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Engine Oil

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:46 pm
by Brian
This is a link to Morris of Shrewsbury's range of Golden Film Lubricants.

http://www.morrislubricantsonline.co.uk

The company delivers any orders straight to your door very quickly.

Look in Classic car section for oils that will be perfect for your Major and Dexta engines, gearbox and rear axle/hydraulics.

Agricultural section covers oils for later models.

Please mention Fordson Tractor Pages when you order, no extra discount but could help us in the future. :D

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 1:05 am
by Bensdexta
Brian, Which oil do you recommend - Golden Film SAE 30 Classic Motor Oil?
What conclusions did you come to after your 'research' into engine oils for our Blues?

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 6:03 pm
by Brian
I am using SAE 20/50W in all my tractors engines now,and in the gearbox and hydraulics on Nuffy and Dotty. Henrietta will get a change shortly as she has a couple of leaking oil seals in the PTO and gearbox front shaft. Fergy has SAE 20/50W in the engine and SAE 80 in the back end, all Morris's oil.

No problems. Good oil pressure on all, on Nuffy my timing cover oil leak has dried up and so has the slight timing cover leak on Dotty.

Using the oil since August 2011 and slowly getting them all on to it.


Morris Oil was used in the garage where I served my apprenticeship and was recommended for Nuffield tractors and most of the cars of the time. We used many gallons in engines. Gearboxes and hydraulics were AG90 in those days. So I have known it for over 50 years.

Not been so easy to get hold of in the past so I moved to Castrol oils in my cars and tractors but then the local dealers closed and I then changed to Baytol/Freedom oils. They did not do the range of oils for the older engine so when Morris Oils became available over the net, I changed to them.

I stress again that this is only my opinion and no detrement to other oils or suppliers, it works for me and I am happy. FTP do not sell the oil or get advantage from any sales. I am just reporting my opinion.

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 3:53 pm
by Nevis
I have just aquired a lovely barn stored MF35 with the 23C engine. Its been sitting for 10 years but started quite easily - without even bleeding and everything seems to work. I have been toying with what oil to put in the engine either 20/50 classic or 15/40 CF grade.
It seems as though your thinking would be that 20/50 may be the most suitable?
What is your opinion?

Andy

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:56 pm
by Brian
I have recently changed the engine oil in Henrietta and given her some longish, hard work. The oil pressure remains at 45psi cold or hot and as I have said before, Henrietta runs very hot indeed with her kerosene engine.

I have used Castrol Multiuse and Baytol Freedom 15/40W since 1974 and I have never seen her run and hold the oil pressure as well as this. In the past it has been around 20psi cold and 5-10 psi when hot.

I did have the crank reground and new bearings fitted but the oil pump and cam shaft/bearings are still original so are 60 years old.

So I am very happy with the new SAE20/50W oil.

Will keep you updated.

I stress again that this is only my opinion and no detrement to other oils or suppliers, it works for me and I am happy. FTP do not sell the oil or get advantage from any sales. I am just reporting my opinion.

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 11:34 pm
by Nevis
Thanks for your comments Brian.
I put 20w50 in - however the oil pressure is 60psi when cold gradually reducing to 15psi at PTO rpm when properly hot (5 to7psi at idle) so I think an engine rebuild is on the cards in the near future even though engine pulls beautifully with no smoke. My main worry is wrecking the crank.
Andy

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 12:38 pm
by henk
I use Castrol SAE30 oil in the gearbox and rearend. Can this be used for the engine too?

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 6:07 pm
by sky blue
After rebuilding my s/dexta engine a few years a go i went through the usual
what type of oil to use , i have used castrol agri plus15/40 before rebuild but when
the tractor had been idleing a lot or hadnt been worked she would blow oil out the spout on start up
,after rebuild was able to sorce morris oils and settled with 30 weight
for engine , this oil is for air cooled vw bettle as well as a host of other old engine types
including tractors boats ect , the oil presure is great and the tractor sounds great on it and never have had oil
blow out spout since even when she hasnt been worked hard a lot sky blue

Re: Engine Oil - topping up

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 4:35 pm
by porteous
Just ordered my first 5 gals of 20/50 from Morris of Shrewsbury, I intend to just top up for a while before draining and tackling the leaks! I have no idea what oil has been used before. Will I do any harm by mixing brands or viscosities? I am working on the "halitosis is better than no breath at all" suposition.

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 2:29 am
by beck826
Is there any way to check front transmission oil level on power majors , like dip stick or something

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 10:38 am
by OGoldsmith
Should I put 90 or 140 Non-Detergent in my Fordson N's Gearbox?

:beer:
Ollie

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 10:39 pm
by billy
So what is best for the rear of the blues then?

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 4:02 pm
by 59 dexta
im just wondering the same thing, brian, im wanting to put a hyd oil 46 , same viscosity as all the engine oils that are being suggested,, what did you end up useing yourself, thanks for any replies, david

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 4:33 pm
by Bensdexta
Use engine oil in gearbox & rear end.

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:03 pm
by 59 dexta
I've already put hyd46 oil in the back end, do you think i should get it out of there, at first I thought this was the way to go with a hydraulic pump in there but then I started to wonder would it be good enough for the axle and whatever cogs are in there, any ideas, thanks

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 12:24 pm
by Bensdexta
I would stick with the manual's recommendations, ie engine oil. Unfortunate to have to change it because there's a lot of oil in the back end.

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 11:17 pm
by 59 dexta
Yep, just under 20 litres, thanks for the reply , sorry if I put the question wrong, I wasn't looking to see what people would recommend or what it says in the manual, but I genuinely do appreciate you taking the time to reply but what I should have asked was, is there anyone knowledgeable enough in oils to tell me if hyd46 oil would ruin my backaxle
I've been running it since it went in about 80 miles over 5 days and all is running smooth, the hydraulics are obviously working fine (big improvement) and the axle seems as smooth as it was
I'm bringing him in for a new back rim tomorrow and if my tractor guy there says it o.k then its going to be a keeper, thanks for any replies , david

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 6:30 am
by patch
I was recommended 90 weight mineral oil for the Major especially since I added the external cylinder hose. It worked fine. She has been parked several years, haven't been doing any field work. need to get back at it.

http://www.petroleumservicecompany.com/ ... 1-gl4.html

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 4:46 am
by Old66ford
Been a while since I've been on here, but getting ready for oil change in my super major, and was wondering the best engine oil, as I use it all year long, and live in Northern Alberta, Canada where it gets to -40C, and will be used to plow snow regularly in -20/30C weather. At the same time, I use the tractor when its +30 in the summer as well.

Would straight 30 be good, or would a 5w40 or 15w40 be better? I have a coolant and oil pan heater that are used whenever its cold enough outside as well.

Thanks, Craig

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 3:24 pm
by Jan 59
Been to Alberta this year and was told about your extremes compared to Holland. A straight SAE 30 is not suitable for your wintertemps, wonder what is in the original Ford manual about this, Suppose something like 10W-40. The lube oil system of a that 4 cyl Ford engine is excellent, and oil pressure will not drop down easily due thin oil. Oil starvation due thick oil at very cold weather is very bad for your engine. Suggest you check Ford manual or seek advise at a reputable oil company.

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 8:40 am
by Firefly
OK I am confused I have a 1961 Fordson Dexta and want to change all the oils .
I have been told engine 10 /30 and gearbox and hydraulics 20 / 40 this don't mean any thing to me ?
Help please if you .
Thanks,

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 3:14 am
by jwhiteker
It was recommended in my original 1958 Dexta operator's handbook that the engine and gearbox should have 30 wt. HD. Oddly, it doesn't seem to specify an oil weight for the rear end. Assuming at this point that it would be the same as the others.

From personal experience and problems with my hydraulics, I can attest to the fact that the gearbox will run engine oil, hydraulic oil, or 80W/90. My tractor's hydraulics functioned ok with all of them. In fact, I couldn't even notice much difference between the three regarding shifting or hydraulic operation. With that said, I would not recommend running hydraulic oil. It is too thin and has different properties from engine oil. It tends to get frothy and milky looking as it is not meant to be used here.

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2017 5:27 pm
by shawnee
I have found straight 30w with some lucas oil additive works best for mine. Then do oil pan heater and the atomizer for winter starting. The manual states using a straight weight oil. I have been putting straight 30w in the gearbox and rear end and especially the engine .

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 6:01 am
by bhayden
Hi all, newbie here. Just purchased a 1961 Dexta and figured oil/filter would be good place to start pulling maintenance. The tractor came with an original Wookshop Manual (issued in 1958). For "normal" operation it recommends SAE HD Grade 20. I don't think they had multi viscosity oil back then.
Image
Here in the US the only non-multi viscosity oil readily available is SAE 30 or sometimes SAE 40 for race applicaitons. In the newer Operator's Manual (Reprint of Ford/New Holland) it says you may use 20W30 for all temperatures above 20F. But again 20W30 is difficult if not impossible to find. I ended up buying 10W30 Shell Rotella T4. Given how improved oils are I figure a slightly thinner oil at startup would be just fine.

Now, as for what to put in the rest of the tractor, that remains a mystery.

Re: Engine Oil

Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 12:17 am
by Bensdexta
In the gearbox & back end, use the same oil as for the engine.

Strange but that's what the experts say