Heavier weight oil will do that. I ran that thru my WH last year, but soon changed it out. I read on the bottle it was good for winter, but it was so thick, I soon went to 10-30.

 

Do you guys think that Marvel Myster oil might help swell the seals?

 

I run nothing but that Rotella 15w40T in ALL my engines, from my push mower to my V8 diesel farm tractors.....year round. Have for years, no probs at all. As to anything that swells seals, I won't use it. When you swell seals, they become very fragile. Best to just put new seals in.

 

Olcowhand- that is interesting. Maybe I didn't give it a fair shake.

 

Olcowhand is in Kentucky, it's possible they might have milder winters than New York? Just askin... :eck34:

 

So you guys run multi-weight synethics in your older Wheel Horses? I have always run straight 30W dino oil in my 520H but would like to switch to synthetic for my annual, fall oil change. I can not find anyone that makes straight 30W in a synthetic. The owners manual spec's 30W for temps above 30 degrees. I won't be using the WH for winter work. Am I safe to use a 10W-30 or 15W-40 synethics, and if so, what blend is best? Thanks

 

I like those water jacket heaters, I wish I could find a "oil" heater for these tractors, it would help. Don't they make a "dip stick" heater or something like that? It gets well below zero here.......

 

I've heard about those too! I imagine if you were to find them anywhere, it would be JC Whitney. :eck34:

on edit: Seems like I saw some 12v stick on tank heaters for RVs. These might just work on the bottom of a horizontal shaft engine. I seem to recall that they were roughly 12"x12".

 

CHD, Royal Purple makes a full syn 30wt

 

Thanks Mike. Never heard of it. I will do a search to see where I can buy it, otherwise, I think I'll try 10W-30 synthetic.

 

I guess I don't understand why you folks want to use oils other than what the manufacturer recommend. It doesn't save any money or time. Is it just to prove you can do it?

 

For me, using the Rotella just makes it more convenient....one oil for everything, just one oil to keep around. Not talking about a couple engines, this is 8 large farm tractors, 2 payloaders, 4 farm trucks, and all my small engines, so simplifying does help. Plus, it works fine, many years of use have proven it reliable, at least in my weather zone.

 

Im using 15w-40 with hopes to lessen oil usage due to worn valve guide seals.

 

Yes, I know 10-W30 is recommended, 15-40 isn't. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be beating up a few people. But, I can find multiple threads both on here and at Red Square on this very subject. It just puzzles me. A Kohler K on 30W can go for 40 years with the recommended oil.