Amsoil or Mobil1? also when to start using

[BNewman]

When should I start using a synthetic lube, and which is better Amsoil or Mobil? You're thoughts please.

 

[DLoughery]

I am using the Mobil Delvac 1 which I started using at 8,000 miles. Easy starts in winter months and no oil use to speak of. The Delvac 1 is designed for diesel engines whereas the Mobil 1 is for gas engines. I think they recomended waiting untill 10k to start with synthetic but winter was coming on so I switched a bit early.

 

[BNewman]

Thanks, all comments welcome.

 

[RustyJC]

If you can't find Delvac I, Mobil I Truck and SUV formula is the same oil repackaged for the consumer market.



Although this will likely turn into an "oil wars" thread, either oil is so far above the requirement of the Cummins engine that you'll probably never notice any significant difference in performance between them. If it's important to you, the Mobil oils carry the API certification donut for CI-4 which could eliminate any warranty questions with DaimlerChrysler - the Amsoil doesn't (unless it's changed recently).



By the way, I ain't got no dog in this fight. In the interest of "truth in advertising", I run Delo 400 in the truck, Mobil I in the wife's Durango, and Royal Purple in my Acura 3. 2TL-S.



Rusty

 

[p-Bar]

That syn. is a little to slippery for me. I think it is important to get those rings to seated first. My brother bought a 76 honda civic brand new and as soon as he got it home he drained the oil and put in mobil 1 syn. the rings never seated and always had blow by. True story, I'll put on 30 k before I switch to a syn.



Don

 

[LightmanE300]

That syn. is a little to slippery for me. I think it is important to get those rings to seated first. My brother bought a 76 honda civic brand new and as soon as he got it home he drained the oil and put in mobil 1 syn. the rings never seated and always had blow by. True story, I'll put on 30 k before I switch to a syn.



Don

Every single BMW, Mercedes, VW, Audi, Porsche, etc etc etc come straight from the factory with synthetic , and mandate its use. Are we to suppose none of their rings ever seat? That is a myth that you need to run dino for break-in IMO.



Bnewman, not sure of your location, but if you live in a warmer climate, I'd prefer to use the Amsoil 15w40 diesel oil. However if where you live gets below 15F or so, I'd recommend a 5w40 like Delvac 1/Mobil Truck&SUV.

 

[PLaFrombois]

Amsoil has their own 5W-40 oil that can be used in diesels. It only comes in quarts, 30, and 55 gallon drum at this time.

 

[Punkineater]

If you can't find Delvac I, Mobil I Truck and SUV formula is the same oil repackaged for the consumer market.



Although this will likely turn into an "oil wars" thread, either oil is so far above the requirement of the Cummins engine that you'll probably never notice any significant difference in performance between them. If it's important to you, the Mobil oils carry the API certification donut for CI-4 which could eliminate any warranty questions with DaimlerChrysler - the Amsoil doesn't (unless it's changed recently).



By the way, I ain't got no dog in this fight. In the interest of "truth in advertising", I run Delo 400 in the truck, Mobil I in the wife's Durango, and Royal Purple in my Acura 3. 2TL-S.



Rusty

Amsoils website is quoting CI-4 certification. Any Amsoil dealers on here that can verify this?

 

[RustyJC]

Look on the bottle. If the API donut isn't there, it isn't certified. Period. Full stop.



"Meets the requirements of... " isn't the same thing as actual API certification, I don't care how someone might want to spin it. If you go through the API certification process, your product gets the donut. If you don't, it doesn't.



As I said earlier, this may or may not be important to you in your decision to use the product. Failure to submit the product to API for certification testing isn't prima facie evidence of a sub-standard product, but it does open the door for DaimlerChrysler to raise warranty questions on a lubricant-related failure.



Rusty

 

[LightmanE300]

Amsoil is 'rated' not certified. Big difference to the dealers, little difference to your engine.

 

[Punkineater]

Interesting..... that is something I did not know. I was actually going to run Amsoil after break-in, but that gets me thinking. If the manufacturer doesn't want to go through the trouble to certify then I'm sure not going to risk my new Cummins to it. I've run Mobil 1 in my Honda since first oil change and at 112,000 miles this car is still going strong and doesn't burn or leak a drop.

 

[ChrisKringle]

Amsoil has their own 5W-40 oil that can be used in diesels. It only comes in quarts, 30, and 55 gallon drum at this time.

It's available in all sizes, one and four gallon as well.



Amsoil is the $#@

 

[CMeese]

I plan to switch over to Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme 5W-40 Synthetic at my next oil change at around 14K miles. It is endorsed by Cummins. You may want to try it. I picked it after looking at all the synthetic options.

 

[oilburner]

Interesting, if you look at the Cummins website section on the dodge it states that you can use CH-4 or CI-4. And if these are not available you can use CG-4 at a reduced interval of 7500 miles. I know this conflicts with the manual but do we trust DC or Cummins? I am confused.



http://www.everytime.cummins.com/every/applications/ram_maintenance.jsp

 

[RustyJC]

I know this conflicts with the manual but do we trust DC or Cummins?

Guess that depends whether you're in warranty or not. If you're in warranty, DC provides the warranty, not Cummins. If you're not in warranty, then I'd believe whoever I chose.



Rusty

 

[nkiewel]

I plan to switch over to Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme 5W-40 Synthetic at my next oil change at around 14K miles. It is endorsed by Cummins. You may want to try it. I picked it after looking at all the synthetic options.

This has been discussed here several times before. It is my understanding that Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme is a dino based syntetic and not a true synthetic. At 15K, I switched to Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme, but after learning about the differences from other members of this board I decided to switch to Delvac 1 5W-40 (Mobile 1 Truck and SUV) at 30K. This is a great oil and I just picked up 48 qts on sale for $3. 99/qt. I would rather pay ~$16/gal for a real synthetic than ~$16/gal for a dino based synthetic.

 

[RustyJC]

As closely as I can tell from the Valvoline website, Premium Blue Extreme is a Group III oil - petroleum base stocks that have been severely hydrocracked. See the following excerpt from the product MSDS sheet:

2. COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS



Ingredient(s) CAS Number % (by weight)

-------------------------------------------- ------------- -------------

DISTILLATES, PETROLEUM, HYDROTREATED HEAVY P 64742-54-7 63. 0- 73. 0

LUBE OIL ADDITIVE 68037-01-4 16. 0- 26. 0

DETERGENT/DISPERSANT ADDITIVE 13. 0- 17. 0

It's interesting that Valvoline never comes out and says on their website whether their base stock is Group III or IV.



Mobil I Truck and SUV (aka Delvac I) and the Amsoil product utilize Group IV PAO (polyalphaolefin) base stock - they are true synthetics.



Rusty