Diesel oil

notjustair · Aug 3, 2012

I have a 19kw generator that was wired into the farm before I bought it. It is an Onan and has a 4 cylinder diesel engine (Perkins maybe?). I have probably put 10 hours on it but am going to service it in case we get a heavy winter. Fingers crossed.

I have no manual but the switch panel says put in 6 quarts of 30 wt oil. I run 15-40 in everything around here. Can I switch it over? I don't know how old it is but I was thinking maybe 30 wt was the best alternative then.

buickanddeere · Aug 3, 2012

Short notice starts in the worst of winter storms when desperate?
10W30 diesel synthetic by Amsoil, Mobile 1, Royal Purple or Lubrication Engineers.
Stay away from other brands as they are treated dinasor oil instead of ester based.
A great hulking Delco 44MT battery and two group 31 1000CAA batteries and 2/00 cable.That engine needs every cranking rpm to fire when cold.
Glow plugs?

johndeere720diesel · Aug 3, 2012

I run 15w40 in everything too and all of the diesel except the skidy is suppose to have 30w in it been 4yrs with the 560 and no problems. It's probably old enough that that was the normal

notjustair · Aug 3, 2012

Glow plugs (2) in the intake. I can't seem to figure out what oil filter is in it either. I'm crossing my fingers that the old one (canister like old farmalls) is marked. I would call Onan but I know that would just end with lots of head scratching by a 17 year old with a notebook of responses in front of them.

Always thought straight 30 wt was an odd choice. It's got a block heater but I am too stingy to run it all the time. I plug it in when it starts to snow and just keep the battery on a maintainer.

johndeere720diesel · Aug 3, 2012

Where I work has been using 5w30 full synthetic Mobil delvac one in cummins and cat engine for almost a yr with good results. I may change that after we figure out why the one truck blew up yesterday. But don't think it was oil related the turbo blew the seals and engine ran away on the oil its a taught not sure if you can get your hands on it because my company and like one or two others where the only ones with access to it.

buickanddeere · Aug 3, 2012

Better than ether but needs top notch batteries and thin oil.some engines have threaded ports on the block or the old filter housing can be drilled and tapped. Remote oil filters are easy to find and use.

David G · Aug 3, 2012

I agree with B&D, run a 10W-30 synthetic in it. You will be glad it will start in the middle of January.

notjustair · Aug 3, 2012

I just talked to a good guy at Cummins in KC. He said it is an Onan diesel engine. Seems it is from 1980. I did get a filter number. Now I have to decide what to do with oil. It only has 900 hours on it but those seals are getting old. I sure don't want it to start leaking oil.

I wonder if I need to put something in the rad for cavitation? Would it hurt anything?

johndeere720diesel · Aug 3, 2012

The coolant adative won't hurt anything and would be a good preventive measure

Anonymous-0 · Aug 3, 2012

If it gets real cold I would put a diesel synthetic such as JD's 0W40 or equivalent. I use it in everything that I expect to start in cold weather and isn't in a heated facility. Also use it in most to the air cooled engines.

mjbrown · Aug 3, 2012

Full synthetic Rotella or Delvac in 5-40 is recommended in VW diesels and would probably be another good option for your genny.

Texasmark1 · Aug 4, 2012

Mobil 1 have C (compression) ratings? I don't think so. I run it in
everything around the farm except diesels. In them I run Rotella T
5w40 full Syn. Called Cummins about using it in my new tractor
and their reply was.....your little baby will just love it.

Okaye. RT it is.

Mark

Texasmark1 · Aug 5, 2012

After posting this yesterday I was in the shop and checked a few containers of full syn...penn and mob, the stuff rated ...xw 30. Both said "For gasoline engines". Looked at the rating label on the back and no "Cs".

Mark

johndeere720diesel · Aug 5, 2012

Mobil's diesel rated oil is referred to as delvac 1. Which can be found as a conventional oil and a synthetic blend or full synthetic. Here where I work one of the larger trucking companies they have switched to Mobil delvac 1 5w30 full synthetic which isn't available in mass distribution yet its fairly new you can get 5w40 the 5w30 part number for a 55 gal drum is 98kt65 now saying that I only use shell rotella t 15w40 in every diesel I have which is 5 of them have not had a problem getting any of them started in winter aslong as the block heater works and has good batteries

INCase · Aug 6, 2012

use a premium synthetic like AMSOIL or maybe mobil1. in milder cold temps It will still crank over like its summertime.

Reason. you want a true Full group 4 synthetic and you want one with a premium set of additives to help as those motors sit so much and you don't want the corrosion from acids and moisture.

Make sure you have good fuel conditioners (anti-gel) for the winter too.
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Diesel oil

notjustair

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buickanddeere

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johndeere720diesel

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notjustair

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johndeere720diesel

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buickanddeere

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David G

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notjustair

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johndeere720diesel

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Anonymous-0

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