Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) CJ-4 oil

[GAmes]

Did I miss something, or was the article in issue 57 (can you believe it has been 4 1/2 years!) the last time that oil was talked about? Now that CI-4+ is no longer available, what is the next best thing? Go back to 3000 mile oil changes with CJ-4? Valvoline synthetic and a bypass system? I'm about to rebuild my original engine. I don't want to have to ever R&R it again.

 

[mainer29]

I found this site when researching oil.

All About Motor Oil

 

[Cosmo]

Last time I heard, Valvoline Premium Blue Classic was still available, somewhere. Don't ask me where, but your local Valvoline distributor should have it.

 

[BDaugherty]

You can still buy CL4+ at a CAT equipment dealer. If it's a CAT truck engine shop, they will try to sell you CJ oil so you will need to part number. I don't have it available to me right now, but I know it's posted multiple times in oil discussion threads. You could also have a CAT parts guy look it up in the One Safe Source book.

I've also seen CL4+ at Tractor Supply Co in their Traveler brand.

 

[swhalen]

GAmes:

BDaugherty is correct, check a CAT dealer. You want CAT DEO #248-7518 if my memory serves me correctly. Brace yourself, however, CAT is pretty proud of the stuff. Might be cheaper at a big rig shop.

Regards, Steve Whalen

 

[GaryOwen]

I ran CJ-4 Rotella for several hundred thousand miles when I was delivering trailers and saw no ill effects. I did oil analysis with both CI and CJ oils. Here is a quote from Blackstone about my oil analysis after 12672 miles with 488k miles. TBN number was still at 6. 6, so was still in great shape.



"You keep upping the ante by going longer on the oil with each successive oil sample. Data fromt esting on this latest sample from your 5. 9L shows that the engine took the last oil change in stride. Metal accumulation in the oil was generally lower than average and in the proper balance for this engine type, so no poor-wear issues were evident. Your filtration was great with only 0. 2% insolubles showing up. All in all, this engine is performing at the top of its game. "



From my personal experience I saw no difference between the CI and CJ oils and continue using CJ oil in my 95 truck. I settled in to 12k mile oil changes. I got out of the business and sold my truck with 531k miles (low miles by your standards) and it was still running great.



Personally I would use CJ Rotella and do some oil testing.

 

[BigPapa]

Gary,



I personally run the Schaeffer 7000 in my truck. If I was going to run something else I would probably go back to the Rotella with some Schaeffer #132 Moly E. P. Engine Oil Treatment or some zinc additive.

 

[bheiting]

Valvoline Premium Blue Classic was available last I knew. You can get it at Cummins distributors or NAPA. Local diesel heads made enough requests at our neighborhood NAPA that they now have it in stock. It only comes in 5 gal pails, so I just picked up a hand pump at Northern Tool - the one that fits on top of a pail. Works great. Watch for sales and then stock up.

 

[GAmes]

I wasn't aware of the classic premium blue. Thanks for that. The CAT oil wasn't ranked very high in the issue 57 test, so I'm not interested in that. I could cary an oil change worth of the premium blue when on the road, and if need be use CJ4 Rotella. I need to do some research on the Schaeffer oils.



Can someone talk about filter change intervals with a bypass system? Cost of filters, etc.

 

[KLauber]

I wasn't aware of the classic premium blue. Thanks for that. The CAT oil wasn't ranked very high in the issue 57 test, so I'm not interested in that. I could cary an oil change worth of the premium blue when on the road, and if need be use CJ4 Rotella. I need to do some research on the Schaeffer oils.



Can someone talk about filter change intervals with a bypass system? Cost of filters, etc.

The Amsoil bypass filters are good for 2X oil change intervals or no more than 50,000 per change interval. Change the bypass filter every other oil and filter change. The BMK-21 bypass I put on my 6. 7 L is $191 and the EABP100 filter is $41. 40. These are retail prices so my cost was about 25% less. Tax and shipping not included. https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ns-2007-5/235187-bypass-filter-installed.html

 

[KLauber]

I ran CJ-4 Rotella for several hundred thousand miles when I was delivering trailers and saw no ill effects. I did oil analysis with both CI and CJ oils. Here is a quote from Blackstone about my oil analysis after 12672 miles with 488k miles. TBN number was still at 6. 6, so was still in great shape.



"You keep upping the ante by going longer on the oil with each successive oil sample. Data fromt esting on this latest sample from your 5. 9L shows that the engine took the last oil change in stride. Metal accumulation in the oil was generally lower than average and in the proper balance for this engine type, so no poor-wear issues were evident. Your filtration was great with only 0. 2% insolubles showing up. All in all, this engine is performing at the top of its game. "



From my personal experience I saw no difference between the CI and CJ oils and continue using CJ oil in my 95 truck. I settled in to 12k mile oil changes. I got out of the business and sold my truck with 531k miles (low miles by your standards) and it was still running great.



Personally I would use CJ Rotella and do some oil testing.

That's the biggest cost saver right there. Test it!

 

[GAmes]

The Amsoil bypass filters are good for 2X oil change intervals or no more than 50,000 per change interval. Change the bypass filter every other oil and filter change.

Could you clarify that a little please? No more than 50,000 per change interval Are you saying change the primary filter and oil every 25k, and the bypass every 50k? I was under the impression a person could just change filters at XX intervals, replenish the qt or 2 and keep going for quite a few miles. Am I way off base there?

 

[KLauber]

Could you clarify that a little please? No more than 50,000 per change interval Are you saying change the primary filter and oil every 25k, and the bypass every 50k? I was under the impression a person could just change filters at XX intervals, replenish the qt or 2 and keep going for quite a few miles. Am I way off base there?

Sorry. I was wrong!



"When used in conjunction with AMSOIL motor oil and an AMSOIL EaO or Donaldson Endurance™ filter, the EaBP Filter should be changed every other full-flow filter change up to 60,000 miles. When used with other brands of motor oil or full-flow filters, the EaBP Filter should be changed every other full-flow filter change. AMSOIL recommends using oil analysis when extending oil drain intervals.



AMSOIL - Ea By-Pass Oil Filters (EaBP)

 

[GAmes]

So it is still necessary to conform to the recommended oil change intervals even with a bypass system? I am very familiar with oil analysis in aircraft synthetic oils. We would take a sample every 25 flt hrs or so, submit it to the lab and wait for the report. If there were no anamolies, we kept on flying. If there was a high metal count we would be instructed to retest, then retest again in 5 more flr hrs. If the metal content got high enough they would recommend replacing the gearbox or engine that was bad.



Oil analysis for a diesel appears to concentrate on other things. Glycol, soot, fuel and additives. If I'm working, I could easily put 5 or 6 thousand more miles on the engine before I get the results back from the lab. Extending oil change intervals, in my mind, is the only good reason to go thru the trouble and expense of a BP system.

 

[Cosmo]

What they're saying is to test your oil if you're extending your OCIs, but they don't recommend going over 60k on a bypass filter.

I'm running an FS2500 which basically recommends the same thing - every other OCI change the bypass filter, however if you're going longer than the factory intervals get the oil tested.


NAPA has a sale on Premium blue - $13/gallon right now for the CJ-4 stuff. I didn't think to ask if they had the Classic (and if it was on sale) but I'll ask when I go back in.

 

[KLauber]

I found this site when researching oil.



All About Motor Oil

Well written and detailed website. Thanks for the link Mainer29!



Great quote near the end... "For extended oil life or superior protection, I recommend AMSOil, Golden Spectro, Motul 5100 or Mobil-1. "

 

[OldRetiredAFGuy]

Lucas CI-4 Oil

Lucas is still making CI-4 oil. I get my local O'Reilly store to order it in and stock it for me.



Lucas calls it "Long Drain HD Motor Oil"; High TBN CI-4.



PN for the quart is 10075; gallon is 10076. 3 letter code for Lucas in the O'Reilly system is "LUC".

 

[Mhannink]

I wasn't aware of the classic premium blue. Thanks for that. The CAT oil wasn't ranked very high in the issue 57 test, so I'm not interested in that. I could cary an oil change worth of the premium blue when on the road, and if need be use CJ4 Rotella. I need to do some research on the Schaeffer oils.



Can someone talk about filter change intervals with a bypass system? Cost of filters, etc.

another one for the schaffers. over the years i have run a number of their products on a variety of trucks and their uses. no product has ever come close to it in my experience. now it is the only product i will run.

 

[m1ashooter]

Amsoil makes a CI-4 oil, 15w-40 Heavy Duty Diesel and marine oil. I run it in the Dodge and my jetboat.

 

[JKosten]

Did I miss something, or was the article in issue 57 (can you believe it has been 4 1/2 years!) the last time that oil was talked about? Now that CI-4+ is no longer available, what is the next best thing? Go back to 3000 mile oil changes with CJ-4? Valvoline synthetic and a bypass system? I'm about to rebuild my original engine. I don't want to have to ever R&R it again.

So is your original question about where to find CI-4 oil now that most oil is the new "low emission blend"?



If so look at tractor dealers. My work (New Holland) uses CNH MasterGold oil. It works really well in the diesel tractor motors and Cunmins makes engines for CNH.



Here is some info (2012)



New Holland MasterGold™ is a premium high performance diesel engine oil designed and tested by New Holland engineering for heavy duty high temperature operation, low temperature startability and pumpability in New Holland diesel engines. It is APPROVED by New Holland for engineering standard MAT3507.



HEAVY DUTY diesel engines depend on high quality diesel engine oil for optimum performance and long life. New Holland MasterGold™ is recommended for naturally aspirated and turbocharged diesel engines requiring oils meeting performance requirements of API Service Classification:

CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, CF-4, CF, CE, CDII, CD, or CC;

Cummins 20076, 20077, 20078, ACEAE5; Mack EO/K-2;

Mack EO-M+ and EO-N; JASO CD; MAN 270 and 271; and

Caterpillar Series 3.



MasterGold™ Engine Oil provides superior piston and valve train protection as demonstrated by Cummins test requirements. Meets Cummins engine viscosity

requirements and provides excellent oil consumption control and engine wear protection. High total base number meets Caterpillar requirements for use with fuels containing up to 0. 5% sulfur. Minimizes engine deposits and provides excellent soot control. The multi-grades provide excellent

low temperature pumpability.



Suitable for transmissions and hydraulic systems where engine oil is recommended. Meets Caterpillar TO-2 and Allison C-3 and C-4 performance requirements. Use specified SAE Viscosity Grade.