I own 2 Cockshutt 30 tractors. A friend of mine tells me that I should use non-detergent engine oil as the 10W30, etc. will damage the seals. While another friend tells me that since the motor on both tractors have all new seals and gaskets, that I'm okay. Moreover, he says that the detergent oil is designed to keep the engine clean. Who is right?
The only time I would recommend using a non-detergent oil is if the engine is full of sludge and scum from being run with non-detergent oil. If you put detergent oil in a sludge caked engine you run the risk of breaking it up and clogging up your oil passages.
They specified non-detergent because that was all they had back then. Use a modern oil, they're far better. FIL had three COOPS and used the same Unico oil in everything including the JD A and they all ran fine and stayed clean. Sludge is bad for a Buda as the camshaft bearings are not pressure lubricated. Only what runs down from the head. The sludge can plug the oil holes.
