!5-40 Rotella oil

[Orange man hero]

I live in the Phoenix area, (hot) but the tractor lives in the high country. (comparable temps to Flagstaff)
Temps in summer in the high 80fs, winter as low as -15f.
It is also a high hour, well-worn, old tractor with plenty of loose clearances for that thicker weight oil.

 

[Orange man hero]

Yes, I think 15-40 is only for hot areas (country) Did a test and plugged in the block heater at 40 f. No click kacking or metal noise. Seems to be as smooth as the old 10-30. What do you think.

 

[Lil Foot]

Mine starts easily over the whole temperature range, even as low as -15f, (and once at -31f) and I like the protection of 40w when it is hot and I am working it hard all day long.

 

[Fordtech86]

5w40 like #2 said…

 

[RCW]

5w40 like #2 said…

In upstate New York, I did Rotella 15w-40 then switched to 5w-40.

Cold starts are much better with the 5w-40 oil.

 

[flyidaho]

When I noticed my local Costco carries a Kirkland/in house brand of oil, and the price, I started using it a couple years ago in my Mack crane truck. It takes 56 qts. every change! Oil tests since using it got me from 350-400 hours between changes to 750-800 hours, based on the lab reports. Over the 5 years I've been a Costco customer, I've become something of a fan boy of the company.

 

[Orange man hero]

Mine starts easily over the whole temperature range, even as low as -15f, (and once at -31f) and I like the protection of 40w when it is hot and I am working it hard all day long.

Yes, that is what it is made for!

 

[Orange man hero]

When I noticed my local Costco carries a Kirkland/in house brand of oil, and the price, I started using it a couple years ago in my Mack crane truck. It takes 56 qts. every change! Oil tests since using it got me from 350-400 hours between changes to 750-800 hours, based on the lab reports. Over the 5 years I've been a Costco customer, I've become something of a fan boy of the company.

Yes, I have been a Cosco fan for 25-30 years.

 

[Orange man hero]

In upstate New York, I did Rotella 15w-40 then switched to 5w-40.

Cold starts are much better with the 5w-40 oil.

Believe it!

 

[BobInSD]

If you like Rotella T6,use 5W40 as all your bases will be covered.
You do not live in Fairbanks or Flagstaff.
Good Luck!

​

I live in a colder winter climate and I'm trying Rotella T6 5W40 this year. Haven't had it in during winter yet, but nothing seemed to change using it over the summer. I do not work my tractor nearly as hard as many do.

 

[Orange man hero]

I live in a colder winter climate and I'm trying Rotella T6 5W40 this year. Haven't had it in during winter yet, but nothing seemed to change using it over the summer. I do not work my tractor nearly as hard as many do.

All I could find at Wally was 15-40

 

[BobInSD]

All I could find at Wally was 15-40

I hate to say it, but maybe Wally knows best? Or at least what sells where? The 5-40 was on the shelves at the Wally World here. There was at least as much 15-40, but the 5-40 was available. Mine calls for 10W-30 but I don't even know if 5W was a (common) thing when they built it 12 or so years ago. I know I've started using multi-grade on air cooled engines, which was a big no-no when I was younger. It seems to be OK?

 

[Orange man hero]

I won't be using 15-40 without a block heater here in Southcentral Alaska which is about the same clime as Minnesota. In Northern Alaska where I use to live 5-30 or lower.

 

[WFM]

Rotella T4- 15w40 since new. And we do get some cold weather here in Maine.
Anything about 10*f or less I'll plug in the block heater for a hour before starting.

 

[6869704x4]

I know I've started using multi-grade on air cooled engines, which was a big no-no when I was younger. It seems to be OK?

The splash oiled engines needed ND oil, most common was 30w. If you have an air cooled engine with a pressurized oil system then multi-grade HD oil is probably what's recommended in the manual.

 

[BobInSD]

I won't be using 15-40 without a block heater here in Southcentral Alaska which is about the same clime as Minnesota. In Northern Alaska where I use to live 5-30 or lower.

We do see -30 here, but I hope to never have to run the open station tractor below -10. Kubota says 10W-xx below freezing. We're well below that so I'm looking forward to seeing how the 5W-40 works (well, not looking forward to the testing at temp, but looking forward to finding out)

The splash oiled engines needed ND oil, most common was 30w. If you have an air cooled engine with a pressurized oil system then multi-grade HD oil is probably what's recommended in the manual.

Thanks I was not aware of that distinction.

 

[nbryan]

I get -30C (with coolant block heater) to +30C starting temp range here in S Manitoba and the first few changes used the recommended 10w-30 Kubota oil, loath then as yet to use anything not explicitly recommended in the new tractor's maintenance manual.
I had read here of T6 5W-40 doing well in these engines. It turns out we had an old VW TDi (long since retired) that had thrived on t6 5w-40 and I had exactly 4L left in a 19L pail sitting there in the garage melee. In it went at the B2650s 400 hour service.
I certainly noticed "easier" cold starts, whether biting cold or around freezing, in that it quieted faster from the initial always present diesel rattle bang cold start noises. Idle smooths out and quiets faster.
And honestly the power and responsiveness using this oil compared to the Kubota 10-30 semi-synth seemed better.
Makes sense to me, with the lower start viscosity 5W vs 10W, and higher run temp viscosity 40W vs 30W.
"Coverage" is enhanced at both ends?
I'm hoping to hear from more knowledgeable on this, as oil can be a hot topic here and it's interesting to hear more from those better versed.
But the T6-5w-40 does a better job here in both heat and cold than the 10w-30. And I wouldn't go near a 15W- as starting temps don't go above freezing here in the morning for 6 months of the year.

 

[jyoutz]

I get -30C (with coolant block heater) to +30C starting temp range here in S Manitoba and the first few changes used the recommended 10w-30 Kubota oil, loath then as yet to use anything not explicitly recommended in the new tractor's maintenance manual.
I had read here of T6 5W-40 doing well in these engines. It turns out we had an old VW TDi (long since retired) that had thrived on t6 5w-40 and I had exactly 4L left in a 19L pail sitting there in the garage melee. In it went at the B2650s 400 hour service.
I certainly noticed "easier" cold starts, whether biting cold or around freezing, in that it quieted faster from the initial always present diesel rattle bang cold start noises. Idle smooths out and quiets faster.
And honestly the power and responsiveness using this oil compared to the Kubota 10-30 semi-synth seemed better.
Makes sense to me, with the lower start viscosity 5W vs 10W, and higher run temp viscosity 40W vs 30W.
"Coverage" is enhanced at both ends?
I'm hoping to hear from more knowledgeable on this, as oil can be a hot topic here and it's interesting to hear more from those better versed.
But the T6-5w-40 does a better job here in both heat and cold than the 10w-30. And I wouldn't go near a 15W- as starting temps don't go above freezing here in the morning for 6 months of the year.

I have been using 5W-40 Valvoline in my truck with Cummins motor for years and have noticed much better cold weather starting and operations. It was a no brainer to use it in my MX when I did my 50 hours service. 10W-30 is old school adequate, but the synthetic 5W-40 is a huge improvement.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I have been using 5W-40 Valvoline in my truck with Cummins motor for years and have noticed much better cold weather starting and operations. It was a no brainer to use it in my MX when I did my 50 hours service. 10W-30 is old school adequate, but the synthetic 5W-40 is a huge improvement.

Cummins actually requires 5W40 in some of the newer engines. Use of 15W40 at reduced (<0C ??) temps has been shown to cause failure of the high tech valve.train.

Now should I stir the pot by mentioning the one "concerning" performance difference in the two viscosity specifications. As the old saying goes there is no free lunch.

Dan

 

[jyoutz]

Cummins actually requires 5W40 in some of the newer engines. Use of 15W40 at reduced (<0C ??) temps has been shown to cause failure of the high tech valve.train.

Now should I stir the pot by mentioning the one "concerning" performance difference in the two viscosity specifications. As the old saying goes there is no free lunch.

Dan

So tell us the concern.