1948 Farmhall H - Recommended fluids

Hello....

My wife inherited her Father's 1948 H. I was wanting to change the oil and gear oil. Could I please have a recommendation on viscosity, brand, etc.? My apologies in advance if I am doing something wrong. This is my first time posting on here.

Thank you in advance.....

You ain't doin nuttin wrong. Welcome to the forum. 90wt for the transmission and your favorite brand of 10w30 for the engine. I would get a copy of an
owners manual. I would change the oil twice. one time and run it some to flush it, then another oil change. Don't forget the radiator. Ellis

Thank you.....

Thank you....

your not going to hurt these old tractors. just use the oil related to your weather conditions. for cold weather mutigrade 80-90 is a good
choice also. i remember when i was young i had to block the clutch when cranking the w6 to start it. then ease it out after as it would
stall the engine. kinda think they had number 140 oil in them back then as it was thick. as for the engine castrol is a very good oil , 10-
30, 10-40, or 20-50. also many use the 15-40 diesel oil. also change the air cleaner oil, 10-30 is good for that. to change the diff oil
make sure its done with the tractor warmed up after a work out or a high gear drive down the road for a few miles. then drive the ffront up
on a ramp or block and pull the rear drain plug under the pto. , plus there is one under the trans also to drain after. and then u may as
well do the antifreeze change also while your at it. drain it block and rad, then give it a water flush some use vinegar in it . and wash
out the fins also then blow them out with air, many of these old tractors never saw a rad cleaning. plus check for green spots, and moist
spots as that means it has corrosion and its getting weak, check this out before the draining. so good luck on saving the tractor.

The manual will tell you to use 30 wt non detergent oil. Don't. Using a modern 15-40 diesel grade oil is considered by a majority of YT contributors to be a good choice as it contains additives that work with the style of internal components common to old gasoline engines and diesel engines. Some oils have been reconfigured for catalytic converter based engines with roller lifters. Brands like Rotella, and Delo are OK as are brands from other major manufacturers. 80-90 gear oil in the trans os OK. Jim

Thank you...

Truth be known any motor oil you
purchase today is superior to what was
available in 1948. Zinc additives are
crowed about on cyber forums and they are
needed for flat tappet cams WITH high
spring pressueres that you do not have.
Zinc won't hurt anything but neither will
it add anything to an old worn in engine
with weak valve springs. You should be
concerned about non detergent vs detergent
IF it has been run extensively with non
detergent oil. Then you would be best
served to either continue on with it or
change detergent oil frequently until the
gunk is cleaned out. If its going to sit
all winter then 30Wt is fine. Personally I
run 15W-40 diesel oil in my old tractors.
What kind of oil just isn't critical, what
is critical is to be sure tbere is oil in
it and change it now and then,, in my
opinion.

Truth be known you any motor oil you
purchase today is superior to what was
available in 1948. Zinc additives are
crowed about on cyber forums and they are
needed for flat tappet cams WITH high
spring pressueres that you do not have.
Zinc won't hurt anything but neither will
it add anything to an old worn in engine
with weak valve springs. You should be
concerned about non detergent vs detergent
IF it has been run extensively with non
detergent oil. Then you would be best
served to either continue on with it or
change detergent oil frequently until the
gunk is cleaned out. If its going to sit
all winter then 30Wt is fine. Personally I
run 15W-40 diesel oil in my old tractors.
What kind of oil just isn't critical, what
is critical is to be sure tbere is oil in
it and change it now and then,, in my
opinion.

Thank you...