Winter motor oil

[bo dawg 553]

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 Sunday at 06:34 PM by bo dawg

[sqrlgtr 2,033]

I run straight 30w year round. 

[lynnmor 8,469]

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.

[ebinmaine 76,872]

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. ❄️ 

[Ed Kennell 44,314]

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.

[8ntruck 8,535]

you probably have a 1:1 ratio of tractors to implements.

[ri702bill 11,074]

Just now, 8ntruck said:

you probably have a 1:1 ratio of tractors to implements.

Given the ideal storage conditions...

[pfrederi 19,628]

I do not switch oil either.  Snow horses get 5w-30 synthetic .... Summer horses Rotella 30w

Edited Sunday at 08:28 PM by pfrederi

[sqrlgtr 2,033]

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. 

[adsm08 4,120]

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.

[bo dawg 553]

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.

[bo dawg 553]

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.

[sqrlgtr 2,033]

2 hours ago, bo dawg said:

 

Yea it is in the teens here. 17 but feel like 1 degrees.

41° here

Edited Monday at 12:59 AM by sqrlgtr

[JCM 10,553]

I have used Valvoline 10W-30 in this 312-8 since new in 1989 year round. Never an issue. @bo dawg

[ebinmaine 76,872]

23 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

41 here

 

WWHHAATTT.  

 

 At 4:30 this morning it was  - 14⁰ ... but now it's MUCH warmer.    2 above.  

 

 

[adsm08 4,120]

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.

[Chaz54 97]

It was 5 degrees today, so I use 5W30.

[kpinnc 16,777]

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! 

[bo dawg 553]

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.

[JCM 10,553]

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.

[WHX?? 54,099]

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??

[pfrederi 19,628]

I run ATF in my sunstrands cold does not seem to affect them  not sure how Eatons would like it...

[Retired Wrencher 6,353]

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 7 hours ago by Retired Wrencher

[WHX?? 54,099]

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.