live in a area that sees some cold temperatures you would want to use a 5w30 or 10w30. If you are in a year round warm climate you could run a sae 30.

Basically if your tractor is a diesel I would recommend 15w40 which is a pretty standard diesel engine oil grade. If your tractor is a gas I would recommend 5w30 or 10w30.

 

[doublebass73]

I run 5W30 synthetic in my 9N, it starts nice and easy in the cold. I occasionally see temps as low as -30 F where I live.

I just bought a Massey Ferguson 150 with the Continental engine and plan on running the same.

 

[Bo dawg]

(quoted from post at 21:28:56 11/27/19)
Oil grades seems to be one of the most misunderstood. Multi grade oils have pretty much replaced straight grades eg. sae 20. Multi grade oils is identified by the w in the number eg 10w30. The multi grade is explained as this for 10w30 the w stands for winter so in cold temps the cold oil will be no thicker then a sae 10. When the oil heats up and thins out the oil will be no thinner then sae 30. This is how you get multi grade essentially it acts like two different oil viscosities in one. So if your tractor calls for a sae30 and you live in a area that sees some cold temperatures you would want to use a 5w30 or 10w30. If you are in a year round warm climate you could run a sae 30.

Basically if your tractor is a diesel I would recommend 15w40 which is a pretty standard diesel engine oil grade. If your tractor is a gas I would recommend 5w30 or 10w30.

That makes sense, I did just recently hear and come to understand the differences in oils and the "W" Lol!
Thanks so much for all the help!
Bo