303 lawsuit

M

moresmoke

Well-known Member

Location

E ND

• May 20, 2021

• #1

Wont be too long we should have a lawsuit for those poor people that put gas in their diesel tank because they were just trying to save money. Gonna need disclaimers for that too.

 

J

john in la

Well-known Member

Location

What part of in La do you not understand

• May 20, 2021

• #1

There is a differance in you choosing to put gasoline in your diesel tank to try and save a buck; and the station labeling the gasoline pump as the diesel pump to try and make extra profits.

 

Janicholson

Well-known Member

• May 20, 2021

• #1

My dad got a case of re-refined motor oil 30 wt (no duty info) for $5.00. we used it all up on the combine's elevator chains over 4 years. Jim

 

H

Hockeygoon

Member

• May 20, 2021

• #1

Agreed. Anyone that read the specs on the side of a 5 gallon pail of 303 knew it was never meant for a modern tractor - I believe it specifically said not to be used where J20-C and J20-A specifications were required. We bought it by the pallet to use as hydraulic fluid in skidsteers. I know for a fact it never said it met the specs of Hytran.

 

wore out

Well-known Member

• May 20, 2021

• #1

In the real world, with older tractors, having moisture in the transmission/hydraulic oil is a bigger issue than the exact "specs" of the oil used, IMHO.

I'm sure the lawyers involved with this will do well, I'll bet there won't be a "buck" left that will filter down to the actual folks that were "injured" by this.

 

T

TractorTucker

Member

• May 20, 2021

• #1

I'm curious about how they expect to win this when it is specified for older tractors that didn't require high speck oil to begin with. Heck, some of them didn't even call for different summer and winter oils, the manuals just said to thin it with kerosene.

 

S

SVcummins

Well-known Member

• May 21, 2021

• #1

The bucket says right on it pre 1979 and it also said John Deere 303 and maybe j20a and listed several other obsolete manufacturers specs on the label . Anyone that can read cant blame anyone but themselves .

 

S

Sprint 6

Well-known Member

• May 21, 2021

• #1

You can't change human nature. Buy the most expensive car, truck, tractor, etc. they can finance, then try to find the cheapest oil, filters, and fuel for it.

 

Butch(OH)

Well-known Member

• May 21, 2021

• #1

Years ago around here the discount stores carried a brand of recycled motor oil called life. logo was add life to your car LOL they also had rebuilt spark plugs re, sandblasted.

 

Hobo,NC

Well-known Member

Location

Sanford, NC

• May 21, 2021

• #1

You can point it out to some all they see is its cheap and on sale...

 

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Stephen Newell

Well-known Member

• May 21, 2021

• #1

What is it about the 303 that is suppose to be bad? I use it but my newest tractor was made between 1984 and 1987.

 

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

• May 21, 2021

• #1

Law firm.

Do-wee, Cheat-em and Howe

 

T

Traditional Farmer

Well-known Member

Location

Virginia

• May 21, 2021

• #1

Yep Penny wise and Pound foolish.

 

T

Traditional Farmer

Well-known Member

Location

Virginia

• May 21, 2021

• #1

The misleading part is the the fluid actually should never be used in any tractor built after 1979 but there were a lot of tractors built before 1979 that it should not have been used in either.I never used the trashy stuff in anything,cheap oil and grease are by far the most expensive long term.

 

S

SVcummins

Well-known Member

• May 21, 2021

• #1

I normally buy the best grease and oil I can but I have used a lot of 303 with no ill effects

 

B

BillinCentralMO

Well-known Member

• May 22, 2021

• #1

There is already a settlement of the claims made against Orschelns for selling it. Each customer was paid so much per five gallons - plus any legitimate corroborated damage to machinery.

 

J

Jim.ME

Well-known Member

Location

central ME

• May 22, 2021

• #1

John Deere developed and marketed 303. It used Sperm whale oil as a component. The whale oil was no longer available when the Endangered Species Act took affect. John Deere discontinued 303 and never changed/published the 303 formula to be made without the whale oil. It was discontinued and replaced by J14B in 1974. Anything sold as being 303 now, can't have whale oil in it, so it isn't equivalent to JD's J303. Oils meeting J14B or the J20A/B are meeting old specs, but the specs are known, so they are supposedly ok. That 's the way I understand the problem and reason for the lawsuits. Run what you choose.

 

S

sotxbill

Well-known Member

• May 22, 2021

• #1

303 fluids were speced in the 60s and 70s... it replaced the type a hydraulic fluid that was 20wt oil with a red dye... The type F or 303 fluids had to have a viscosity stiffener added to extend the heat range performance of the oil over the type A fluids. It was suitable for most all older systems with no performance problems.

However in the 80s, much higher hydraulic pressures and much more heat required a newer more robust hydraulic package. Lots of tractors even had hydraulic coolers added also to help control the heat of higher pressures. 303 was never intended to be used in newer applications requiring better fluids and some applications requiring a synthetic blend of oils.

Side note: 303 fluids commonly used a whale oil additive as a viscosity improver and the world wide whale oil ban and treaty... forced the original specs to be banned. turns out there are now many other ways to improve viscosity performance of the oil. Muti weight oils are now common.

Now what was the basis of the law suit?? was it the banned whale oil or improper labeling in reguards to the ban?

 

J

Jim.ME

Well-known Member

Location

central ME

• May 22, 2021

• #1

If you read the lawsuits most include some, or all, these or similar claims against the manufacturers and sellers (some even more): Unjust enrichment, Negligent misrepresentation, Fraudulent misrepresentation, Breach of express warranty, Breach of implied warranty, and Violation of state consumer protection laws.

Basically they made/sold a less expensive oil at a bigger profit. They represented it as 303 when a key ingredient in the John Deere formula is not available (303 was a John Deere Product and the name had recognition as such). 303 was discontinued in 1974 by John Deere so use, in at least their equipment, between 1974 (J14B introduction) and 1979 would not have been right for 303.