Engine oil for my Cummins

[promisedland]

Hello! I buy eng oil for my farm equipment in bulk and was wondering about John Deere +50 eng oil. I can get info off the label if needed but i expect i'm not the only farm boy on here...
I have a 04.5 Ram that needs a oil change soon...
Also is the ELF7349 the filter to go with?

 

[LFalconer]

Hi , I used to use Shell Rotella t 15-40W in all my equipment. [3 tractors] after buying my 2006 in sig 4 years ago I went with Valvoline premium cummins blue. Napa has it on sale from time to time for 12.99 gall. I use 5w-40 Rotella in my 76 Ford 250 with a 360 as the flat tappet motors benefit from the higher zinc levels...... It is not stock...

However the JD +50 meets this Cummins spec Cummins: CES20081, 77, 76, 75 so with regular changes likely OK as well. I change mine at 5000 to 5500 depending on use and weather.

I use JD oil in a smaller X300 under warranty

Luke

 

[AH64ID]

The +50 is also a CJ oil, which is fine. I don't think there is anything wrong with running it.

Many 5.9 owners prefer to run a CI oil, but they are getting harder to find. Amsoil still makes a great CI-4, if you are interested in more info shoot me a PM.

Yes the ELF7349 or DBL7349 is the filter to run. They are both the same filter but the ELF is being replaced by the DBF.

 

[promisedland]

[Yes the ELF7349 or DBL7349 is the filter to run. They are both the same filter but the ELF is being replaced by the DBF.]=

Did you mistype or are there 3 filters here?



Thanks John. I have it so i'll use it. 15/40 is what i have been using. I read an article that some are using 5/40. any thoughts?

 

[AnOldBiker]

I'm using Rosella T6 which is a 5w-40 and have not had a problem. I prefer it since it covers all temps I will be in.

 

[AH64ID]

For my climate a 15w-40 synthetic or a 5w-40 conventional/synthetic is needed to run the same oil year round. I wouldn't want to run a 15w-40 conventional oil year round or in the winter.

If Amsoil ever stops making the 15w-40 AME CI-4+ synthetic I'll switch to a 5w-40 CJ synthetic.

 

[Wayne M.]

So what is JD +50? is that the weight or the name?

 

[promisedland]

The name... I buy 15-40, they also have 30w.

 

[lpennock]

For my climate a 15w-40 synthetic or a 5w-40 conventional/synthetic is needed to run the same oil year round. I wouldn't want to run a 15w-40 conventional oil year round or in the winter.

If Amsoil ever stops making the 15w-40 AME CI-4+ synthetic I'll switch to a 5w-40 CJ synthetic.

Don't you mean 15w-40 conventional/synthetic or 5w-40 synthetic? I don't remember seeing a 5w40 conventional.

 

[AH64ID]

No, I personally wouldn't run a conventional 15w-40 year round as my climate doesn't support it.

I thought there were some 5w-40 conventional CJ oils, but to be honest I could be recalling wrong.

 

[ckengine03]

I have been using Rotella T6 5w-40 and have had no issues so far.

 

[nibroc]

is this another oil thread?

 

[cerberusiam]

15W-40 is the Cummins recommended multi-grade oil for all temperatures. A lighter weight oil can be used, note not recommended, when ambient is below 5 F. Even then, a block heater or garage will negate the impact of the short term colder temps. If you are going to work the engine as it is intended, 15w-40 year round is no issue as long as it meets the API spec. For a pavement queen the 5w is probably fine but it is not a recommended viscosity for a working engine.


The 5w-40 oils really have no place in the lower 48 states. Canada and Alaska in the winter months is where they would be applicable.

 

[AH64ID]

After running Dino 15w-40 and synthetic 15w-40 with a real oil psi gauge in temps where both oils were "acceptable" I wouldn't recommend d a Dino 15w-40 for year round use if you see temps below 10° F.

In all honesty 5w-40 and 15w-40 have the same rating once they are at operating temp. 15w-40 is only reccommended, AFIK, by Cummins for temps above 5°F. 5w-40 is the all temp oil.

From the Cummins Oil Bullieten. "Cummins Inc. primary recommendation is for the use of 15W40 multigrade for normal operation at ambient temperatures above -15°C [5°F]."

 

[cerberusiam]

Have to read the rest of the doc to put that in context.

While the preferred viscosity grade is 15W-40, lower viscosity multigrades can be used in colder climates.

I am still trying to reconcile "primary recommendation" to "preferred" and what each really means. The way I interpret it is, 15w-40 is preferred but you can run a lighter viscosity oil in really cold climates if desired. So, the real question is what is the difference and how does it really apply. They are rated the same at operating temp so the difference is cold start attributes. Even Cummins notes preferred is a 15 wt oil and that is primarily due to the film left on the friction surfaces.

Most engine damage, friction surfaces, is occurring in the first 10 seconds after start. The lighter the viscosity the less protection there is until operating temp and pressure comes up. It doesn't matter, at -20 to -40 F both oils are like cold syrup. One would be hard pressed to tell the difference in cranking speed and drag in those temps. Obviously in extremes the 5w is going to pump easier and pressure up slightly faster but that comes at a price in cold start lube capability.

This is assuming the ambient is lower than 5 F which for the most part is pretty infrequent for more than a few days. Average ambient lows are around 20 F for contiguous US states, it doesn't even approach the rather nebulous cutoff temp.

On those rare days it is cold enough to qualify, a block heater and\or parking in a building will negate the temp question. I simply cannot find a justification for 5w oils unless it is purely racing or mileage gains, rather, the precedent against is more obvious.

 

[AH64ID]

Based on what I saw on my oil pressure gauge Dino 15w-40 wouldn't be my preffered choice in winter. I'd take the 5w over Dino 15w, but that's just me. I have been very happy with the cold weather performance of my synthetic 15w-40 in subzero temps.

 

[promisedland]

I just plumbed my gauge... 0-100.
What is the acceptable range? [psi] low=hot and high=cold

 

[AH64ID]

Where are you getting your pressure feed from?

Warm idle should be around 18-20. Peak cold pressure should be low 80's.

Normal cruise from about 1800-2400 is 55-65 depending on ambient temp and load. Pressure moves quite a bit from idle to 1800.

 

[amsoilman]

AS Per cerberusiam

"It doesn't matter, at -20 to -40 F both oils are like cold syrup. One would be hard pressed to tell the difference in cranking speed and drag in those temps. Obviously in extremes the 5w is going to pump easier and pressure up slightly faster but that comes at a price in cold start lube capability".

Have you heard of the CCS Viscosity tests? This is a test that determine the apparent viscosity of engine oils and base stocks by cold cranking simulator (CCS) at temperatures between –10 °C and –35 °C at shear stresses of approximately 50 000 Pa to 100 000 Pa and shear rates of approximately 105 to 104 s–1 for viscosities of approximately 900 mPa•s to 25 000 mPa•s.

The 5W-40 Oils are tested at -30C. and have a MAX of 6600 MPa-s while the 15W-40 oils are tested at -20C and have a MAX of 700 MPa-s
So one should be able to look at oil Specifications and see how their oil stacks up in regards to the CCS VISCOSITY.

 

[promisedland]

Where are you getting your pressure feed from?

Warm idle should be around 18-20. Peak cold pressure should be low 80's.

Normal cruise from about 1800-2400 is 55-65 depending on ambient temp and load. Pressure moves quite a bit from idle to 1800.

I tapped in at the filter by removing a 1/8'' npt plug. I see 20psi at warm idle and 80ish cold driving easy.