Engine oil

[Nackman]

I'm trying to do some maintenance on my new to me 1950's Cub and am having a lot of trouble finding the SAE 20 engine oil and SAE 80 oil for the transmission, rear axle housing, steering gear, and belt pulley housing that the manual specifies. I am hoping for some ideas of where to find it and since I live in southern Ontario, Canada my options may be limited.

BTW a huge thank you to Rudi's Manual server for the manual download, I would be having so much more trouble with my Cub without it.

[radioguy41]

Look for the nearest Case IH dealer. There's one at Innisfil and one at Port Perry for instance. The most common gear oil would be 90wt, not 80. I use the low ash engine oil Case IH sells but other posters are going to offer other options.

Google "case ih dealers ontario canada" for a full list of Case IH dealers in Ontario.

[Barnyard]

Many of us use 10w30 or similar in the engine with no problem in our engines. 80-90 is fine for the trans. As mentioned above, you will get others telling what they use. The choice is yours.

[indy61]

Any auto parts store should have what you need.

https://www.napacanada.com/en/p/SHL5500 ... dInput=oil

https://www.napacanada.com/en/p/VAU3032 ... t=gear+oil

[Cub-Bud]

Like Barnyard, I use 10W30 in the motor and 80W90 in the transmission, final drives, and steering gear box. Many years ago, when I worked at our local CaseIH dealer, I and another parts employee at the other store were sent to Atlanta, GA to an oil/filter seminar conducted by Fleetguard Filters and Viscosity Oil. The decision to use the oil I use here, in this climate, is based on what I was taught and learned at that seminar.

[Eugene]

Walmart, any auto parts store, farm and ranch supply, will have what you need for oils and grease. Some of us use the same brand and weight oils in all our machines or vehicles.

Unless you are partial to a particular brand, don't over look the generic brands. Usually less expensive

[inairam]

In Canada a multi-weight engine oil will also be a big help in starting in cold weather.

Remember the lubrication recommended in the manuals was the technology available at the time. The technology today for the oils far exceeds the specs of the oils in the 40s, 50s, & 60s when the manuals were written.

[Bermuda Ken]

I recommend what IH does....Low Ash 30W in the engine and 80-90W gear lube in the transmission. Use what you feel comfortable with.

[Ed806]

I use the CIH Low Ash 30w engine oil in my gas tractors. None are really working machines, just "toys" at this point. I put 75-140w gear lube in my Cub transmission, but to each their own.

[JohnMihevic]

In Canada a multi-weight engine oil will also be a big help in starting in cold weather.

Remember the lubrication recommended in the manuals was the technology available at the time. The technology today for the oils far exceeds the specs of the oils in the 40s, 50s, & 60s when the manuals were written.

In addition to the starting help, I know that the multi-weight oil gets to the bearings, faster than the 30W oil. A big part of engine wear occurs on engine starting. In addition, the cub engine oil pump takes a little longer to build oil pressure, so a thinner oil on start-up is better.

John M.

[BigBill]

If working a fcub hard 30wt summer.

But I use Mobil delvac 15/40wt summertime in my many Cubs. They advertised it for million mile trailer trucks and hd gas engines. Then they took gas engines off their label. I contacted their engineering group and asked about it. They said stay running it. Winter time 10/30 or 5/30.

For grease I use hd grease for earth moving equipment or tsc moly grease.

For cub cadets summer time it’s 30wt. Winter 10/30.

My cub cadet with the new oem Kohler engine burns oil using 10/40 oil. Put in 30wt when mowing she doesn’t burn oil.

Confusing? When in doubt Go by the manufacture specs. I tend to go my own path.

I tested Mobil super 10/40 in ‘73. I changed the oil in my new truck every 2,000 miles. Never had to add oil between changes. When I tried vavoline, Quaker state, I had to add oil. Mobile 10/40 and Kendal I never had to add oil between changes. Now using Mobil 10/40 I let the mileage go before needing a quart of oil. At 7,000 miles it was down a quart.

[Nackman]

Thank you everyone for your help, it is all much appreciated. I don't quite know what I would do without the help and advice that I have found on this forum from all the posts that I have read.

[BigBill]

I found 30wt non detergent motor oil at Walmart off brand. When I wanted to test 30wt oil in my cub cadets. Remember multigrade oils like 15/40 wt has a viscosity of a 15wt oil when cold and the lubricating quality of a 40 wt oil when hot. I went to oil school 101 lol