Engine Oil Service MS

Bud W · Jul 8, 2010

The Owners Manual for my Cubs calls for service MS Oil. The oil that I use in my cars and trucks is Service SM. Is there any problem in using the SM oil in my Cubs?
Thanks

dhermesc · Jul 8, 2010

No.

Just don't put nondeterginated oil in it.

Bud W · Jul 8, 2010

Why would you say to not use nondetergent oil? I thought that was what they used back in the day and I know the previous owner of my Cubs used nondetergent. I have always used detergent oil in my other tractors and was intending to do the same with the Cubs but I don't understand why one "should not" use the nondetergent stuff?

Jim Becker · Jul 8, 2010

The MS oil spec was introduced in 1953 and was the highest grade oil available at that time. It is more or less equivalent to spec SC. Both those specs are now obsolete. Spec S with any letter beyond C would be superior to MS.

Whether to use a non-detergent oil or not has usually depended on the history of the engine, if it has been previously run extensively with a non-detergent oil. No non-detergent oil would meet spec MS.

ryanwheelock · Jul 8, 2010

I would say use the non-dertg. oil. From what I know it keeps the solids suspened in the oil and when the oil is changed the solids come out with the oil. Regular oil the solids will stick to the insides of the block and head.
Ryan

pete 23 · Jul 8, 2010

Detergent oils keep the crud in suspension until the additive package can no longer contain it, then things start building up on innards of the engine. That is why we change oil, to drain out the crud before it has a chance to come out of suspension. Just like putting sugar in water, it will dissolve and hold the sugar up to a point and then start to settle out. A non detergent oil does not have the other additives to reduce and control wear along with the detergent and dispersents so it is your call as to what you want to use. I use high detergent. Low ash is also best in tractor engine.

Bud W · Jul 8, 2010

I believe it is just the opposite. The detergent works just like the detergent you use when washing clothes. It holds the dirt in suspension.Some folks say if you suddenly introduce a detergent oil it will loosen years of dirt etc and could plug oil passages.

dhermesc · Jul 8, 2010

It is what they used "back in the day", because back in the 1940s early 1950s deterginated oils were not available for the most part.

As soon as they became available they were recommended in the owners manuals.

dhermesc · Jul 8, 2010

I use high detergent. Low ash is also best in tractor engine.

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Agreed.

That is why you should NOT use oil meant specifically for a diesel engine unless it’s for the latest and greatest ULSD engines. Conventional diesel oils actually have a very high level of sulfated ash (more than double what quality gas engine oil has) - the opposite of what you want in oil for a gas engine. That's why IH has touted its "low ash" oil for gas engines for decades - if you notice their diesel oil makes no such claim.

pete 23 · Jul 8, 2010

I'll just add, when IH introduced their low ash oil for gasoline engines, it surely helped us get away from the valve burning, plug fouling 706 gas burners problems. They always claimed to have removed the calcium, barium and magnesium from the additive package in the low ash oils.

Engine Oil Service MS

Bud W

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dhermesc

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Bud W

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Jim Becker

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ryanwheelock

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pete 23

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Bud W

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dhermesc

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dhermesc

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pete 23

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