Solis 20 & 26 fluids & engine oil (MVL3E/MVS3L2)
Solis 20 & 26 engine oil and fluids: types and quantities
Which engine oil goes into a Solis 20 or Solis 26, and how much? And which transmission and front axle oil does it need? Below you'll find the exact types and quantities per model from the manual, so you can change the oil correctly the first time and avoid costly damage from the wrong or too little oil.
Suitable for the whole series: Solis 20, Solis 20XL, Solis 26, Solis 26XL and Solis 26HST. Please note: the two models have different quantities and partly different oil types.
Solis 20 & 26 engine oil
The recommended engine oil is SAE 15W40 for normal conditions. The Solis 26 manual also mentions SAE 10W40 for cold countries and SAE 15W40 for warm countries. Always choose the viscosity based on your working temperature.
| Engine oil | Solis 20 | Solis 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity (total) | 3.6 L (crankcase 3.1 L) | 4.2 L |
| Recommended quality | SAE 15W40 | SAE 10W40 (cold) / 15W40 (warm) |
| Replace oil filter as well | Yes, every service | Yes, every service |
Change the engine oil while warm, together with the oil filter. Apply a thin layer of clean oil to the gasket of the new filter and then top up to the correct level on the dipstick. Don't forget the copper sealing ring on the drain plug — a forgotten or flattened seal is a common cause of oil leakage.
Solis 20 & 26 transmission and hydraulic oil
There's an important difference here. On the Solis 20, the transmission and hydraulics share one oil bath; on the Solis 26, the transmission has a separate, larger volume.
| Component | Solis 20 | Solis 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission / hydraulics | 17 L combined — EP 80 | 23 L (transmission) — SAE-80W |
| Front axle differential (4×4) | 2.0 L — EP 80 | 2.7 L — EP-80 |
The transmission and hydraulic oil doesn't need to be changed as often as the engine oil, but it is included in the maintenance schedule. Check the level regularly and watch for leaks at the seals.
Solis 20 air filter oil bath
The Solis 20 (unlike the 26) has an oil bath air filter. It contains approximately 0.2 L of SAE 20W40 quality oil, which you replace according to the schedule. The Solis 26 uses a dry paper element — read more about that in the filter blog.
Solis 20 & 26 coolant and fuel
| Fluid | Solis 20 | Solis 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel tank | 30 L (diesel) | 29 ±3 L (diesel) |
| Min. fuel in tank | 5 L (otherwise air bubble) | 6 L (otherwise air bubble) |
| Cooling system | Thermostat opens at 76.5 °C, fully open at 90 °C | Closed pressurized system |
Always use antifreeze in the coolant during frost-prone periods. Leave the tank full at the end of the working day, to prevent condensation and water in the fuel.
Solis 20 & 26 antifreeze (coolant)
The coolant is a mixture of water and an anti-rust/antifreeze agent (for example type Glysantin G40). In frost conditions, determine the antifreeze percentage based on the lowest temperature (guideline from the manual):
| Down to temperature | Antifreeze (%) |
|---|---|
| down to -8 °C | ± 20% |
| down to -16 °C | ± 30% |
| down to -25 °C | ± 40-50% |
| colder than -25 °C | ± 55-60% |
Never use pure water in frost conditions, and always mix in an anti-scaling/anti-rust agent. In case of long-term storage during frost, drain the coolant or make sure there's enough antifreeze.
(Oil types and quantities are taken from the official Solis 20 and Solis 26 operator manuals.)
