Rotella T 10w-30

[JPulliam]

A buddy of mine did an oil change the other day with 10w30 Rotella T, then proceeded to call me and ask if it would be OK in his 2006. I had never heard of the 10w-30 weight Rotella, and I do not know what the common rail engines require as far as oil goes. The temps here will vary from 32 to 70 degrees at this time of year. Maybe sneaking into the upper 70's next month. He does not do any towing, racing, and the truck is all stock. Is this oil OK until the next oil chance, or should he drain it and go back to the 15w-40?

 

[JHardwick]

It sounds like he did not use diesel rated oil, which will not handle the soot very well.

 

[MoparDave]

10w30 Rotella T is in fact diesel oil, I dont think its approved for the 5. 9 cummins. 10w30 is now the factory fill on the powerstroke, thats what my 06 superpooper called for.

 

[JPulliam]

He said the label said CJ-4, so I assume it is rated for diesel use, like the 15w-40 oils.

 

[Gaylord]

You can't be serious!



The engineers designed an engine to use 15w40 oil and someone wants to run 10w30.



They may experience failure by design. I would drain it and replace it with the correct viscosity oil. At operating temperature (the engine temperature) 30wt. oil may not provide the proper fluid wedge. Why take the chance on an expensive engine?

 

[JPulliam]

My thoughts as well, but he can be stubborn.

 

[JHardwick]

My thoughts as well, but he can be stubborn.

Stubborn can be expensive :-laf

 

[steved]

You can't be serious!



The engineers designed an engine to use 15w40 oil and someone wants to run 10w30.



They may experience failure by design. I would drain it and replace it with the correct viscosity oil. At operating temperature (the engine temperature) 30wt. oil may not provide the proper fluid wedge. Why take the chance on an expensive engine?

And this is different than all the Amsoil guys running 5w30 how?

 

[Gaylord]

There is no difference.



If someone wants to run an oil viscosity that is not specified for their particular engine, they certainly can. While I'm sure that it is better than no oil, they may have early failure..... depends on the bearing clearances at assembly and the viscosity they use.



The whole idea of oil at a certain viscosity & pressure is to keep the metal pieces from touching each other. That's why the engineers specify specific viscosities for specific weather conditions. Usually this has some RPM restrictions when you are operating in extreme conditions... . like the Artic.



I just wouldn't take the chance. The hard part is that you may not experience any significant damage immediately, but over the life of the engine it will tell.

 

[dan.poitras]

I run Amsoil 15w-40. It cranks over at-30

like its summertime out.

 

[JPulliam]

I am going to tell him he should just drain and refill with 15w-40 Rotella. He just don't know no better.

 

[CKarnes]

Oils

Read the last 3 TDR Mags, there are some excellent write-ups on oils and the new CJ-4 oils. Like others have said, why chance hurting an expensive engine. Apparently the CJ-4's are for use in 7. 5 and later engines. For an 06 I'd look for the CI-4+ for better cam and bearing protection.

 

[roperteacher]

There are lots of guys who have Run CJ oils 20,000 miles or more with GREAT UOA's. The new CJ oils protect absolutely fine, you just have to drain them a little sooner, say 5,000 or so miles

 

[amsoilman]

As long as it meets/exceeds the specs. for Cummins, it should be just fine.



AMSOIL makes a Heavy Duty Diesel 5W-30 Engine oil that meets the following specs:

API CI-4+, CF, CF-2, SL • ACEA A3/B3, E2, E3, E5 • Global DHD-1 • JASO DH-1 • Mack EO-N Premium Plus '03 • DDC Power Guard 93K214 • Caterpillar ECF-1-a, ECF-2 • Cummins CES 20071, 20072, 20076, 20077, 20078 • Volvo VDS-2, VDS-3 • MB 228. 1, 228. 3, 229. 1 • MAN 3275 • MTU Type 1 • MIL-PRF-2104G



I know of large OTR trucks that are using this oil, and they have no problems al all.





Wayne

 

[pwr2tow]

The diesel rated Rotella 10-30 is more a winter type oil left over from yesteryear before Rotella 5-40 came on the market. The 10-30 is also lower priced for the price concious customer. It has been run for many many years by agriculture and trucking industries where it gets really cold. It's good and proven product.

For the type of driving he does I would run it until the ambient temperatures get in the upper 70's to low 80's.