More wear after Rotella 15/40 to Rotella 5/40 syn switch!

[MMead]

Since my truck was new I've been running Rotella T 15W-40. My numbers have always been fine. I just switched to Rotella T 5W-40 Synthetic and my Iron number went from a steady 22 up to 30.



I also noticed the Molybdenum went down. Does the Molybdenum go down because it is not as necessary with synthetics? Has anyone else switched from Rotella dino to Rotella synthetic and gotten bad results?

 

[Dieselhed]

I've thought about switching several times. Now I'm glad I didn't. The dino Rotella is all I've ever used and I own 3 different Cummins powered Dodges with 0 problems.

 

[Doubleclutch]

Wonder if the higher iron was due more to the change in viscosity?

 

[6 2 Carl]

Since you don't need the cold flowing characteristics of the 5w40 synthetic in Florida. I would just continue running the 15w40. Dino diesel oils come with a great additive package, and IMHO the only advantages most synthetic oils have are their cold flowing characteristics.



Carl

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I keep pointing out the high percentages of guys switching to synthetics, and then reporting increased wear metals - and then take flak from the synthetic oil fans who claim it ain't so...

 

[Grizzly]

I don't know if I want to switch to Rotella synthetic now.

 

[KNeeley]

Most syn. oils will not reduce engine wear. The only advantages to them is cold flow and extended oil drains :-{}

On a side note the 5w-40 Rotella is not a full syn. , but a Group III oil.

 

[GaryCarter]

Is it possible the syn. dissolved some sludge deposits and that's why your reading went up?

I would talk to the oil lab people about what their experience is. They see more results in one day than we ever will...



GC

 

[jwduke]

Intersting!

 

[hotram03]

syn.rotella

I have been running syn. rotella t for 35,000 miles now and do a lab analysis every other oil change and have no unusal wear readings at all, my lab guy even gives me the viscosity check, and its never even broken down and I think he said he takes it to 400 deg F when he checks it and I go 7500 miles between changes and have really turned up the juice to the ole beast, I am very happy with the synthetic just a footnote.

 

[MMead]

I got my Oil Analysis done by Blackstone and they said my results were good, but they just were not as good as they were when I was using dino Rotella. Another thing I forgot to mention in my first post was that the Flashpoint of the oil dropped down to 400 degrees (10 degrees below the minimum expected value). I really have no idea what that means, but that number has never been an issue in the past.

 

[MMead]

I'm going to attempt to attach my report (it says I've attached the file but I don't see it).



Like I said, I don't think it's that bad, just not as good as it was with dino (especially the iron).

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I'm going to attempt to attach my report (it says I've attached the file but I don't see it).



Like I said, I don't think it's that bad, just not as good as it was with dino (especially the iron).

Wear metals are a bit above what Blackstone calls for as a "universal average" - but a reality check indicates the increase you see is pretty minimal in the overall scheme of things - most of the increases I have seen with guys switching from a good brand Dino to Synthetics are also pretty minimal, just an increase over previous.



Nothing to get excited about, and probably a small price to pay for the other usual benefits of the synthetics.



Molybedenum is an excellent wear reducer - and the loss/lower moly content of your last analysis might contribute a bit to higher wear metals. That's one reason I really like the latest formulation of Delo 400 - Chevron has now added a substantial percentage of Moly in the Delo, and that added to the long-standing excellence of the Delo is just frosting on the cake! Oo. Oo.

 

[BillGotthelf]

Gary you just like to wear your flameproof underwear.

 

[Johnstra]

GaryCarter is right... It's typical upon switching from dino to syn for wear numbers to be higher for the first 1 or 2 intervals. Reason is just as Gary says, the syn does a lot of cleaning and holds wear metals in suspension. Your #s look great.

-john

 

[MacHaggis]

Yeah. What they said.



This is a recurrent topic in my old tractor hobby. The manuals for the old machines recommended straight-weight oils and, in the day, they were non-detergent oils.



Leaving the multi-viscosity issues of those discussions aside, the issue of detergent-or-no comes up often and is strikingly similar to yours WRT synthetic/dino. Consensus amongst us tractor types is to stick with non-detergent in a dirty engine. The last thing you want is one chunk of crud breaking loose from a little corner of an oil passage in the crank. A good rebuild and detergent oils will be fine. (It's gettin 'harder every day to find non-detergent straight 30 :{ )



But your Cummins is newer, better-engineered and has been maintained far better than the 50+ year old engines I'm talking about, and the switch to synthetic doesn't pose anything like the same hazard.



Looking at your numbers, I'd say your fine. Mathematically, there isn't enough information in the report on your engine to say if your higher iron number this round is statistically significant or not. I'd write it off this time to a different lube picking up crud that the last lube didn't, and keep an eye on it going forward.



I wonder sometimes if some of the tractor engines (1924, 1947 . . . and still running ) that I've torn into would still have been running if they'd been built with the metals and tolerances we can achieve today.



Bottom line, keep an eye, but I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

[byoslandry]

Does anyone know where to get my oil checked in Southern Louisiana?

Byron

04 QC CTD 8'LB 2x4 26,000 Miles

 

[DKarvwnaris]

Does anyone know where to get my oil checked in Southern Louisiana?

Byron

04 QC CTD 8'LB 2x4 26,000 Miles

Same goes for Central Alabama???? Montgomery to be exact. We just moved here. Used to drop off to a friend in Montana who had it tested with his fleet supplier.

Any truck stops around this area who have onsite labs? Several Owner operators I know mentioned this out west.

 

[DPKetchum]

Send it to Blackstone labs