Interesting oil article - Diesel Forum

rock_doctor · 10-03-2009, 09:34 PM

I don't know if this has been posted before but it is an interesting read, since he rates Rotella T as one of the worst....and that is what i use.....Turbo Diesel Register Tech: Lube Oil, Religion, Specifications and the TDR

wheelhopper · 10-04-2009, 09:57 AM

Very interesting article. Because of this I will probably change the oils I use in both my diesels. I was going to use Synthetic Rotella T in my '08. Simply because I put little milage on it, 5-6K per year, and it is a newer truck. My '02 I have been using Motorcraft 15W40. I buy it at Wal Mart and the price is cheap. I figure Ford makes it so it should be good enough. This truck I put more milage on. I also use 1 quart of Lucas Synthetic Stabilizer at each change with the Motorcraft oil. Blackstone Labs recomended Lucas for my race car, so I figured it would be good for my diesel. Now I think I will use the Valvoline Blue, plus a quart of Lucas, in both trucks. It would be good to see similiar testing on additives, like Lucas.

**dieselmankane** · 10-04-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheelhopper

Very interesting article. Because of this I will probably change the oils I use in both my diesels. I was going to use Synthetic Rotella T in my '08. Simply because I put little milage on it, 5-6K per year, and it is a newer truck. My '02 I have been using Motorcraft 15W40. I buy it at Wal Mart and the price is cheap. I figure Ford makes it so it should be good enough. This truck I put more milage on. I also use 1 quart of Lucas Synthetic Stabilizer at each change with the Motorcraft oil. Blackstone Labs recomended Lucas for my race car, so I figured it would be good for my diesel. Now I think I will use the Valvoline Blue, plus a quart of Lucas, in both trucks. It would be good to see similiar testing on additives, like Lucas.

I have heard Lucas is a BIG no no in Powerstroke diesels, as it causes foaming issues, and lack of lubrication. Also, he says oils 1 and 8 are his favorites, and since winters are failrly cold here in Idaho, I'll keep running Rotella Syn 5w40.

rock_doctor · 10-04-2009, 04:38 PM

I'm with you, i have been using rotella t for 30 yrs but from now on i'm using Valvoline Blue.

OT · 10-04-2009, 07:32 PM

RDr..Interesting report. Althou kinda odd (for me) Delo 15W/40 not tested? Have you considered asking shell about this report & findings? My guess is they would respond, just a thought. Chevron tec. answered Q's I had about their delo. especially interesting on why adding additives not a good idea. change's chemistry etc. etc.

btw..this test LUCAS OIL additive is dated, but might be reason enough not to use in ANY brand? Like the man said..draw your own conclusions. RT report also surprised me.

rock_doctor · 10-04-2009, 09:23 PM

I did not notice that. Delo is a major player in the game. I do find these types of reports interesting and since i have always used Rotella T and since my GM diesel went over 700k miles on it (before the body was no longer legal) and still did not burn any oil you have to wonder if you are missing something when you read them... I also wondered if rotella has the lowest zinc because it is meant for the new generation of diesels with catalytic converters and dpf while the others are meant for more industrial applications like stationary engines which do not need to meet the same emissions requirements. I did look to see if "Bob the oil guy" had a similar comment on his site but he had not gone in that direction. I wonder, i would prefer to stick with the oil that i know.... The jury is still out, i likely will reach for the white bottle at the end of the month for the next oil change.

t613 · 10-05-2009, 08:20 AM

Not to mention there was only one CJ-4 oil tested (the lowest-ranked). Without the typical additives found in CI-4, wouldn't the CJ-4 be "worse" (although mandatory for a 6.4L with a DPF)?

I would like to see all of the same brands tested with a CJ-4 rating to see how they all compare, apples to apples. But for now, same old Motorcraft for me!

BeatMarti · 10-05-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rock_doctor

I don't know if this has been posted before but it is an interesting read, since he rates Rotella T as one of the worst....and that is what i use.....Turbo Diesel Register Tech: Lube Oil, Religion, Specifications and the TDR

Very interesting -- however, I would love to see a comparison of CJ-4 oils as that is what I end up having to use for this engine.

yukondiesel · 10-05-2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t613

Not to mention there was only one CJ-4 oil tested (the lowest-ranked). Without the typical additives found in CI-4, wouldn't the CJ-4 be "worse" (although mandatory for a 6.4L with a DPF)?

I would like to see all of the same brands tested with a CJ-4 rating to see how they all compare, apples to apples. But for now, same old Motorcraft for me!

Rotellla T dino and Rotella T syn? The Rotella dino was rated 4th ot 5th (not too bad) and CJ-4 is MANDATED for the 6.4?

rock_doctor · 10-05-2009, 02:50 PM

the number on the list isn't the ranking it is just its number on the list. You have to go through the text to get his comments on each brand. The new dpf diesels need to use CJ-4 oils which are low ash oils. Most of the oil you will find now a days are CJ-4.

t613 · 10-06-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukondiesel

Rotellla T dino and Rotella T syn? The Rotella dino was rated 4th ot 5th (not too bad) and CJ-4 is MANDATED for the 6.4?

The Rotella syn was rated CI-4, not CJ-4. My point was that the Rotella dino was the only CJ-4 oil tested and was the "worst" ranked (read the text, not the reference number). Would love to see the same test with ONLY CJ-4 oil (because that's what we have to run, at least until our DPFs fall off). That would mean more to me than a mix of types.

LMJD · 10-06-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

I'm with you, i have been using rotella t for 30 yrs but from now on i'm using Valvoline Blue.

You're kidding. Rotella T is one of the best ones out their, the heavy trucking industry has been using it for years. Many of those oils are not even on an equal playing field, Castrol GTX Diesel is for diesel cars and light pickups, it's not even rated for heavy trucks which some of the others are. One of the REAL Castrol heavy diesel engine rated oils comparable to Rotella T, Delo, is RX Super 15-40. And most all heavy diesels, including smaller diesels require 15-40wt, and one of his favorites is the 5-40.

What say you, Believer 45, you've been in the industry quite a while?

SilveradoHauler · 10-07-2009, 03:18 PM

Most of the logging trucks out here use Delo 15-40, the guys like Cat power.

So, I do not think you would see them using Delo if it was not up to spec for heavy truck diesels.

LMJD · 10-07-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

So, I do not think you would see them using Delo if it was not up to spec for heavy truck diesels.

Yep, Chevron Delo has a good rep and is one of the most popular in the diesel industry. Every diesel shop I worked in for over 25 years stocked only Delo 15-40 and Delo 30wt.

Charlie · 10-12-2009, 08:11 PM

Lucas "Oil Stabilizer" has a viscosity of 110 cSt @ 100 C., about as thick as 1000 weight gear oil!! In their MSDS they describe it as "residual oil", which is what the US Navy used to burn in warships till they changed to JP8. In ships it requires pre-heating to flow. I would only put it into a crankcase if I had a bad bearing and I just had to get somewhere to tear the engine down. It is absolutely bad for Powerstrokes due to the HPOP.
Their "Synthetic Oil Stabilizer" still has a viscosity >40 cSt at 100 C., which is about what 180 weight gear oil is rated at. Lucas says it's OK for Powerstrokes....I don't agree.
Incidentally, analyses of these Lucas products posted on BITOG show they are nothing but very thick oil.

Charlie