Winter oil.

[Buzzard Wing]

Never really stays cold around here in the winter so the last oil change on the Lo Boy I used 30 weight diesel oil (Rotella). For the air cleaner I usually use whatever part of a stray quart happens to be around, last time I think I put 30 non-detergent oil.

The Cub is never sluggish starting, until this winter. Seems to be starving for air, slow to fire (air cleaner???) and worse is the oil pressure takes a while to build.

The manual spec's 5w-20 or 10w (32F to 10F) 5w-20 or 10w WITH A 1/2 PINT OF KERO (10F to -10F). -10F and below, 10w with a pint of kero.

I will change the oil in the crankcase and air cleaner before I run it again. Never seen below zero here so I guess I am good if I can find 5W-20. Plan B would be the 5w-40 Rotella that I use in the diesel truck.

[Buzzard Wing]

Oh yeah, Hy-Tran or 80 weight gear oil in the tranny and differential below 40F. I always use Hy-Tran anyway.

[bythepond88]

5w-20 shouldn't be hard to find. It's what my Windstar takes, and I've never had trouble finding it, but sometimes I can't get in the house brand.

[Urbish]

I run 10W30 in the winter and straight 30 in the summer in the engine. 5W20 may be a bit light unless you're in really cold temperatures (well below zero).

[Buzzard Wing]

Motocraft is good stuff -- sythetic blend, what I used till I got a diesel and wanted it to start at ZERO (switched to Rotella Syn). $17.98 for a Cub and 2/3 worth (5 Q) in 5w-20. But thought about it some and figured I would wait till the next storm to change it (storm would never happen if I just changed it). There are rules about such things.... I am testing them.

Only a month till the Osprey neighbors come back from Brazil..... And I have seen it snow on them, but pretty rare.

[Jeff M]

5-20 is much more common than it used to be. Both my Tacoma and Honda call for 5/20 year round--methinks you should be able to find it anywhere.

[indy61]

I would use what is recommenced. My Superduty Ford calls for 5w-20 year round.

[SONNY]

I use 10-40 in everything , EXCEPT the truck,---it calls for 30 the year round and use block heater 3 hours before starting it! Fords better idea I guess! its that 7.3 poochmobile motor! thanks; sonny

[BigBill]

Use what the manual says for the coldest temps. It takes a longtime for the farthest bearing to get oil when it's as thick as honey. Go by the manual or start ordering bearings and a crankshaft. Do it right or pay later to learn.

My cub next year will have 5/20 oil in it for the winter. When I get it running.

[Eugene]

Battery cable connections and battery condition?

[SONNY]

I don't run mine in the winter anyway so don't matter what they have in them for lube. as long as dipstick shows full! thanks; sonny

[Gary S.]

Oils sure have changed alot in the 68 years since the first Cub came out. I used to run 10w in the winter and 10-30 in the summer. Since I've figured out how to get it going in the winter I now use 10-30 all year and since the loboy is getting pretty worn and only used in the summer,I run 20-50 in it to keep the oil pressure up

[Buzzard Wing]

Sonny, I used 15w-40 in my 7.3, but the first winter I switched to Rotella 5w-40. Started it a few times last weekend close to zero and as long as I let the glow plugs run their course (ignore the dash light, listen to the relay) it fires right up.

Oil analysis right after I bought the truck (with 211,000 miles) told me it was in good shape. I also learned that it's flat wasteful to change the oil every 3000 miles. I now run the car to 5K and the 7.3 I change once a year (10,000 miles). Blackstone even called me when I sent a sample from a Cub! Same Lo Boy I use to plow snow, my metal counts were high and they wanted to warn me. Bet they are much higher now! Pretty useful information: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ It is just a marketing scam to change it too early.

[SONNY]

My 7.3 is in a 97 --f-350 and has 110,000 mi. on it and shop changed oil/filter last year 1 time,--I think they only buy/use penzoil 10-40 --(NEVER did like that brand!--it turns to wax after its been a motor for a certain length of time) I had a good 10,000 on the truck when they changed it, so guess it was due for a change. thanks; sonny thanks; sonny