API and SAE Motor Oil Standards and Classifications

There has been a few instances whereby a few customers were told that if aftermarket oils are used in their new machines, that the machine warranty would be revoked. The aftermarket oil manufacturers protested this action, and laws were then passed that stipulated that aftermarket oils would NOT violate a machine’s warranty, provided that the oil used were in compliance with the SAE and the API standards. If an OEM company has refused your warranty due to oil concerns, then you should contact the aftermarket tractor oil manufacturer and lodge a complaint against the OEM manufacturer.

The API is a voluntary standards group that classifies oil into various uses, e.g., automotive, commercial, or marine. Manufacturers’ warranties are based upon the use of oils meeting specific API Service Classifications

The question often arises, which tractor oil to use, mineral oil, semi synthetic oil, or fully synthetic oils?

Briefly, mineral oils are simply refined crude oils. Despite the name, semi synthetic oils are mineral oils that were further refined, and will perform better that the normal mineral oil. In practice, mineral oils and semi synthetic oils can be mixed.

However, the fully synthetic or “pure” synthetic oil, as it is sometimes called, are oils that were engineered in a lab. Vegetable or animal oils are taken, and engineered until an oil of suitable physical and chemical composition has been achieved. Due to this refining process, pure synthetic tractor oil is much more expensive that other oils. The pure synthetic oils cannot be mixed with mineral and semi synthetics oils.

All OEM manufacturers provide their own part numbers for engine oils. Understanding this terminology can assist in buying Universal tractor oil that meets your engine’s needs. One of John Deere’s motor engine oil part numbers is TY6389 (One Quart). This is the equivalent of the SAE 15W40 from aftermarket tractor oil manufacturers. The John Deere part number TY22008 is SAE 15W-40 equivalent from aftermarket tractor oil manufacturers, however this is one gallon. Ford New Holland part number 1QM2C121AMV is one quart SAE 15W-40, and Ford New Holland’s part number 86641086 is one 55 gallon drum SAE 15W-40 tractor oil.

Notice for both of these part numbers, the oil is the same, however the quantity ordered varies. OEM companies provide different part numbers for the same oil where the volume ordered differs.

Therefore, the crucial information from your oil is the SAE designation. Once that is obtained, any oil meeting that designation will suffice for your engine, regardless of the OEM’s part number.

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