Engine oil for farmall cub 1976 year

[fcub4478]

I know the old manual recommended only 30w 40 years ago. With oil much improved since then, is it safe to use name brand 10w40 for all year round use. The tractor is only used to mow grass and only about 3 hours a week.

[kluf357]

I personally would be okay using 10W-40 as long as it is not a detergent oil. The detergents can break up deposits that have formed over the years and things could start to leak. My oil of choice is still 30W Shell ND.

[Jim Becker]

Not to be argumentative, but I don't believe there is a 30w or a non-detergent 10w40. I tractor built in '76 has probably had a detergent oil from the start. Even if changing from non-detergent to detergent oil is hazardous for an old engine, it is probably not an issue for something that new.

IH stayed with straight weight viscosity recommendations for a long time. From anything I can determine, it was mainly over concerns about the negative aspects of viscosity index improvers (as ultimately seen with early 10W40 oil problems). I think those problems are all history. IH did include some multi-weights in the later Cub manuals. I am personally still a little hesitant to use a 10W40 in anything because it takes so much VI additive to make it. Unless you are using your Cub hard in really hot weather (like consistently 90+), I would probably stay with 30 or 10W30.

[BigBill]

I purchase my 30wt non detergent oil from Wal-Mart. Which I use in my cub cadets. They don't burn oil. I never seen a multi blend non detergent oil.
In my cub tractors in the summer time I use the Mobil delvac 15/40wt oil. It's the million mile oil for truckers and equipment. That's a 15wt oil with the lubricating quality of a 40wt oil when it up to temp. During the winter the cub manual recommends a lighter weight oil. Using a heavier weight oil when the tractor is outside it takes too long for the oil to get to the front bearings on the engine. Go by your owners manual and the temps where you live.

I believe the shell rotella 15/40 is similar to the delvac so either one will be ok.

[gitractorman]

IH used their Lo-Ash, 30w oil in all their gasoline engines, and Cub Cadet sells it to this day, but I believe new Cub Cadet equipment has 5w-30 or 10w-30 oil in it from Kohler. The old Lo-ash oil good stuff! Not sure what the reasoning is, but I generally stick with it for all my Cubs and Cub Cadets. The exception is in tractors that I may use in the winter, that stay out in my unheated barn. Then I typically switch to 10w-30 for the winter.

[Denny Clayton]

I would probably stay with 30 or 10W30.

I have to go with Jim on this. Over the past 30 years or so I have owned quite a few Cubs from '48 to '77 and have never used non-detergent oil. Strictly 30 and 10W30. Have had no problems doing this and would venture to say with the development of modern oils over the years that most of my tractors had detergent oil running through them long before I acquired them.

[offrink]

I've only ran 10w30 mobile 1 full synthetic. People tell me about how bad it is for the engine because it gets rid of all the sludge and that it will leak more. I have had no issue with the tractor leaking or sludge and it easily cranks at -20 F and easily started too. Not many cub owners can say that.

[Gator809]

I use Rotella t 15-w40 in ALL of my outdoor equipment. I've used it in my cubs for years, and never had any issues at all. I can't advise you on a winter weight oil, winter time in Louisiana is 99% above freezing, so I worry about summertime use more.


I've done fleet maintenance for years, and frankly The protective properties in modern oil make oil from even the 1990's look rather bad. Pick a flavor of oil you like, change it at a regular service interval, and don't worry about it. If you follow a regular PM schedule, studies show that contaminated fuel and improper air filtration cause more engine failures then oil related problems.


Hank

[Buzzard Wing]

Check one of the later manuals for the OEM recommendations. I am not at all afraid of detergent oil, but it's my Cub.

I found the Rotella 30 was way too thick for cold weather operation. It was scary how long it took to build oil pressure (and start) this winter so I changed to recommended 5w-20 and it fires right up no matter how cold. Also, I found the air filter had ice in it. Likely sucked in snow??

The 'w' in an oil is the 'winter' weight, 30 isn't a 'winter' oil.