Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech I'm sorry but I have to ask

First off let me apologize for asking an oil related question. I was changing the oil on my diesel JD tractor tonight and was putting in 10W-30 as the manual recommended. But then I noticed on the bottle that it says "meets standards for gasoline engines". Now I'm thinking I used the wrong stuff. Haven't run her, but should I drain it out and try to find a diesel specific oil? What's the difference between a diesel and gasoline oil? I know it's not bikes, but I know you guys like you some techy engine stuff. And since I'm not on my bike now I need to move to my other toys Thanks guys. Brett

There should be a symbol on the oil container somewhat like one of these



Posting the details within the symbol would be a good place to start

See also
http://www.api.org/certifications/engineoil/pubs/upload/2009_ENGINE_OIL_GUIDE.pdf

Thanks, Bucky. After reading that site you recommended I think I definitely need to drain the oil and make a visit to Tractor Supply tommorow and get some diesel grade oil. First time I've had a diesel engined vehicle/tractor so I'm learning as I go. Thanks again for your help and quick reply.

I don't see why you can't save the oil that's in the tractor.

Maybe run it through a 15 cent paint filter cone into a clean bucket or back into the oil jug. It should be fine to re-use. Beware that it will flow out of the tractor's drain hole faster than a paint filter can keep up with though.

Shell Rotella makes a very good "synthetic" diesel engine oil. Walmart often sells it for $20 a gallon. (Some Walmarts charge $26.) Tractor Supply sells it too. Good stuff for a synth blend, with many years of R&D behind it. Should work well during a MI Winter.
Mobil's "Delvac" is good stuff too.

If the tractor is very old or an antique, you might want to read the fine print in the API information. I'm not sure how the backward compatibility stuff works out for older diesels.

For what's it's worth - the first API link I posted was stale. (2006?)
The one that's up there now is the latest greatest, and covers 2007 and later diesel engine oil specs. On road diesels changed radically as manufactured 01/01/2007 and later. Don't know if off road units followed suit with ULSD and particulate traps and all those gee gaws and such. When i got out of diesels, they were talking about installing Urea filters. Urea as you know is, well... you know. Apparently they need fresh Urea from time to time?
Guess I got out at a good time.
;-)

Even more oil talk (you know I can't get enough)
I strongly believe that a very little bit of gasoline type engine oil residue left in the tractor will not hurt anything, especially if you drain the oil filter(s) over night. Dilution is the solution as they say.

If you have a Love's truck stop nearby, they are selling their store brand diesel oil 3 gallons for the price of 2. Wallmart prices for diesel Rotella is nearly half off from the JD dealer's price.

I think my tractor is about an '04 or '05, which for my understanding would make it a mechanical diesel. No common rails, urea filters or any fancy jazz like that. At least as far as I know. I don't even know if they put stuff like that on tractors??
So tonight I guess I will procure some synthetic diesel oil at my local Wally World and try this mess again. Pretty exciting Friday night plans Thanks again guys.

I personally would run the oil as is, & simply cut the oil change interval (OCI) in half, in an abundance of caution. It should be just fine.

Having owned diesels for years, I would definitely drain the oil and put in the correct diesel oil.

Do not use the gasoline engine oil in your tractor. It does not meet the specs required for a diesel. Oil is quite different for diesel and has to work under different stresses, and deal with the addition of soot in the oil. I would recommend recycling the oil that's currently in there.

HTH,
H.

Ok it's drained and changed. Found 15W-40 Shell Rotella at Tractor Supply. It only takes 2.2 quarts so I didn't bother recycling the old stuff. Figured I could lose $5 of old oil for my mistake. Plowed the driveway last night and everything worked perfect. Thanks for the input and help. I'm one step closer to becoming a diesel mechanic.

So while we're talking about oil, what kind of oil do you guys put in your bikes....JUST KIDDING I don't want to get banished from the site!

I'm suprised that the oil called for in that diesel was 10W-30. 15W-40 is standard for diesels unless they are 2 stroke Detroits which use a straight 40 or 50 weight. We use 0W-40 synthetic in the winter months to improve cold startability.

Switching oil was probably a good call esp if it was only a couple of quarts.