lamimartin
Member
Hi, I've got a gas engine running smoothly with my last tune up including carb rebuild. For now, I'm using it only in summer logging some maple tree for firewood and a few pines for my portable sawmill, but starting next winter, I might have to use it in winter for plowing snow with my scraper blade and loader. I've got all shop manuals and I'm currently building a 24x32' garage with two 9x9' doors, so maintenance won't be a problem.
My concern is to make sure to use the right type of engine oil. I'm told by the previous owner and a few old mechanics that 10W30 is fine for this engine if I use STP oil additive to make the oil thicker in hot summer weather (often working a full day around 90F / 30C) without problem so far. I must say My 550 is mostly running medium RPM for the winch, short rides or idle between bucket loads of firewood. IMHO, ordinary automodive 10w30 is too thin to be used alone for hot weather and not formulated for heavy duty use (tractor). I'm also told that 10W30 might have too much detergent and that I should use 15W40 Shell Rotella for instance. For now I use 10W30 with 20% Lucas Oil Heavy duty stabilizer. Too much detergent could possibly make the piston rings and valve seals so clean that they would start burning an excessive amount of oil. So far, compression on all cylinders is even and fine, spark plugs show normal wear pattern, not problem to start and cleaning the carb eliminated the black smoke. I don't see any problem with the engine right now, and I don't want any. I like to keep things in good condition a long time with normal maintenance.
SUMMER:
What do you use as summer engine oil for an Oliver 550???
Are you using any oil additive ? Should I use 10W30, 20W40 or anything else ?
Plowing snow in winter would be a different business: Here temperature often drops down to -5F/-20C from December to march, so using STP or possibly Lucas oil additive is definitely out of question. I don't trust 10W30 alone in summer (too thin) and 15w40 is too thick for cold start below 5F/-15C. Of course, I will have access to a block heater.
WINTER:
Should I use plain 10W30 in winter or another type of oil ?
Should I use some oil additive in winter or not?
I've checked all Oliver 550 posting on Engine oil but I have not found much so far. The previous owner (an old school mechanic) told me the type of oil pump in the 550 is not efficient with thin oil. Shop manuals are full of outdated information because lubricants available 50 years ago are mostly irrelevant now.
Any information for best summer and winter engine oil would be appreciated
Thanks :?
My concern is to make sure to use the right type of engine oil. I'm told by the previous owner and a few old mechanics that 10W30 is fine for this engine if I use STP oil additive to make the oil thicker in hot summer weather (often working a full day around 90F / 30C) without problem so far. I must say My 550 is mostly running medium RPM for the winch, short rides or idle between bucket loads of firewood. IMHO, ordinary automodive 10w30 is too thin to be used alone for hot weather and not formulated for heavy duty use (tractor). I'm also told that 10W30 might have too much detergent and that I should use 15W40 Shell Rotella for instance. For now I use 10W30 with 20% Lucas Oil Heavy duty stabilizer. Too much detergent could possibly make the piston rings and valve seals so clean that they would start burning an excessive amount of oil. So far, compression on all cylinders is even and fine, spark plugs show normal wear pattern, not problem to start and cleaning the carb eliminated the black smoke. I don't see any problem with the engine right now, and I don't want any. I like to keep things in good condition a long time with normal maintenance.
SUMMER:
What do you use as summer engine oil for an Oliver 550???
Are you using any oil additive ? Should I use 10W30, 20W40 or anything else ?
Plowing snow in winter would be a different business: Here temperature often drops down to -5F/-20C from December to march, so using STP or possibly Lucas oil additive is definitely out of question. I don't trust 10W30 alone in summer (too thin) and 15w40 is too thick for cold start below 5F/-15C. Of course, I will have access to a block heater.
WINTER:
Should I use plain 10W30 in winter or another type of oil ?
Should I use some oil additive in winter or not?
I've checked all Oliver 550 posting on Engine oil but I have not found much so far. The previous owner (an old school mechanic) told me the type of oil pump in the 550 is not efficient with thin oil. Shop manuals are full of outdated information because lubricants available 50 years ago are mostly irrelevant now.
Any information for best summer and winter engine oil would be appreciated
Thanks :?