806 Diesel Engine Oil - should I drain and replace?

Hi all,

I went through all the fluids on my 806 diesel as mentioned in a previous post and added Tractor Supply premium fleet diesel SAE 30 engine oil.

After reading several comments on here, it seems low ash is recommended?

Three questions:

Is TSC Premium SAE 30 fleet diesel engine oil low ash?

Is low ash SAE 30 what I should have put in?

Should I drain and replace; and if yes, do I need to replace the oil filters as well?

Thanks again!
 
I wouldn’t worry about the filters but I wouldn’t use tractor supply oil to oil chains.
Low ash oil is for gassers. I used to get 30w rotella.
Others have it too.
 
not the best poil, but OK for a few hours of modest use. I would sure change it to DELO 15-40, or Rotella 15-40. As noted it is not sensitive to low ash oil. The TS oil is not low ash, In fact the only oil low enough to meet IH spec of .5%, is (I believe) IH #1 30 wt. from the dealer. Jim
 
Multi viscosity oil has dramatically improved in the last 10 years. The viscosity stabilizers in 10-30 15-40 and many other oils let the engine start as though it has a 15 wt oil in the bearings at cold temps. then when warm, the oil never gets thinner than a 40 wt oil would get at operating temps. This provides much greater ease of starting when in the Zero to 50 degree range, and protects engine bearings better when warmed up and working. Multi wt oils of the tractors birthday were not as good, and the single weight was good. New engine oils made for gasoline engines have been modified to deal with converter contamination, and roller hydraulic lifters. The diesel grade oils are substantially better for old diesel and gasoline engines. Jim
 
Gotcha,

So in essence, I can/should run 15W-40 diesel oil in both the 806 diesel and 400 gasser?

If yes, since it sounds like low ash matters for the 400 gas tractor, could I not use low ash 15W-40 for both to save on multi-oil buying?

Lastly, I know CNH sells a whole bunch of different oils (there page is overly confusing btw) but are you aware of other brands spwcifically saying low ash 15w-40?

I live in a pretty rural area so we don't have no fancy stores - mostly what I see is whatever TSC has and Rotella...

Thanks again! 😊
 
I have been using off brand oil, with the specs to meet the requirements for decades with no oil related problems. In everything from lawn mower size gas engines to OTR trucks. This includes engines with over a million miles and tractors with god know how many hours. I don't worry about the low ash stuff. With 10 tractors using the same oil, and 4 different OTR trucks, over the last 27 years on the trucks, and over 50 on the tractors. I guess I would not worry as long as you use an oil that meets the engine specs. All of these engines get 15-40 engine oil.
As for the hytran argument that is a which came first the chicken or the egg. Though I suppose if I got into tractors with fancy power shift or some of the more sophisticated transmissions. I would probably go to the Hytran or Hyguard type oil. The cost of the oil is much cheaper than the trans rebuild. Those old gear transmissions will not matter if it is the fancy oil or not as long as it meets the specs again. You can also buy these oils in barrel quantities for all these brands. Which is usually some cheaper than the pails or other smaller sizes. Since you are apparently changing all the tractors oils I would decide on a container size and method and go with it. You will need some supply of oil on hand for leaks blown hoses and other problems not foreseen anyway. I also believe as long as you get a reputable filter you will be fine there too. Our local CNH dealer will give you Fleet guard filters if you buy them from him anyway. I have been using Baldwin filters on the trucks from the beginning of time. I also this last couple of years have changed the tractors over to them since the distributor is only 5 miles away instead of 20.
 
Gotcha, so in theory I should be fine to use the 806 diesel which just got new filters and TSC SAE 30 premium fleet diesel (does it meet specs? dunno, 5 gallon pail says zilch on the subject).

Plan was to change all fluids on the 806 diesel again this fall as it hasn't been used many years and figured this would be my clean-out fluids and then in fall fill with new stuff for future usage.

On an aside - would you know the specs for an 806 diesel and 400 gas tractor, as written back in the day?

That way I can get the barrels moving forward and ideally stick with one oil that would cover both, be it a low ash straight 30 or 15w-40 etc.

😀
 
On above, I incorrectly ststed the 5 gallon bucket didn't have specs, what I should have said was the soecs they provide seemed to be models that I did not recognize for the 806 diesel engine...
 
Most oils are at 1% or more ash (which is not really ash, it is residual material that is in the composition. Its label is really more a petroleum engineering term. So although some oils are modest in ash, IH has a restriction to a lower # for use in specific engines (and others with no harm). The reason for the specification is engine design that had a very well documented problem with coking of valves. The engines were/are the 6 cylinder gas engines from the 460 all the way to the last 6 cylinder gas tractors they produced (856 IIRC) They had hot valve stems, and carbon and deposits would build up on the stem, causing the valve to fail. So the reduced ash requirement for that gasoline engine. Your 400 and 806 will both be happy with the 15-40, but it is not low ash, and does not need to be. Jim
 
(quoted from post at 20:55:06 07/07/20) On above, I incorrectly ststed the 5 gallon bucket didn't have specs, what I should have said was the soecs they provide seemed to be models that I did not recognize for the 806 diesel engine...

It does not matter. The specs of that oil DID NOT EXIST when the 806 engine was designed and produced. Any oil produced today far exceeds the specifications from 1963.

Modern oils, even the "junk" (not really junk) TSC oil, is MUCH BETTER than ANYTHING that was produced at the time the 806 engine was designed and produced.

The oil you have in it is fine. It is wasteful to throw it away over some irrational fear that you didn't use the "exact right" oil. There is no "exact right" oil. You used a decent quality diesel rated oil of the right viscosity. CLOSE ENOUGH! Now, quit worrying about it.

Next time around you can use the Rotella, and then stick with it going forward. In ALL your tractors. Even the White 4-210.
 
The 'low ash' was recommended for the gas engines. The diesels don't need it.The 30 wt will be fine during warmer months. So at the next oil change,convert to 15/40 'fleet diesel' oil.As was said,Todays 'worst' oils are much better than the best oils of yesterday. I have used the 'cheap' TSC 15/40 fleet diesel oil for 40 years,never had an issue. My 706 has 13,000 hrs,Super M was OHed in '80,has a bazillion hrs. Other tractors have similar 'results'.Everybody seems to think Rotella is the best,I really cant see why.I use the (same) 15/40 in all my gas and diesel tractors;(gas) combine;grain truck;pickup;car;ATV;motorcycle;lawnmower...everything. One oil for all. Keep it simple.So go buy a 55 gallon barrel of 15/40FD. Or a couple of 5 gallon buckets and don't worry if it's 'right'.It will give your engines all the protection they need.
 
the 'old' 400 doesn't need the 'low ash'. The more madern 6 cyl gassers needed it to prevent valve burning,along with premium gasoline.Your 400 will run on about anything. As said above the same 15/40 fleet diesel will be superb for ALL your engines. Gas or diesel. Old or new.My 4 M/SM/400(and others) have run 15/40 fleet diesel for 40 years.I'm 63 now,started in on the tractor 'business' when I was 18.Have used several brands(JohnDeere;COOP;Phillips;NAPA;TSC…..) of 15/40 over those years.Have never had an issue.Secret is to keep it clean and changed regularly(along with filters). Every 100 hrs,or annually is a good guidline.
 
Low ash is for the I H gas engines only and was brought out to address the valve burning on the later 4 and 6 cylinder gassers . I H #1 Diesel oil really is one of the top engine oils out there . I get to see a lot more of what went wrong then 95% of the people on this board and when you are approaching the 60 year mark of wrench twisting and fixing what went south and WHY it went south you have a little better understanding . I doubt that not many ever built engines just to destroy it just to see what went south first . And not many have worked on what i have over the years . Yes oils have changed so has gas and also Diesel fuel and not for the better . I don't know of any on this board that ever questioned a product to the point that they took samples to and independent lab for testing and dug into there piggy bank to pay the bill , we did . Myself and a couple others on here made our living fixing and correction other peoples problems . Sometimes we are not the first to jump in to help someone out like others do . Ya know when you have worked on something long enough that you can go to the tool box and get EVERYTHING ya need to do the job on the first trip and even arrange them as to where your going to need them .or order all the parts for a job even before it comes thru the door. Myself when it comes to engine oils i and ALL my close friends run what is working for us , in the gas tractors when we could still get the gas to run them on we ran the Low ash and eliminated exhaust valve problems that EVERYBODY was having . In the diesels we run the I H #1 diesel oil , gas cars and pick ups we run Castrol and over the years i personally have had vary good luck with that as every pick up that i have had except the 78 Ford has run well past the 250000 mile mark . Lawn mowers get the 30 weight Castrol 30 HD and the mower decks rust away before the engine goes and in the 45 going on 46 years of married life we are on our 3rd lawn mower . People always complain about cost of low ash , yep it is pricey but ya look at what a valve job cost plus the down time and yes i could do a one day turn around on a valve job you would have to go thru 6 five gallon buckets a year to get close . Guys complained about the cost of running hightest of today in there gas tractors , We went thru 350 to 450 gallon a year and the EXTRA ten cents a gallon at the time did not even come close to and engine failure . Now as for me i will stick with my OLD ways and use what was called for for that time frame and at 10000 plus hours on my 806 and still going up each working day on and engine that has not had anything more then a valve adjustment a clutch and a IDPTO input shaft since i bougth that tractor . Yep she is plum UGLY she leaks oil but runs like a squidded dog and will go out a drag 5x16 710 plow or a 470 18 ft disc in our ground i would say she is good.
 
You do not want that low ash oil in a Diesel. It needs the additives that are not in or are in extremely small amounts in low ash. That being said, a few hours of putting around won't hurt anything and you can remove and dump oil out of filter canister but still use the filter no problem

Not going to tell you what brand of oil because there are many good oils out there for that 806.
 
Gotcha, makes sense.

After learning lots from folks on here the plan is to go through all the filters and fluids again this fall since the tractors haven't really been used in years.

Challenge is, still trying to learn if there is one fluid type I can run in everything.

Example: hy-tran, can run that in the hydraulics for the 400 gas and 806 diesel.

But for engine oil, seems like there are lots of differing opinions, the ones who replied with knowledge seem to indicate sae 30 diesel or diesel 15w-40 should be good to go.

Seems differing opinions on if this 400 gasser was part of the low ash discussion.

Some say yes, others say no, that low ash argument only applies to 6 cylinder gassers of the day.

Me thinks low ash is no worry for the 4 cylinder 400 and I should be fine using diesel 15w-40 or SAE 30 diesel or #1 IHC.

😀
 
I claim no superiority of knowledge. I have gleaned a dramatic amount from those on here, and personal experience. The diesel and gas tractors should use the same 15-40 Delo, or Rotella oil. It will be excellent, and provide superior chemical and wear properties. The hytran (or labeled equal) is a must for the big tractor and small. Green coolant mixed 50/50, or premixed is correct. See my input in your post above for more details. Jim
 
Hi Janicholson,

Thanks for the input.

Haven't decided on the 15W-40/#1 30wt thing yet but seems both should be good to go.

Tomorrow is "calls" day to see what pricing I get - if I can get a good price on IH #1, would prolly go that way but if not, then it's premium 15W-40 time 😀
 

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