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A guide to agricultural oil

Agricultural

Like any piece of equipment, effective lubrication is critical for maintaining the efficiency and reliability of agricultural equipment.

You might be wondering how you choose the right agricultural oil, so here is a brief guide.

Agricultural oil has been specially formulated to meet the particular needs of agricultural equipment, but you’ll find there are many different varieties.

In terms of quality, spending a bit more on procuring high-quality agricultural oil can yield a greater return on investment in the long run. For example, better quality synthetic lubricants often have a longer drain cycle, so you don’t need to buy as much of it, and it saves you time on routine maintenance. They may also better support the longevity of your equipment, saving you money on costly repairs.

Your agricultural machinery will have shifting demands as the seasons change, with warm summers, rainy springs and harvest seasons, when your machinery is likely working the hardest. It’s therefore important to understand the nuances of each season and choose the best lubricant accordingly.

Spring

In the spring, when you’re focusing on preparing the soil and sowing crops, your equipment will be exposed to varying temperatures and high levels of moisture. You therefore need an agricultural oil that can protect against corrosion and water contamination in the typically damp spring conditions.
For transmissions and engines to avoid wear and rust, a gear oil and engine oil needs to maintain its protective properties even under the most demanding conditions.

Summer

Summer brings a different set of challenges, because machinery will be operating for longer periods under higher temperatures. You therefore ideally want agricultural oil with outstanding thermal stability, so it can withstand the high temperatures and continue to protect the engine and transmission.

Agricultural oil for a diesel engine should also be able to withstand oxidisation, so it can prevent the accumulation of harmful deposits and maintain its viscosity.

Autumn

When it comes to autumn time, the temperatures may be starting to drop, but tractors and combine harvesters will be working overtime in harvest season.

Diesel engines need a lubricant that will allow them to continue working efficiently under heavy use, while a gear oil should protect against wear by having a strong film. There may also be dust and crop residues in the operating environment, so any agricultural oil needs to be able to handle these as well.

Winter

The colder temperatures in winter can create a whole new set of problems for equipment. For instance, freezing temperatures can reduce the fluidity of lubricants and make cold starts problematic.

The diesel engines of agricultural equipment therefore need an agricultural oil that shows exceptional properties at low temperatures. When gear and engine oil can stay fluid at very low temperatures, it makes starting up more easy and better protects the moving parts.

You of course don’t want to be changing lubricants with every season, so it makes sense to look for agricultural oil with the necessary properties to meet the demands of all four seasons.

What does your equipment need?

Whether it’s a tractor, tiller or harvester, every machine has particular lubrication needs, and choosing the wrong lubricant can lead to components wearing more rapidly than they need to – ultimately resulting in costly and inconvenient breakdowns.

The instructions from the equipment manufacturer will usually provide details about the sort of agricultural oil you need and what viscosity and specifications it should have. If in doubt, make use of the technical support or consult a qualified expert.

Don’t forget the environmental conditions

When selecting agricultural oil, don’t forget that environmental conditions can play a role in determining the ideal choice of lubricant.

For example, if you’re in an area that experiences particularly low temperatures in winter, you may want to focus on lubricants with good flow properties at low temperatures, so starting up will be easier and less damaging in the coldest times of the year.

The same applies with particularly humid conditions or dusty surroundings, in which case, you may want to favour agricultural oil with better resistance against corrosion and water or protection against contamination, respectively.

It’s also useful to bear in mind the operating intensity of machinery, because when something is used for long and frequent periods for heavy-duty applications, you want a lubricant that can withstand high pressures and temperatures. High-quality lubricants often feature a package of additives that enable them to do this for long periods, so your agricultural equipment will be protected even while being continually operated in peak periods.

Look for quality certification

There are industry and manufacturers’ standards for agricultural oil, so while they may come at a higher cost, it’s worth spending that bit extra on agricultural oil that meets the recommended standards for your equipment.

These oils will have been extensively tested to ensure they meet performance benchmarks, so you can be sure they will protect your equipment and keep it running reliably for longer. In contrast, using uncertified lubricants may lead to unnecessary breakdowns, which can be costly both in terms of the repair costs and the loss of a vital piece of machinery at a critical time in the agricultural calendar.

Do you need oil that is compatible with older equipment?

If you have some older equipment, you should consider if the latest lubricants will still be compatible with the materials and seals of the older equipment. If you can’t find lubricants that are compatible with all your equipment, you’ll unfortunately need to segment them and take steps to ensure that the correct lubricant is always used.

Finally, with any sort of lubrication, it’s important to monitor it. For example, changes in the texture or colour of the oil could indicate it is degrading, particularly if the equipment is getting old. In contrast, as you incorporate newer equipment into your operations, you may want to revise your lubricant choices to optimally cover your full range of equipment.

Mechanics, the makers of agricultural equipment, and the manufacturers and suppliers of agricultural oil can be a great source of wisdom in such matters.

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