Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Oil availability anger.....

[JGheen]

Well, I recently had switched from the Rotella T to the Valvoline Premium Blue to see how it performed as well as held up to breakdown and soot build-up. Now I am having some serious oil availability issues. I couldn't find any Valvoline PB anywhere down here in the Santa Clarita Valley. Checked all the local Kragens, where I got it before and they were all out. We had to go upstate to Fresno for the day Saturday, so I let the oil change go a little longer for the 3 hour roadtrip(since I didn't have any oil to change it with) and actually found some PB at a Kragens in Clovis.

Well, the whole time I am looking for PB, every Kragens has the Delo 400 as well as the Rotella. So, now I have been regretting changing to the Valvoline due to it's availablity. The Valvoline performs fine and takes the soot build-up very well, but I just don't want to get stuck again cuz the local store ran out of the brand of oil I was using.

So, my questions are, is the Valvoline PB more popular than the Delo 400 or the Rotella? Is that why when the store gets some in, it is gone the next day?

Also, since the Delo 400 and Rotella are more available at more stores, would it hurt anything to go back to the Rotella or try the Delo 400? Just curious what some of youz guyz opinions are on switching my oil back or to another different oil, such as the Delo. I was going to try the Delo 400 cuz it was all that some stores had and I haden't experimented with it yet, but I found 7 gallons left of PB at the Clovis Kragens and that will last me a while till I my local store recieves more.

Sorry for the long post, but i had to explain myself a bit.

Thanks, Joe

 

[dpuckett]

As long as it is a 15w40, I'd venture to say it really wont matter what brand it is, as long as it meets the API requirements for your engine; the latest being CI-4/SL. I have at times, had to buy a gallon of a differnt brand for one reason or another (cam plug puking being the reason the last time), and have had no problems.



I have run Delo400, RotellaT, Mobil Delvac, and Wal Mart elcheapo, and have had about the same consumption with all of them- about a qt every 2000mi, barring any huge leaks that pop up in the meantime.



Daniel

 

[BigPapa]

I'm in the motorcycle business and I see this quite often. There are so many different 2-stroke and now 4-stroke oils on the market and everytime some magazine runs a comparison we always get requests for whatever the mag said was "the best". My personal opinion and what I practice is, run the best "common" product because (A) it's got to be good or it would be long gone from the market and (B) any shop or parts house will carry it. I run Rotella 15w-40 in my truck. EVERYBODY carries it and how many BILLIONS of miles do you think have been run with it in the crankcase? I would say that the stores were out of the Valvoline because it is NOT popular and therefore they don't carry much of it. The reason they have plenty of Rotella and Delo is because it IS the most popular.

 

[mikel]

BigPapa summed it up pretty well, that's why I run the Delo 15w-40. Sometimes avaliability *is* important...



Mike

 

[JGheen]

Originally posted by BigPapa

I would say that the stores were out of the Valvoline because it is NOT popular and therefore they don't carry much of it. The reason they have plenty of Rotella and Delo is because it IS the most popular.

I would have to disagree because from the statements that the employees at the dozens of Kragens stores I went to, told me, the Valvoline is their most popular cuz it is gone as soon as it hits the store. The reason they had more of the Rotella and Delo was cuz everyone's first choice is the Valvoline and it was sold out before the others. Maybe not all stores carry the Valvoline, but those who do, it goes like hot cakes at a bakery.

At least if I do make the change to Delo, it shouldn't hurt anything. I was just curious if anyone had the same issues that I did switching oils just to see how they performed.

 

[Joe G.]

The Kragens store here in Eureka stopped carrying Valvoline PB because of lack of demand. They sell a lot of Valvoline for gasoline engines, but not diesels. I gave up on it and switched to Delo quite a while ago.

 

[JGheen]

Originally posted by Joe G.

The Kragens store here in Eureka stopped carrying Valvoline PB because of lack of demand. They sell a lot of Valvoline for gasoline engines, but not diesels. I gave up on it and switched to Delo quite a while ago.

So, in your opinion, as well as anyone else who wants to respond to this, is Valvoline PB a crap oil now for some reason? What makes the Delo or Rotella more popular?

If the Valvoline is crap, then why does Cummins still endorse it and recommend it?

 

[RT66DOC]

1. What's the deal with the "new" Delo that's supposed to be coming out next month?



2. Anybody see any problem switching from Delvac 1, which I have used over the past 75K miles, to Delo? Easier to find, cheaper and lots of good reports.

 

[JGheen]

"New" Delo????

 

[Joe G.]

As far as I know Valvoline PB is very good oil. The consumers don't seem to know that.

 

[JGheen]

Originally posted by Joe G.

As far as I know Valvoline PB is very good oil. The consumers don't seem to know that.

It should be being it is backed by Cummins and I have never heard of anyone complaining about the quality of Valvoline oils in general. But doesn't hurt to ask the others who may have used it on this site. Thanks for your opinion on it, Joe. But what did you mean, "the consumers don't seem to know that?" You think consumers just go with what's mostly available or popular and don't really do any research on the oil they are using?

 

[Joe G.]

I don't know why, but the Valvoline PB gallon bottles were always dusty. The others were not. I asked the clerk and he said there was not much call for it. I have not seen it on the shelves the last few times I was in there for anything. I know that the gasoline engine Valvoline oil sells well in the same store. I wonder what oil Ford and Chevy recommend for their diesels. I don't know what the local dealers use for their service except for Dodge. They used something with a Mopar label when I bought my truck. Some guys use what ever the dealer use when they start doing their own oil changes. The local quick lube joints use Penzoil or Quaker State. At least that is what their signs say. Of course, this area is not exactly a metropolitan area with parts stores all over the place.

 

[braible]

my local napa store didnt carry PB . now they order one case each month for me.

 

[MLee]

I assume that you are using the regular valvoline, and not the Extreme, Synthetic. Go to www.valvoline.com

There is a product locater there VIA your zip. but you will have to sort out the store for the right stuff, cause they will list all the valvoline products they carry. PB2000 is no longer made.

Marv.

 

[rs454]

I switched from rotella to valvoline pb and it seems to hold up to heavy traffic and long idle sessions better. I also work in a parts store and we sell it pretty good but it has only been available to us for a few months now.

 

[Howard Durand]

I have been using PB for 105K miles and have no problem with quality. My problem is with availability and cost.

Next change will be to Delo 400.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Here in Florida, at least Orlando area Advance Discount Auto is carrying Premium Blue at what seems to be a good price by the gallon.

I found another auto parts store where they have Valvoline 15w40 all fleet plus avaible.

Napa's oil I found out recently is bottled by Valvoline.

Happy oiling!!!