6 Month Oil change??

[gsbrockman]

Well put, sag2.....to my knowledge, the Shell oil is in the form of 15W40 for the CTD's and the Pennzoil is for everything else (5w20, 5w30, 10w30, etc.) At the current time----I still perform all of my servicing at home (oil changes, fuel filters, and tire rotations) and will continue to do so as long as I'm physically able to do so.

 

[JLandry]

If you have any work done at the dealer it will get Shell/Pennzoil products.

I can confirm this. I recently had my 2014's oil change changed a Chrysler dealer in Warrenton, OR and they used Shell Rotella 15W-40.

John L.

 

[AlFischer]

I used penzoil religiously back in the 70s and at 67,000 miles on my truck a rod started knocking, never used it again after that,Never had another rod knocking either,Monte

Years ago I tore down an ngine that had Penzoil in it for over 100k. Found HARD CRUSTY buildup all over the inside. Read somewhere that it was typical for any Pennsylvania sourced oil. Something about hard ash. Recommended soft ash from Oklahoma. I am no oil engineer, but no longer use Penzoil!

 

[AlFischer]

If you have any work done at the dealer it will get Shell/Pennzoil products. It is the official oil of Mopar and has been for the last several years, since Fiat took over. If the factory uses it and has to cover failures for up to 100k it's good enough for me. Pretty sure any oil that meets the latest specifications is a pretty good oil.

If the service mgr has told me that, I would prrobably be taking my truck to him. But at this point I don't have a lot of confidence in the dealer.

 

[RikDavis]

According to the service sheet I am getting Penzoil 15w40 for my 4 free oil changes from the dealer.

 

[jus2shy]

According to the service sheet I am getting Penzoil 15w40 for my 4 free oil changes from the dealer.

Hi Rik, Shell and Pennzoil are one in the same. Both are owned by Royal Dutch Shell. Shell Rotella is basically Diesel Pennzoil. In the end, all that matters is that oil meets API-CJ4 and CES20081.

 

[Newsa]

I'm glad someone started this thread. I did some research and discovered some Amsoil I bought, but didn't yet use has friction reducers that could clog the DPF & mess up the SCR. Then I looked up how expensive it is to replace the exhaust system and it is estimated at $7000. I might give that oil to a buddy who has an older deleted diesel.

 

[Too Tall]

Only thing I can think of is oxidation of the oil. Just sitting for long periods of time will also allow moisture to intrude as the crankcase breaths each day/night. Running burns the moisture off. I'm guessing here.

Agree, this is what I've always heard also.

 

[S.Morris]

My wife has a 14 Jetta TDI. It is DPF but SCR not started till 15 models. They are very specific to use an oil with a 507.00 rating. This is very hard to find and I have decided to let VW do the oil changes at the recommmended 15000km intervals. After some research it seems,using less than the newest rating has oil additives that will cause the DPF to accumulate ash at a faster rate(leading to shorter lifespan). Sooooooo anything that will maximize DPF life is what I will use.

 

[AlFischer]

My wife has a 14 Jetta TDI. It is DPF but SCR not started till 15 models. They are very specific to use an oil with a 507.00 rating. This is very hard to find and I have decided to let VW do the oil changes at the recommmended 15000km intervals. After some research it seems,using less than the newest rating has oil additives that will cause the DPF to accumulate ash at a faster rate(leading to shorter lifespan). Sooooooo anything that will maximize DPF life is what I will use.

Strange that the Jetta is not SCR. Our 2014 Passat TDI is DPF and SCR. Tank for 'ADBLUE' (DEF) in the trunk. I asked what oil they used and was told Castrol Synthetic. That gave me a good feeling. However Ram told me 'Some knda Pennzoil' and it really turned me off. My understanding is that DELO 400 LE meets the spec and that is what I put in. If you know anything to the contrary please say so. I also used a Stratopore 16035 NOT thee Mopar filter. I feel the stratopore is better.

 

[MJWenrich]

I recall many years ago breaking into an engine that had been run 97,000 miles and developed a lifter knock. Pulled the covers and was amazed at the gunk. It had always been serviced with Pennzoil. Checked around and one old time mechanic told me "check the can it's a parafin based oil and that is a wax based sludge on the parts and covers". I have not looked at the Rotella containers but hopefully it is not parafin based oil. Assuming parafin build up was the problem of course. Been using Delo and Valveoline in my '04 with no problem.

 

[AlFischer]

I recall many years ago breaking into an engine that had been run 97,000 miles and developed a lifter knock. Pulled the covers and was amazed at the gunk. It had always been serviced with Pennzoil. Checked around and one old time mechanic told me "check the can it's a parafin based oil and that is a wax based sludge on the parts and covers". I have not looked at the Rotella containers but hopefully it is not parafin based oil. Assuming parafin build up was the problem of course. Been using Delo and Valveoline in my '04 with no problem.

What I had was not what I call 'sludge'. It was a hard brownish coating over most if the inside. including on the crank where nothing rubbed. Nasty to remove.

 

[JLandry]

What I had was not what I call 'sludge'. It was a hard brownish coating over most if the inside. including on the crank where nothing rubbed. Nasty to remove.

That sounds like oil "coking."

Info on this subject from Exxon Mobile is available HERE and HERE.

John L.

 

[jacknife]

What you do is at 6 months get an oil analisys and see what the tbn and viscosity and all the other measurements are and go from there. Oil like blood can tell you all you need to know about what is going on with your engine. You can spot trends long before a code or check engine light comes on and show them to the deale r when you see to high od acertain metal etc etc..

 

[sag2]

Strange that the Jetta is not SCR. Our 2014 Passat TDI is DPF and SCR. Tank for 'ADBLUE' (DEF) in the trunk. I asked what oil they used and was told Castrol Synthetic. That gave me a good feeling. However Ram told me 'Some knda Pennzoil' and it really turned me off. My understanding is that DELO 400 LE meets the spec and that is what I put in. If you know anything to the contrary please say so. I also used a Stratopore 16035 NOT thee Mopar filter. I feel the stratopore is better.

Mopar filters are Cummins/Fleetguard filters.

 

[AlFischer]

That sounds like oil "coking."

Info on this subject from Exxon Mobile is available HERE and HERE.

John L.

That sounds like what I had. Never saw it after switching from Pennzoil to Valvoline.

 

[AlFischer]

Mopar filters are Cummins/Fleetguard filters.

Is the Mopar filter they supply Stratopore?

 

[AnOldBiker]

Is the Mopar filter they supply Stratopore?

I'd really like to know this also. The last time I read anything about Mopar filters, they had contracts with other filter companies making filters for them and Cummins/Fleetguard was not mentioned at all. I understand that companies like Mopar and such can't produce and sell everything, so they contract out like most business of today. But I can't buy a product not knowing the real manufacture it is from. I made a large investment buying my truck, and I like to know what's really going into it.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The Mopar oil filter is Fleetguard, as sag2 said. Probably the cellulose version. Stratapore is the premium filter, and as John Martin wrote in the TDR a couple years ago, a very worthwhile upgrade. Some years ago I heard that Fleetguard also made Caterpillar filters, and painted them as such. So, it is easy for Cummins to build the engines for Ram and install their filters with Mopar paint and numbering at the assembly plant.

 

[AlFischer]

The Mopar oil filter is Fleetguard, as sag2 said. Probably the cellulose version. Stratapore is the premium filter, and as John Martin wrote in the TDR a couple years ago, a very worthwhile upgrade. Some years ago I heard that Fleetguard also made Caterpillar filters, and painted them as such. So, it is easy for Cummins to build the engines for Ram and install their filters with Mopar paint and numbering at the assembly plant.

I changed mine the other day (after reading your grest article in the TDR Mag!!) Just got the old one (Mopar) from the trash can. The filter is fluted and made in Mexico. Looked at a Stratopore 16035. Fluted and made in Mexice. Don't think the old cellulose filters were fluted. Not sure. I am sure that the filter is installed by Cummins before they test run the engine. Looks like it could be a Stratopore!

Well, I have 6 16035 sitting on my shelf in the shop and I will continue useing them and my good ole Delo 400 LE from Costco. Now looks like I need to order som fuel filters. This is going to be one expensive vehicle to maintain.