Time For Oil Change - Preferred Weight?

[wendol]

I have an L3800, and in the past have used Kubota brand oil 15W-40.

I'm now considering changing to Shell Rotella T6, and just assumed 15W-40 would be the way to go, but apparently it's only available 0W-40 and 5W-40 according to Shell's website.

I iive in North Texas, and as such the tractor never sees winter duty (and even our winters are normally mild) only spring, summer, and fall duties.....mainly mowing.

Any problems with changing to the 5W-30?

Thanks for any/all help!!

 

[Saxman]

Rotella T6 in all my Kubota engines


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[85Hokie]

I have an L3800, and in the past have used Kubota brand oil 15W-40.

I'm now considering changing to Shell Rotella T6, and just assumed 15W-40 would be the way to go, but apparently it's only available 0W-40 and 5W-40 according to Shell's website.

I iive in North Texas, and as such the tractor never sees winter duty (and even our winters are normally mild) only spring, summer, and fall duties.....mainly mowing.

Any problems with changing to the 5W-30?

Thanks for any/all help!!

Without getting into the oil specs to deeply .....

that first number is the "weight" of the oil - the viscosity of the oil when measured "cold" - and the last number is what the oil behaves like when measured at 100c.

The magic of oil is that it can pump up and flow very quickly in cold, but "thickens up" as it gets hot!(think about how gravy thickens when the good stuff is added!)

Most oils of old would thin so badly that the layer between all the moving parts would be super thin or almost non at all.

So within reason - the "upper" number is just as important as the bottom one. SO if you are in a hotter climate....the 40 is something you might want to keep - and the T6 will do everything you ask it too.

I would simply go with the T6 and not worry too much about the numbers, get the 5w-40 and roll on!

 

[wendol]

Without getting into the oil specs to deeply .....

that first number is the "weight" of the oil - the viscosity of the oil when measured "cold" - and the last number is what the oil behaves like when measured at 100c.

The magic of oil is that it can pump up and flow very quickly in cold, but "thickens up" as it gets hot!(think about how gravy thickens when the good stuff is added!)

Most oils of old would thin so badly that the layer between all the moving parts would be super thin or almost non at all.

So within reason - the "upper" number is just as important as the bottom one. SO if you are in a hotter climate....the 40 is something you might want to keep - and the T6 will do everything you ask it too.

I would simply go with the T6 and not worry too much about the numbers, get the 5w-40 and roll on!

Good info.......fixin to roll!!!!.........Thanks

 

[bucktail]

All synthetic 40's are going to be 5w40 or 0w40. You'd need to go to non-synthetic to get 15w40.

 

[Creature Meadow]

wendol I run T6 5W-40 in my L4600 the bigger cousin to your tractor and live in NC.

I do run mine in the winter but no heavy work and the T6 serves me well.

 

[skeets]

I got M1 15w50 for the harley, maybe diesel oil weights are different and dont go that high. I duno

 

[wendol]

wendol I run T6 5W-40 in my L4600 the bigger cousin to your tractor and live in NC.

I do run mine in the winter but no heavy work and the T6 serves me well.

Thanks for the response and relating your experience....gives me the confidence to move to the T6 5W-40.

 

[Dunbar]

All synthetic 40's are going to be 5w40 or 0w40. You'd need to go to non-synthetic to get 15w40.

That is probably regional as I find many 15W40's of different brands on the shelf in Texas. I use Amsoil 15W40 diesel and marine oil from a 40 gallon barrel.

 

[JerryMT]

I have an L3800, and in the past have used Kubota brand oil 15W-40.

I'm now considering changing to Shell Rotella T6, and just assumed 15W-40 would be the way to go, but apparently it's only available 0W-40 and 5W-40 according to Shell's website.

I iive in North Texas, and as such the tractor never sees winter duty (and even our winters are normally mild) only spring, summer, and fall duties.....mainly mowing.

Any problems with changing to the 5W-30?

Thanks for any/all help!!

What's the owner's manual say? That's what I'd use. The other option is to talk to the dealer's service department. My guess, given your climatic conditions, is 5W40 if you're going to go to synthetic oil.