[Greg_Watkins]

I use Rotella 15w-40 year round. I will traveling to Florida next week for 2 weeks and I will be pulling a 34' travel trailer. Would there be any huge advantage to changing to synthetic oil for just this trip? Like say Rotella 5w-40 for example? Or should I just stay with what has been working? I am wondering if the heat down south would be a good reason to change to the synthetic?

thanks,
greg

2002 Excursion 4x4 7.3

 

[pabrannan]

stay with what you are using.

Paul B

 

[SmokeyWren]

What Paul said.

The 5w40 might be better for cold starts up north when it's colder than a well digger's hiney. But for the hot summertime temps down south, there's nothing better than Rotella T 15w40.

 

[gregrob]

NOTHING better? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif

Do you also believe that synth oil is no better than dino?
I agree that Rotella T 15-40 IS good oil, but nothing better? I dunno about that.

 

[RagingMain]

As far as heat is concerned down south a 40weight either from a 5 or 15 is still a 40weight oil, plus if he is going to be towing a 34' trailer syn is definately better at protecting the engine because syn can protect far better from break down due to heat.

I would be more concerned about the tranny fluid towing something that big. If not already running syn in the tranny seriously consided switching
Cheers

 

[HenryJ]

Greg

I been in and out of FL many time with my old 99 psd clanker. I would not even consider changing grades of oil to go there. Rotella T 15W40 will probably get me to the gravew or at least past the stage of wanting to climb into the camper /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif

 

[SmokeyWren]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you also believe that synth oil is no better than dino?

[/ QUOTE ]

A good synthetic motor oil might be "better" in some respects, but for all practical purposes in our pickups, it's not cost effective to pay more money for a synthetic.

For a 7.3L PSD, the only thing better about synthetic oil is cold starts in the wintertime. And that has more to do with viscosity than with whether the oil began life as soybeans or crude oil.

Thousands of truckers have proved over millions of miles that good dino diesel-rated motor oil such as Rotella or DELO is good for over a million miles of engine life before the first major overhaul is needed. So if an engine will go a million miles on Rotella T or DELO 400, why would you want to waste money on a more-expensive motor oil?

 

[Duzitall]

I agree and add my two pennies. People tend to use their expensive synthetic oil way past what I (me) would consider appropriate service life. Buy dino oil and change often and recycle!

 

[Greg_Watkins]

Thanks all. Going to go get the Rotella 15w40.

greg

 

[Riggodeaux]

Good idea. Just picked up the Rotella for my next hot GA summer oil change - 7.77 per gal. on sale, less than what local walmarts charge for it. As a previous poster noted, I would think about the age of your ATF and watch the tranny temp gauge ....