The experts at Viva Energy Australia understand that the work of a farmer is never done. Farming operations are not only sunrise to sunset, but more like 24/7/365 days a year—and downtime is not an option —which is why the right time to service agriculture equipment is the start of every season, before operators get into the thick of it and don’t have time to lose on repairs and maintenance. 

During peak harvest months, tractors are one of the most critical pieces of machinery on Australian farmland, which is why ensuring proper lubrication of the tractor engine is one of the most important considerations for tractor operators. 

The right engine lubricant can improve a tractor’s performance on site. While, choosing the wrong lubricant for a tractor engine can cause breakdowns and accrue costly repairs and maintenance, quickly putting the equipment out of service and causing unnecessary downtime on an operation. 

Shell is one of the most well-recognised fluid and oil brands in the world, and as the exclusive distributor of Shell brand fluid and oil products in Australia, Viva Energy has worked tirelessly to streamline the process of selecting the right lubricant for tractors.

Specifically for tractor engines, Shell has developed a unique product range that assists operators in ensuring careful management of their engines. The Shell Rimula R4 range are key products for protecting the integrity and efficiency of a tractor’s engine to ensure performance and longevity through the season. 

Shell Rimula R4 L heavy duty engine oil uses the most advanced 15W-40 oil technology to create exceptional resistance to corrosion, wear and oxidation while producing lower vehicle emissions. The R4 L uses the latest generation technology to deliver significantly improved resistance to wear, deposits, and oxidation. Based on high performance Group II base oils, it is versatile enough to provide the convenience of a single oil and suitable for virtually all engine ages and vehicle types, while reducing engine emissions. 

Protecting the performance of exhaust emissions control systems is not only important to ensure that tractors comply with legislative requirements, but it also ensures efficient operations. For example, blocked diesel particulate filters (DPF) can increase fuel consumption. Shell Rimula R4 L is formulated with reduced levels of ash and sulphur to help maintain the efficiency of the latest tractor technology.

Shell Rimula R4 X was designed to provide triple protection for tractor engines, covering three key areas: acid and corrosion control, wear control and deposit control. Formulated with Shell’s Dynamic Protection technology, the lubricant will adapt to an engine’s specific requirements. Relative to API and ACEA engine oil specifications, R4X provides up to 50% better engine cleanliness, control, and acid corrosion protection. Which means less sludge, less wear and longer service life. 

The Shell R4 range products allow tractor operators to plan for engine maintenance cycles with confidence that the highest quality lubricants are being used to optimise engine performance in line with OEM requirements. 

Operators should also refer to OEM product manuals guidelines to understand recommended service intervals. Some tractors may have a service interval of 200 hours, while others may be up to 400— regardless, it is best practice to keep ahead of service intervals to ensure equipment is operating at peak performance level. 

Customers seeking real time support can receive free consult on what lubricant is optimal for their machine through the Viva Energy Technical Help Desk line (Shell Specialists). For the more digitally savvy, the Shell LubeMatch and Shell LubeAnalyst digital tools allow customers to input the details of their tractor and access detailed lube matching information, as well as survey and monitor their engine health.   

For more information on the Shell range, visit your local Motion Australia branch today!