20kw kabuta diesel gen... which oil?

[Busnut83]

Would like to know the reccomended oil weight and brand??? Thanks... Kabuta did not answer my phone call.....

[luvrbus]

Any good C rated 15/40 like Delco 400 works

[Busnut83]

Detroit diesel 15/40 is that the same? Dont know what C is???

[luvrbus]

only difference it is made by Mobil the C stands for compression fired engines like diesels on the oil ratings no spark plugs that oil will do fine

[Busnut83]

Thanks,,, one quart low and need to add some soon?  Thanks

[Oonrahnjay]

Detroit diesel 15/40 is that the same? Dont know what C is???  

    Look at a can or bottle of oil.  You'll see the API "bullseye" symbol and ratings like SM/CI+4.  The S part is for "spark ignition engines" (gasoline) and gives a rating which has been mostly about emissions and fuel economy for the past few years; the C is for "compression ignition engines" (diesel), generally, it was about engine protection which in large part meant anti-wear additives and soot-handling but in the past couple of years has become a lot more about safeguarding EPA junk like diesel particulate filters and catalysts.  (A suffix like "4" or "2" designates an oil that's been specifically rated for 4- or 2-stroke engines.)
    I've known some oil experts who say that CI was the best diesel oil, the newest "CJ" often has levels of zinc and potassium anti-scuff and anti-weat additives reduced so as to not mess up emissions-control components.  I pretty much think that this is overblown, any oil that rated better than CF is better than most anything that could be produced in a lab 25 years ago.  (All oil ratings supersede - an SM oil is supposed to be good in any gasoline engine that requires SM or any "lower" letter oil; same thing for C-rated oils, there was a huge improvement in oils about CF.)
    Anyway, my choice for a new generator would be Mobil 1 5W-40 pure synthetic "Turbo Diesel Truck" oil but a big part of that is that I've seen how it works in my VW TDI (and I already have it on hand) and there doesn't seem to be much that beats it in high-heat, high-soot, high-load conditions.  The difference between oil circulation times between 15W-40 "mineral" oil and 5W-40 synthetic during cold startups below freezing is amazing; in reference engines, the 5W-40 has 90% of full oil pressure at all bearing points within 5-7 seconds; 15W-40 still hasn't achieved *any* pressure at some bearing points after 60 seconds.

[John316]

FWIW, we use Rotella 15/40 in ours (triple protection). We have a 20KW also, and it seems to do well for us.

John

[bigjohnkub]

As a Kubota tractor dealer, we reccomend delo400 15w40, Shell rotella 15w40 or the Kubota 15w40. May be either of the first two in the Kubota bottle.

[johnjem]

I use john deer 15/40  extra guard