15-40 oil in cold weather

DustyRusty

Well-known member

Equipment
2020 BX23S, BX2822 Snowblower, Curtis Deluxe Cab,
Nov 8, 2015
6,295
4,873
113
North East CT
In my tractor year around. I also use a block heater in very cold winter months when needed. I also have 15-40 in my diesel generator that starts up cold whenever the power goes out, and the engine has no problems starting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

dlsmith

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX2230, LA211
Nov 15, 2018
1,235
789
113
Goshen, IN
I use 15-40 Rotella-T4 year round in my BX and JD430.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

Fordtech86

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3200
Aug 7, 2018
4,976
5,917
113
Pineville,LA
I live dangerously, 5-40 all year, but mine doesn’t typically get used if it’s below 40 or so 😂
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

bird dogger

Well-known member
Vendor Member

Equipment
Kubota B2650 and lots of other equipment
Feb 24, 2019
1,622
1,501
113
North Dakota
Rotella 15-40 all year round. Winter temps here can be in the -20° F and colder. Winterfront covers on the tractor keeps the engine oil and hydraulics nice and warm mo matter how cold.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

lmichael

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota G2160
Apr 23, 2021
609
265
63
Rockford IL area
Not sure why anyone would not want the oil to flow as fast as possible and use a 5W-40. Still have the 40W protection but fast flow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users

The Evil Twin

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
2,866
2,915
113
Virginia
Yes, that is what the local Kubota shop said...but like some have said...a 15 starting point is pretty low...oh, well have put that 15-40 in the tractor already...so this winter I will see how it goes.
Well, last winter it was colder here than it was in Anchorage. She didn't complain with the 15w. I could tell there was a sluggishness though.
 

Runs With Scissors

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501 TLB , Grappel, Brush Hog, Box Blade, Ballast box, Forks, Tiller, PH digger
Jan 25, 2023
2,517
2,918
113
Michigan
Recommended Oil weights chart by "Paul"

Mini-Van ...... year round 0W-20.....Why? says it in the book......145K so far

Truck.......15w-40 year round......Why? Says it in the book.....247K so far

Tractor.......10w 30 year round.....Why? says it in the book....126.3 hours so far

Portable Generator.....0W "What-ever_I have on hand" year round....Why? lost book....don't care for a 700 dollar machine, pull start and, that's'what I think is "good-nuff"....probably 80 hours total....

Pressure Washer......0w "What-ever-I have on hand." year round...Why? Lost book, again, don't care 250 dollar machine, summer use only, and thats what I think is "good nuff"......probably 150 hours total.

YMMV

Paul
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,847
5,070
113
Eastham, Ma
Recommended Oil weights chart by "Paul"

Mini-Van ...... year round 0W-20.....Why? says it in the book......145K so far

Truck.......15w-40 year round......Why? Says it in the book.....247K so far

Tractor.......10w 30 year round.....Why? says it in the book....126.3 hours so far

Portable Generator.....0W "What-ever_I have on hand" year round....Why? lost book....don't care for a 700 dollar machine, pull start and, that's'what I think is "good-nuff"....probably 80 hours total....

Pressure Washer......0w "What-ever-I have on hand." year round...Why? Lost book, again, don't care 250 dollar machine, summer use only, and thats what I think is "good nuff"......probably 150 hours total.

YMMV

Paul
Pressure washer: Pickled with RV anti freeze, and stored, every Winter.
 

mcmxi

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
***Current*** M6060HDC, MX6000HSTC & GL7000 ***Sold*** MX6000HST & BX25DLB
Feb 9, 2021
5,392
6,475
113
NW Montana
I run 5W-40 all year round in two tractors, one F250 and one Kubota generator. When an oil change is due on the M1078 it'll most likely get the same oil too. Both tractors and the Ford have block heaters which I plug in religiously during the cold Montana winters.

 

bird dogger

Well-known member
Vendor Member

Equipment
Kubota B2650 and lots of other equipment
Feb 24, 2019
1,622
1,501
113
North Dakota
Yea, never run my stuff (unless I have too) except trucks below 20 f... It does not pay.
20°F days in the winter here is almost "shirt sleeve weather" and way to few between them, as well. Here's an FYI in case you'd be interested for your tractor for the upcoming winter's colder temps: I sew up and sell some tractor winterfront covers for operating in our colder temps. My B2650 couldn't be without them in our cold winter temps here in northern North Dakota.

They'll help keep your operating temperature up in the mid range on the coldest of days. Also keeps both engine and hydraulic oils warmer and snow out of your air intake & air filter if running a front mount blower. If a cab tractor, your cab heater output is better. Etc.

Here's a link to the LX2610 Winterfront Covers that are a custom fit to your tractor. If interested, let me know.

David
 

will721

Active member

Equipment
LX2610, Ford 2n, Ferguson TO20
Jun 6, 2023
179
187
43
Quad Cities Area
Depends on how cold you're talking.

Here we get below -20F on occasion. -40F windchill for reference of those who need it. I run 5w40 synthetic. My daily is a diesel, and on occasion I forget to plug it in. It starts a little easier on the synthetic when I forget to plug it in. Plus I run synthetic in everything.
 

jkrubi12

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601/LA435/QA54"/BH70/B8160box/BB1254/PFL1242/SGC0554/WC-68 Chipper
Sep 24, 2012
400
291
63
right coast
Coming up on my 50-hour filter change on my B2601; still has factory oil fill. At 50 hrs I'll drain, install new Kubota engine oil filter, and I'll be using Mobil Delvac 15W-40 Synthetic for year-around use.

I like Rotella 5W-40 in my Ram Cummins truck; IMO 5W-40 is mainly designed to provide extra fuel economy while maintaining lubricity requirements in over-the-road diesels. I've also used Valvoline Extreme 5W-40 full synthetic which is as good as Rotella IMO. I could easily install Mobil Delvac 15W-40 in the truck and it would be OK.

Diesels operated in winter environments should be thoroughly warmed up prior to 'working' to ensure that initial wear will be minimized; It's likely that 5w-40 engine oil will be more quickly warmed up and distributed throughout the engine enabling a faster warmup period. The most common task I can see for winter tractor operation is snow removal; I would imagine that during snowblower operation the engine would be tasked to 80% or more of it's available power ratings for appreciable long periods. The winter air may assist in engine cooling, or even interfere with operation by not allowing sufficient warmup.

I assert that the snowblower engine requirements are heavy-duty usage. For the tractor I'd use 15W-40 full synthetic engine oil with sufficient warmup.
 

Orange man hero

Active member

Equipment
LX2610HSD
Mar 12, 2021
343
42
28
Wasilla, Alaska
20°F days in the winter here is almost "shirt sleeve weather" and way to few between them, as well. Here's an FYI in case you'd be interested for your tractor for the upcoming winter's colder temps: I sew up and sell some tractor winterfront covers for operating in our colder temps. My B2650 couldn't be without them in our cold winter temps here in northern North Dakota.

They'll help keep your operating temperature up in the mid range on the coldest of days. Also keeps both engine and hydraulic oils warmer and snow out of your air intake & air filter if running a front mount blower. If a cab tractor, your cab heater output is better. Etc.

Here's a link to the LX2610 Winterfront Covers that are a custom fit to your tractor. If interested, let me know.

David
They really look good!!! Know it works coz I used cardboard in 50 below Fairbanks for years on cars and light trucks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Orange man hero

Active member

Equipment
LX2610HSD
Mar 12, 2021
343
42
28
Wasilla, Alaska
Coming up on my 50-hour filter change on my B2601; still has factory oil fill. At 50 hrs I'll drain, install new Kubota engine oil filter, and I'll be using Mobil Delvac 15W-40 Synthetic for year-around use.

I like Rotella 5W-40 in my Ram Cummins truck; IMO 5W-40 is mainly designed to provide extra fuel economy while maintaining lubricity requirements in over-the-road diesels. I've also used Valvoline Extreme 5W-40 full synthetic which is as good as Rotella IMO. I could easily install Mobil Delvac 15W-40 in the truck and it would be OK.

Diesels operated in winter environments should be thoroughly warmed up prior to 'working' to ensure that initial wear will be minimized; It's likely that 5w-40 engine oil will be more quickly warmed up and distributed throughout the engine enabling a faster warmup period. The most common task I can see for winter tractor operation is snow removal; I would imagine that during snowblower operation the engine would be tasked to 80% or more of it's available power ratings for appreciable long periods. The winter air may assist in engine cooling, or even interfere with operation by not allowing sufficient warmup.

I assert that the snowblower engine requirements are heavy-duty usage. For the tractor I'd use 15W-40 full synthetic engine oil with sufficient warmup.
Coming from the horse's mouth Engineers in Japan say use a cheap oil and change it often.