Detergent or non-detergent oil?

Hillbilly_H · Dec 10, 2010

I just purchased a '45 H from an auction so I wasn't able to ask the owner what type of oil he has been putting in it. Is there anyway to tell what type is in there? P.H. paper maybe?

Also, I am having trouble getting the petcock out to check the oil. I've twisted both ways and pulled and I don't want to use a whole lot of force.

Thanks

Jeff Z. · Dec 10, 2010

Pull the valve cover.
If it is clean detergent.
If there is crud in the cover and the head non-detergent.

Nebraska Cowman · Dec 10, 2010

I'd shut my eyes and use detergent oil. i tell guys to just use the same oil they put in their wifes car. The petcock turns left to loosen, right to tighten. Yeah, it's left hand threads but it turns backwards from what you would think screwing IN to open. So just treat it like right hand. they do get rusted stuck but if you twist off the handle no big deal. The whole unit is replaceable.

billde · Dec 10, 2010

(quoted from post at 17:16:23 12/10/10) I just purchased a '45 H from an auction so I wasn't able to ask the owner what type of oil he has been putting in it. Is there anyway to tell what type is in there? P.H. paper maybe?

Also, I am having trouble getting the petcock out to check the oil. I've twisted both ways and pulled and I don't want to use a whole lot of force.

Thanks

If the inside of the valve cover is dirty clean it out as well as the oilpan and use detergent oil. Using non detergent will only let more crud buil up.

rustyfarmall · Dec 11, 2010

The petcock does not come all the way out. It only opens up a bit to allow a small trickle of oil, which indicates if the oil in the oil pan is at the correct level. If you do not get a drip or a trickle, then the oil level is BELOW the petcock, and you need to add more oil until it DOES drip from the petcock.

The best oil you can put in your H is 15w/40 diesel oil because it still has the zinc additive that is needed in these old tractors. The oil that you put in your car or truck most likely does NOT have the zinc.

Hillbilly_H · Dec 11, 2010

I messed with it a bit before posting this and came out to it a few hours later to find a huge oil puddle leaking from the top petcock. I screwed it back in and it stopped. So it must of had too much oil and the excess dripped out? Is the oil level where it should be now? Thanks

Hillbilly_H · Dec 11, 2010

I will take your advice and run 15 w/40 but it seems a bit heavy for an SD winter. Can you find this in detergent?

rustyfarmall · Dec 11, 2010

(quoted from post at 11:15:14 12/11/10) I messed with it a bit before posting this and came out to it a few hours later to find a huge oil puddle leaking from the top petcock. I screwed it back in and it stopped. So it must of had too much oil and the excess dripped out? Is the oil level where it should be now? Thanks

Yes, the oil level IS where it should be. The 15w/40 IS detergent oil. I doubt very much if it is available in non-detergent. When you M was new, there was no such thing as multi-weight oil. It most likely would have had a straight 30 weight in the summer, and maybe, I say maybe, the owner MIGHT have changed the oil to a straight 20 weight for winter. The 15w-40 will be the same as a straight 15 weight when it is cold, and becomes the equivalent of a straight 40 weight when it is warm, so the 15w-40 IS much better for both cold weather AND warm weather than what the old straight weight oils ever thought of being. Incidently, the "w" in 15w-40, stands for "winter".

to_many_irons · Dec 12, 2010

oils and oil changes is the cheaps things to do to these old tractors .
dont for get about antifreeze trans rear ends and hyd and grease nipples .
the cheap stuff is not all ways the best by .

Detergent or non-detergent oil?

Hillbilly_H

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Jeff Z.

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Nebraska Cowman

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billde

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rustyfarmall

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Hillbilly_H

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Hillbilly_H

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rustyfarmall

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to_many_irons

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