Engine oil

Cabbie · May 4, 2016

I have a Series 3 fitted with a Suzuki 2.8 diesel engine and 2 taxis with Nissan 2.7 diesel engines. I went on bay and found several good offers on engine oil, one of which was announced as Super Universal Tractor Oil 15W/30. I sent a message to the company asking if this oil was suitable for the above engines and they replied that it wasn't. Has anyone on here got any thoughts on this as I can't see the reason? Another tractor oil ad. selling the same sort of stuff but another name said in the blurb that their tractor oil was suitable for the smaller type of engine that I am on about. Opinions please.

John S · May 4, 2016

Oil for larger diesel engines such as tractors and heavy plant have high detergent levels. The oil would strip the bearings too clean and seize the engine.I wouldn't risk it especially as smaller diesel engines are higher revving.

jamesmartin · May 4, 2016

we used to run series landies on super universal tractor oil,was superior to recommended oils imo,kept engine clean and not filthy as most seemed to

gemsdad · May 6, 2016

Cabbie said:
I have a Series 3 fitted with a Suzuki 2.8 diesel engine and 2 taxis with Nissan 2.7 diesel engines. I went on bay and found several good offers on engine oil, one of which was announced as Super Universal Tractor Oil 15W/30. I sent a message to the company asking if this oil was suitable for the above engines and they replied that it wasn't. Has anyone on here got any thoughts on this as I can't see the reason? Another tractor oil ad. selling the same sort of stuff but another name said in the blurb that their tractor oil was suitable for the smaller type of engine that I am on about. Opinions please.

If the company say it is not suitable,then take their word for it,use the correct oil for your vehicles,then you can be sure they will be lubricated with the correct ingredients.

Disco1BFG · May 6, 2016

John S said:
Oil for larger diesel engines such as tractors and heavy plant have high detergent levels. The oil would strip the bearings too clean and seize the engine.I wouldn't risk it especially as smaller diesel engines are higher revving.

Agreed. You may also find that any yellow metal ( brass and bronze ) in the engines will either be eaten alive by the excess additives, or not protected by the lack of another additive. Given that an oil change is the cheapest maintenance you will ever do, its not worth the risk.

Disco1BFG · May 6, 2016

Cabbie said:
I have a Series 3 fitted with a Suzuki 2.8 diesel engine and 2 taxis with Nissan 2.7 diesel engines. I went on bay and found several good offers on engine oil, one of which was announced as Super Universal Tractor Oil 15W/30. I sent a message to the company asking if this oil was suitable for the above engines and they replied that it wasn't. Has anyone on here got any thoughts on this as I can't see the reason? Another tractor oil ad. selling the same sort of stuff but another name said in the blurb that their tractor oil was suitable for the smaller type of engine that I am on about. Opinions please.

IME, "Super Universal Tractor Oil" is a bit of a joke. Probably Ok in an older 135 or equivalent.
Our biggest tractor has paper brakes, and use of the wrong oil, even in small amounts will knacker them. I know this as a neighbour with the same tractor used the wrong oil, and it cost him £1800 for new brake linings, fitting, cleaning, new filters and all the mess it created.

IMHO use the right oil, and use a good known brand.

Disco1BFG · May 6, 2016

jamesmartin said:
we used to run series landies on super universal tractor oil,was superior to recommended oils imo,kept engine clean and not filthy as most seemed to

Aye, as did we - the IIA I passed me test in was run on it for years. I wouldn't do it now though.

I think that oils have moved on a bit, and having just spent ages trying to find the right oil for a Kawasaki industrial engine, and been told all sorts of guff about the specified oil not being available (!), (and then finding it in blinking halfrauds !!!) - any of us could get caught out very easily... which could get expensive quickly.

jamesmartin · May 6, 2016

Disco1BFG said:
IME, "Super Universal Tractor Oil" is a bit of a joke. Probably Ok in an older 135 or equivalent.
Our biggest tractor has paper brakes, and use of the wrong oil, even in small amounts will knacker them. I know this as a neighbour with the same tractor used the wrong oil, and it cost him £1800 for new brake linings, fitting, cleaning, new filters and all the mess it created.

IMHO use the right oil, and use a good known brand.

it was recommended in the 80s on the masseys -plus others ,inboard discs brakes(wet brakes) were by then popular, there were different types including turbo and wet brake applications ,id happily use a suitable universalof suitable spec in anything upto and including tdis

Disco1BFG · May 6, 2016

jamesmartin said:
it was recommended in the 80s on the masseys -plus others ,inboard discs brakes(wet brakes) were by then popular, there were different types including turbo and wet brake applications ,id happily use a suitable universal of suitable spec in anything upto and including tdis

Agreed. And its the suitable spec bit which can be the killer. I just don't want the OP to be using it in a more modern engine, and which is supported by the Oil companies statement.
More or less everything agricultural here gets the same oil in (!) - but it meets all the requirements, and, thankfully is backwards compatible with the oldest Ferguson - an FE35 deluxe, no less (!!)

Previous Disco's have been run on the higher spec universal oils, but the current ones get fully synthetic.

Engine oil

Cabbie

Well-Known Member

John S

Well-Known Member

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

gemsdad

NOT BOTHERED.

Disco1BFG

Well-Known Member

Disco1BFG

Well-Known Member

Disco1BFG

Well-Known Member

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

Disco1BFG

Well-Known Member

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