15w40 vs 5w40 vs 10w30

[NEPA Guy]

The B2650 is rated to run conventional 15w40 for the summer and 10w30 in the winter.

I picked up the Shell rotella 15w40 synthetic blend to do an oil change today.

I see Shell makes a 5w40 full synthetic as well as Mobil 1.

Can I safely use the 5w40? Wouldnt it be better being full synthetic and able to handle more heat?

The weight is still the same and if the 5W is just the lowest temperature range it can handle, wouldn't I also be able to use the 5w40 instead of the 10w30 in the winter.

Thoughts?

 

[bucktail]

Yes 5W 40 will be good year round. Being full synthetic helps a lot with the pumpability. I'm running the rotella 5-40 in mine.

 

[RCW]

Yes 5W 40 will be good year round. Being full synthetic helps a lot with the pumpability. I'm running the rotella 5-40 in mine.

Yep - same here with Rotella T6. The 5w helps with cold starts over the 15w.

 

[NEPA Guy]

Why wouldnt Kubota recommend 5w40 instead of 10w30 for the winter?

Doesn't make sense.

 

[bucktail]

Maybe for people who don't want to run synthetic?

 

[85Hokie]

Why wouldnt Kubota recommend 5w40 instead of 10w30 for the winter?

Doesn't make sense.

the main reason for the lighter oils being made now are for fuel savings, the lighter less viscous oil will have less drag when being placed between two moving parts - damn near ALL cars have moved to the 0 weight class for the faster starts in cold and better fuel mileage.

Tractor owners dont care about fuel mileage .....well, not much!
But those that start up a diesel in temps that we consider cold, have a much better chance of lubrication quicker when it fires up.

IF you ever want to laugh.......take some 30 weight oil, stick it in a freezer and pour it about 8 hours later.......then do the same with something like 5w-40 or even 0w-20. Night and day differences.

10w-30 has been the defacto standard for the last 30 years......every damn car/truck/tractor has it in it! It is so common that you can get a can/bottle anywhere you want.........but, it is NOT as good as a light weight oil that can protect better.... thus the lower first number and the higher last number.

I just placed some 5w-40 in a 27 year old tractor......I am curious IF what my pressure is going to be when the oil is super hot after an hour of mowing! AND it should be slightly higher than the 10w30 that was in there! We'll see soon!

 

[NEPA Guy]

Thanks for the feedback. 5w-40 from now on. As for which manufacturer offers the best seems to be a debate.

 

[War Eagle]

Thanks for the feedback. 5w-40 from now on. As for which manufacturer offers the best seems to be a debate.

Probably just need to be sure it is diesel rated oil.