bo dawg 565 #1 Posted January 25 (edited) Is everyone using 10w30 oil in the engines out plowing snow? I didnt get my D-200 switched over yet and would like to get it out of the barn. Still has the straight 30w in it. Edited January 25 by bo dawg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sqrlgtr 2,247 #2 Posted January 25 I run straight 30w year round. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 8,645 #3 Posted January 25 It would be best to have 10w30, better for the engine, starter and battery. Many use 30W year round since it is a PITA to change for a rather period of time but that doesn't make it correct. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 77,541 #4 Posted January 25 Trina's 8 HP engines use HD30 all year. My big blocks 12 to 16 HP get switched over from HD30 to 10W30 for the winter. ❄️ 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 45,039 #5 Posted January 25 51 minutes ago, bo dawg said: Is everyone using 10w30 oil in the engines out plowing snow? I didnt get my D-200 switched over yet and would like to get it out of the barn. Still has the straight 30w in it. I don't switch oil. I switch tractors. Winter tractors use 10w30 and summer tractors use 30w. 4 2 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 8,626 #6 Posted January 25 you probably have a 1:1 ratio of tractors to implements. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 11,396 #7 Posted January 25 Just now, 8ntruck said: you probably have a 1:1 ratio of tractors to implements. Given the ideal storage conditions... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 19,960 #8 Posted January 25 (edited) I do not switch oil either. Snow horses get 5w-30 synthetic .... Summer horses Rotella 30w Edited January 25 by pfrederi 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sqrlgtr 2,247 #9 Posted January 25 2 hours ago, lynnmor said: It would be best to have 10w30, better for the engine, starter and battery. Many use 30W year round since it is a PITA to change for a rather period of time but that doesn't make it correct. We usually don't have real real cold like some of you guys have. Ya know the old saying in real estate location location location. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 4,214 #10 Posted January 25 I run Motorcraft 10W-30 diesel year round. Mostly because I get it for free. I change my oil twice a year in both tractors and can scrape up four qts in partials each year from work. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bo dawg 565 #11 Posted January 25 I agree changing the oil to 10w30 for winter would be best for engines but I was gona try to get it out of the barn to warm up and change the oil so i could plow but crap i would have to dig my way to the barn and then plow 3' drifts for almost 1/8 of a mile just to get to my primary drive way. So heck with that, I called a guy with a truck/plow to do it. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bo dawg 565 #12 Posted January 25 1 hour ago, sqrlgtr said: We usually don't have real real cold like some of you guys have. Ya know the old saying in real estate location location location. Yea it is in the teens here. 17 but feel like 1 degrees. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sqrlgtr 2,247 #13 Posted January 25 (edited) 2 hours ago, bo dawg said: Yea it is in the teens here. 17 but feel like 1 degrees. 41° here Edited January 26 by sqrlgtr 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 10,780 #14 Posted January 25 I have used Valvoline 10W-30 in this 312-8 since new in 1989 year round. Never an issue. @bo dawg 4 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 77,541 #15 Posted January 26 23 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said: 41 here WWHHAATTT. At 4:30 this morning it was - 14⁰ ... but now it's MUCH warmer. 2 above. 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 4,214 #16 Posted January 26 42 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: WWHHAATTT. At 4:30 this morning it was - 14⁰ ... but now it's MUCH warmer. 2 above. This afternoon at 4:00 my snot rockets were hitting the ground already frozen. I don't know what that is in degrees, but it's cold. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chaz54 99 #17 Posted January 26 It was 5 degrees today, so I use 5W30. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 17,290 #18 Posted January 26 9 hours ago, Ed Kennell said: I don't switch oil. I switch tractors. Winter tractors use 10w30 and summer tractors use 30w. I like how you think sir! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bo dawg 565 #19 Posted January 26 7 hours ago, JCM said: I have used Valvoline 10W-30 in this 312-8 since new in 1989 year round. Never an issue. @bo dawg I would wonder if there was a difference in what you can get away from between single cylinder and twin cylinder oil grades. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 10,780 #20 Posted January 26 2 hours ago, bo dawg said: I would wonder if there was a difference in what you can get away from between single cylinder and twin cylinder oil grades. Bought this one in 2002. 1991 520-H. Same oil as the 312-8. Still own it. Twin cylinder. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 55,242 #21 Posted January 26 Seems like my winter 19 hours ago, Ed Kennell said: I don't switch oil. I switch tractors. 9 hours ago, kpinnc said: I like how you think sir! Seems like in these minus temps & even plus temps the snow beast hydros & charge pumps are slow to get things moving. Wonder if it wouldn't pay to run to run 5w-30 in the Eaton 1100s. Engines (Onans) quick to warm so stay with 10w?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 19,960 #22 Posted January 26 I run ATF in my sunstrands cold does not seem to affect them not sure how Eatons would like it... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 6,480 #23 Posted January 28 (edited) On 1/25/2026 at 2:00 PM, ebinmaine said: Trina's 8 HP engines use HD30 all year. My big blocks 12 to 16 HP get switched over from HD30 to 10W30 for the winter. ❄️ I agree with that Eric! The non ACR engine is a 10w30 engine. Winter use only. How are you block heaters working? Edited January 28 by Retired Wrencher Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 55,242 #24 Posted January 28 On 1/26/2026 at 9:39 AM, pfrederi said: I run ATF in my sunstrands cold does not seem to affect them not sure how Eatons would like it... I don't run sunnys in the winters but bet they would be slow with 10w and slow to warm up. I wouldn't be beyond just trying ATF in a Eaton 1100 but back to @squonk ies issue on how to get the recommended 10w-30 out? Or get the ATF back out if it doesn't pan out and performance is poor and you want to switch back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 11,272 #25 Posted January 30 (edited) Back in 1994 when I got my old Oliver loader backhoe the hydraulic system was pure milk, and free water at the bottom of the reservoir. To get as much out as possible i drained the reservoir and filter. The removable backhoe had a supply and drain line, so it was semi easier to get the old stuff out. Removed the return hose from the reservoir and plumbed it to a waste tank with a piece of large clear tubing. (return is low pressure). Plugged that port on the reservoir Put new fluid in the reservoir and worked each cylinder until I could see good oil returning in the clear hose. Move to next cylinder and do it again. It took a little more temporary plumbing to get the drain oil from the loader cylinders It's been 30 years ago, but I believe I used at least double the oil capacity of the whole system. A lot of work, probable not worth it if your hydraulic system is not contaminated. Edited January 30 by oliver2-44 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
