oil change to 5-40 syn rotella - Diesel Forum

johndeerebones · 03-26-2008, 11:23 PM

Just finished changing my oil and filter. Went to synthetic rotella t 5-40. not cheap at 17 bucks a gallon, but far less than the well known synthetics.
I used an oil evacuator and sucked out the hpop resevoir, and both injection oil rails. After I've run it to bleed the rails of air at first notice it seems to idle smoother and run a little better, BUT the dino oil had 5k on it too, it was rotella 10-30. Im gonna run a blackstone oa at 5k, and change the filter, maybe oil too if the oa says so. Im sure they will be horrible the first couple oa, as it cleans out the system. The internals of my engine were clean as a pin last time I was in it, but is a diesel with 120k, so Im sure the syn oil will clean alot of junk out of it, we will see what comes up...

**DIESELDUTTON** · 03-26-2008, 11:40 PM

I tried it a couple of months ago and could not tell a difference and could not justify the cost. I put about 5,500 on it and changed back to Shell 15-40 last week. Maybe if it got below 0* I would see more improvements, so I will stick with Shell 15-40 dino not to mention I have 15 gallons of it that was given to me by a friend who is a captain on a boat, the Detroit mechanic told him to use the Detroit brand of oil

.

Frank

johndeerebones · 03-27-2008, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIESELDUTTON

I tried it a couple of months ago and could not tell a difference and could not justify the cost. I put about 5,500 on it and changed back to Shell 15-40 last week. Maybe if it got below 0* I would see more improvements, so I will stick with Shell 15-40 dino not to mention I have 15 gallons of it that was given to me by a friend who is a captain on a boat, the Detroit mechanic told him to use the Detroit brand of oil

.

Frank

Did you do an analysis? I am doing it for potentially better engine protection. This winter I changed to 10-30 and it was MILES better for cold starts, if that was my only reason to change I would just stick to 10-30. We'll see what blackstone says in a few thousand miles.
Its pricey sure enough, but if I can extend the changes, and just change the filter every now and again, it won't cost me any more out of pocket.

**DIESELDUTTON** · 03-27-2008, 08:46 AM

No, I didnt send it to Blackstone, but after a 2,774 mile trip I didnt like the way the engine was running at idle and it seemed to be a little louder at cruise and the oil was very black at 5,500. I never had a problem starting in the winter with 15\40 dino, but like I said it didnt get that cold this winter. Thanks

Frank

burnetma · 03-28-2008, 10:51 PM

I run Rotella 5W40 Syn for the winter months and regular 15W40 the rest of the year in my truck and my JD 5420. I believe that it helps significantly with cold weather operation (anything at or below 15 degrees, and is essential for starting below ZERO without plugging in.

I ran several oil analyses on the truck oil, but could not conclude anything from the tests because too many parameters had changed and I was having some fuel & air delivery issues that could negatively impact the results. I agree with the other poster that the engine sounds louder with the Syn especially in warmer weather. What that means, I do not know.

My advice is try it yourself and see how it works for you and your vehicle.

johndeerebones · 03-29-2008, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnetma

I run Rotella 5W40 Syn for the winter months and regular 15W40 the rest of the year in my truck and my JD 5420. I believe that it helps significantly with cold weather operation (anything at or below 15 degrees, and is essential for starting below ZERO without plugging in.

I ran several oil analyses on the truck oil, but could not conclude anything from the tests because too many parameters had changed and I was having some fuel & air delivery issues that could negatively impact the results. I agree with the other poster that the engine sounds louder with the Syn especially in warmer weather. What that means, I do not know.

My advice is try it yourself and see how it works for you and your vehicle.

Really, my truck seems quiter, but very few miles on the oil as of yet.

On a side note I sure hope for your sake your tractor is a reverser, but I bet it is being a mfwd tractor. I have put about 15 million park pawls in 5000 series tractors, all the way from the 00's to 25's. Most are reversers, but some are collarshift and top shaft syncronized trannies. worst part is when the go, the take out the mfwd drive gear teeth, and potentially gear teeth in the mfwd drop box.

96P_Stroke4x4 · 03-29-2008, 12:21 AM

my experience is that i couldn't go more than 4k on rotella 15w40 before i felt some significant drop in power, which also effected fuel milege. with the synthetic rotella 5w40, a can go at least 9 or 10k before i notice a similar drop in performance. with that said, it is a little more cost effective for me to go 10k on 1 synthetic oil change with 1 filter vs. about 3 oil changes on dyno 15w40 with 3 fiilters. in short, i save a little money by using synthetic year round.