engine oil

Ray Carney · Jul 7, 2008

HI!
I just purchased an Allis Chalmers 1949 Model B tractor. I have been restoring early Chevrolet cars and it has been recommended to use a diesel oil for the engines because of the correct additives for the older engines cam and lifters. Does anyone use diesel oil in there gas tractor engines?

Ray

dhermesc · Jul 7, 2008

A lot of people do, but I really don't understand why. Most (but not all (it will be marked)) diesel engine oils have a very high sulfate ash level. Sulfate ash should be kept to a minimal level when used in a gas engine. That's why IH gas engine oil is advertised and marked "Low Ash Oil".

Even the cheap Wal-Mart Super Tech oil is light years better than what was dumped in that Allis back in 1949 and is a lot better than what was used in the 1970s and 1980s.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/motoroil.html

http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=question164.htm&url=http://www.micapeak.com/info/oiled.html

Steven f/AZ · Jul 7, 2008

We run the diesel 15w-40 in everything and have never had an oil-related problem. It's simple to keep just one 30 gallon drum of oil on hand and not mess with different oils for everything.

souNdguy · Jul 7, 2008

Some people do.. perhaps for zinc.. but for these low rev/comp engines.. I'm not sure it is worth considering.

I use a clean sae 30 'S' rated oil in my Allis G.. she's never complained.

soundguy

IH2444 · Jul 7, 2008

I actually run Dello 400 15/40 in the wifes towncar. have for many years and know of others that do the same thing. I would not run it in a new engine requiring the 10w/30 oil and such though.

On tractors I have run the Dello 15W40 in my IH gas 2444 for years.

IH2444 · Jul 7, 2008

btw the wifes TC has over 200k miles on it.

george md · Jul 7, 2008

None of the standard brands of gasoline engine
oil on the market today have enough of the ZDP
(zink) to protect the cam and lifters in a flat
tappet engine . All the newer oils are designed
for engines with roller lifters and rollers
don't need the protection from sliding action.
Basically if your engine has flat tappets, you
should be using diesel service oil as it has more
than 1200 ppm of zdp .You can thank you worthless
EPA for this,they say that if the zdp gets thru
the engine , it causes trouble in the catalitic
converter , therefore it is not added in enough
quantity in the gas engine oils.

george

Anonymous-0 · Jul 7, 2008

Several of the others did a good job telling the story. Use diesel oil in anything with flat camshaft tappets, which includes any old tractor. I use it in everything but the newer vehicles which have catalytic converters. That means it is also used in all small engines. Might reconsider if using in an LP engine tractor. LP causes an oil to become more alkaline and diesel oil generally has a high TBN (Total Base Number) typically by adding more ash. LP engines prefer a low ash oil.

engine oil

Ray Carney

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dhermesc

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Steven f/AZ

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souNdguy

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IH2444

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IH2444

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george md

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Anonymous-0

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