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Oil, Oil, Oil??????

4

45 JDB

Member
I have a Kubota ZD326 zero turn mower with a 26hp. diesel engine. The operator's manual says to use an oil with an API rating of CF or better. I use Shell Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 in all my diesels with no problems ever, it has an API rating of CJ-4 which is better than a CF rating. Here is the kicker; the manual also states, "The CJ-4 engine oil is intended for DPF (Diesel Paticulate Filter) type engines, and connot be used on this machine." What gives?
 
AMSOIL's CJ-4 5W-40 (DEO) synthetic oil is reverse compatible for older engines. Can't speak for Shell's. Not sure what Kubota is up to. I'm sure they only want you to only use their oil anyway. You will NOT violate the Kubota warranty if you use equivalent or better oil. Its a federal law (well it doesn't cover commercial use but if its used for your own yard its not commercial).
AMSOIL
 
I would not try to out guess the folks that designed / tested that engine.
One thing that was done to create the CJ-4 oils was to reduce or eliminate the ZDDP anti wear additive, which slowly fouls emissions gear. Not a problem for engines with roller lifter cams, but may cause camshaft /lifter wear in engines with flat tappet cams.
You see this in both gas and diesel engine oil, one case where the latest / highest rating may not be better for some engines.
 
They may not be able to force you to use 'their' oil, but they can certainly make you adhere to 'their' oil specs. You might want to watch out on that one...

I'm not convinced that there's anything wrong with the new designation oils in the older engines. Actually, I strongly doubt there's any problems with it... but that's not something we'll know until we go down the road a ways.
I suppose if you were worried about the zinc antiwear additives you could toss some Lucas product into the oil to add the ZDDP, but I'm not that convinced.

Rod
 
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