30wt engine oil

[Serv]

More than once now, I've heard that certain companies around here and even our state department is running 30wt engine oil in their hydraulics, trannies and engines (everything). This can't be right, can it? If so, can someone please elaborate on why this would be ok?

[dirtdigger]

Each year at our contractors association meeting (LICA) in Michigan, we have a hydraulics expert talk about what's new and what we can do to protect our machines.

For the last several years he has preached to us about using motor oil in the hydraulics.

He says that the additives or something in some "all-trans" and hyd. oils will eat at the brass in the pumps and stuff.

It seems that he even showed us a John deere spec that said something about using motor oil in the hyd. too.

The weight depends on the climate too. Here in Michigan we have to be careful to not have too heavy of an oil in the winter or it can starve the pumps on start -up

Hope this helps.

If you want the guys name and company I can get it for you. He is one of the best here in Michigan.

[Dwan Hall]

Everything I own runs Delo 15/40. All 3 of my bobcats have been running it sence new. I have been told the same thing "that it will distroy the hyd. systems." Well I am still waiting. Same for the hyd systems in my 3 dumptrucks.

the bobcats are 28 years old, the oldest dump truck is 44 years old. I have never had a hyd system ware out. I have had a few brake but when torn down there has ben no signs of ware.
Back in the 50's my dad ran delo in everything and it worked for him so instead of keeping 20 different fluids on hand I fallowed in his footsteps. Now I know there may be better fluids out there but this has worked for me sofar. Also there is no chance of cross contamination. (sp)
Now that I think about it I even heat my shop with 15/40.

Will it work for you?:beatsme


Dwan

[MKTEF]

In the Military we want as few oils as possible.:cool2
We have for many years demanded machinery that can use motoroil "everywhere". In most of our machinery that is possible.
We are then using Tractor oil.(motoroil for engine, gearbox, brakes, hyd.)
All major brands has one for the standard farmer tractors.

This year we have bought a lot of new equipment with Tier 3 engines.
That made a brutal stop for tractor oils in the engine. That special engineoil dosen't work other places than in the engine.
But i am sure you can use that oil everwhere as long it is a Tractor oil, because these have hydraulic adittives also.

If you check the instruction manual of your equipment you will often find that the only thing working in very hot climate is motor oil in the hydraulic system.
In Iraq our Volvo wheelloaders had 15W40 in the hydraulicsystem.(L150C, L120D, 6300)

1 Check specification on the place u need oil.
2 Read on the marking on the tractor oil container.
3 Fill it on if the demand is on the marking.:)

[surfer-joe]

Great Lakes Paper ran all it's Cat bush equipment on Gulf 30wt. Engines, transmissions, hydraulics, and finals. It seemed to work for them and there was no decision to be made about what bucket of oil to run out to a Cat with a low compartment. They used this oil even thorough the winters. Detroit's ran straight 40wt. however, and we had a lot of those. Slashers, the Drott's, and all the Koehring tree harvesters used a 10wt. hydraulic oil. It was cheaper and more suited to the systems. The only exception was the Cat scrapers, they had to use a Gear Oil in the differentials and wheels. Great Lakes choice was a straight 140.

I've found that a lot of folks follow Cats recommendations on oils, but my experiences led me to run only a straight 50wt. TOTD oil in Cat high sprocket finals and roller frames. Just too much torque and wear and tear for lighter oils in these areas I believe. But in a pinch, any good quality 30wt. or 15W40 diesel oil will work if nothing else is available.

If I remember right, Bobcat's are recommended to run 15W40 EO in every compartment. Makes it simple for them.

I guess Dwan hasn't a need to be concerned for warranties, but those running iron still under warranty better follow the manufacturers specifications till the warranty runs out. Less headaches for warranty recovery that way.

Best bet, sample compartments for a while to see what's happening. If wear or unusual things show up, consider a change to something better or more specific to the system. You can buy a lot of oil for the cost of a major repair caused by inadequate or poor lubrication.

An interesting link to oils is this one: www.bobistheoilguy.com

[Squizzy246B]

IN my skid Cat DEO (15W-40 Engine Oil) meets the specs for the Hydraulic system. I rang Cat after reading the book about 17 times and they said that is correct put the engine oil in. The machines are shipped from the US with 10W hydraulic oil and this will not hold up to our temperatures. I haven't checked any other Cat machines/books but its worth looking up the specs to see what the alternatives are.

[DPete]

I always assumed Cat developed hydraulic oil for their systems so I always use it. I have three kinds of pumps, gear, vane and piston. The gear pumps will probably be fine on 30w engine oil, don't know about vane and piston though. I'm not much into experiments on those high $$ pumps $ motors. DP

[surfer-joe]

Many of today's hydraulic systems are running high pressure values and very small tolerance clearances in the pumps and valves. These systems demand the heavy duty anti-wear additives in hydraulic oils, things that are not included in engine oils mostly. Dennison and Sundstrand pumps, Vickers valving, all want the better oil.

Nother thing to remember is that a 10wt., or a straight hydraulic oil, transfers heat much more efficiently than a 30wt. Some machines are specced with that in mind. Many hydraulic oils also contain anti-rust compounds, something else that engine oils are not particularly loaded with.

Chose wisely.......

[Serv]

WOW! thanks for the great responses guys. :notworthy


I spent over an hour at our larger oil distributor yesterday (also spent $211.00 on 3, 5 gallon buckets of conoco oil :eek: ) and I spoke with the owner about this. The only thing he could tell me is that ALOT of people are doing the 30wt engine oil to keep things simple. He said one of the oil company reps that comes down once a year actually recommends this on the older machines for simplicity sake but admits the engine oil will take out o-rings and other rubber components quicker. He also explained all the T-02, T-04 stuff to me as I was blind to all that yesterday. Who knows what I'll end up doing, but I definitely am concerned of hurting the systems in my machines. None of my machines are under warranty though. :beatsme I need a little more time and data before deciding what route to take.

[Squizzy246B]

Nother thing to remember is that a 10wt., or a straight hydraulic oil, transfers heat much more efficiently than a 30wt. .......

In summer here 10W Hydraulic Oil breaks down and you get really bad fade in the hydraulics. We have to run 30W minimum.

[CEwriter]

Many of today's hydraulic systems are running high pressure values and very small tolerance clearances in the pumps and valves. These systems demand the heavy duty anti-wear additives in hydraulic oils, things that are not included in engine oils mostly. Dennison and Sundstrand pumps, Vickers valving, all want the better oil.

Nother thing to remember is that a 10wt., or a straight hydraulic oil, transfers heat much more efficiently than a 30wt. Some machines are specced with that in mind. Many hydraulic oils also contain anti-rust compounds, something else that engine oils are not particularly loaded with.

Chose wisely.......

Well said.

A multi-grade engine oil might work just fine in a skid-steer loader or other hydraulic system driven by a gear pump, but the shear stress of slippers against a swash plate (or friction disks against a clutch plate, for that matter) will destroy the polymer modifiers that give a multigrade its range. Next thing you know, you got nothing but 10W and soot in the compartment, and that's not likely to do the job at high ambients.

The other day I was talking with a guy I respect a lot -- a 27-year veteran of managing multi-million equipment fleets. He's always been a lube simplifier. Ran engine lube in most compartments. He's an oil-analysis fanatic -- samples every compartment at every service. He tried to take his new employer's fleet from universal tractor fluid in hydraulic reservoirs to 10W30. Oil analysis proved him wrong. $78M worth of machines switched back to UTF in hydraulic systems.

L