Rotella vs. Delo 400

[kcoffman]

Which oil is better? I know synthetics are better, but I'm not interested because of the higher cost.



Thanks

 

[dresslered]

Both are great oils to use. Select whichever is more available to you. I get Delo from Costco by the case load.

 

[BFC]

Either, or. You can't go wrong. Do a search on the subject, you'll have stuuf to read for weeks.



Glenn

 

[CAW440]

I used Rotella on my 91 and 94 to the tune of 355,000 miles combined, I'm using Delo now approx. 87,000 miles and the only difference is the Delo has no smell like Rotella,if you can live with the odor for the first few hundred miles Shell is very good.

 

[Sled Puller]

On paper, Delo is better. I doubt you could see the difference in many miles, if ever.

 

[DocStressor]

Yeah, Delo is technically the better product. Chevron uses a more advanced base oil that is often referred to as "Group II+". According to the Rotella tech expert at their website, Rotella 15W-40 is "primarily Group II", which means that it is a mixture of Group I and Group II base oils. What all this means is as follows:



1. Delo has a lower pour point (-39F vs -20F) which allows it to pump at lower temperatures than Rotella or any other conventional 15W-40 oil. The pour point is determined by wax content. All of the Chevron premium oils use a propriety iso-dewaxing process that converts long chain paraffins (waxes) to branched molecules. These can't form networks at low temperatures which trap the rest of the fuel molecules in a gel state.



2. Delo flows somewhat better than Rotella at all lower temperatures because it has a higher viscosity index.



3. Delo base oil should hold up considerably longer than Rotella since it is much more oxidation resistant. Group I oils can contain as much as 30% phenolic compounds which can react with oxygen at high temperatures. Oxidation products are held in suspension by the additive package until they saturate the detergents. Then they drop out of solution and coat everything with sludge. Oxidation products also compete for the detergent's ability to keep soot in suspension. While much is made about the improved oxidation resistance of Group III oils, the major improvement in oil stability is between Group I and Group II. A severely hydrocracked product like Delo has very little material in the base oil that can be oxidized.



4. Delo has excelled in every diesel engine test known to man. This includes ACEA European Service Category E5, JASO Asian Service Category DH-1, and Global Service Category DHD-1. European and Japanese diesels are designed differently than ours. This says a lot about the ability of an oil to resist piston deposits and upper cylinder wear.



5. The flash point of Delo is 446F vs 435F for Rotella. That means that it is less likely to turn to coke on your turbo bearing if you shut down too soon.



All that aside, I agree with what has been said. If you change your oil every 5K or so, both oils will protect your engine just fine.

 

[illflem]

Servicing my Kubota tractor last week I really noticed the difference in pour points. The engine takes 10w-30, the trans 15w-40. The 10w-30 I used was Rotella, the heavier oil Delo, both were in the unheated part of the shop at about 10°, the Delo still poured easier than the Rotella.



I always use Delo but all my local auto parts had in 10w-30 was Rotella.

Forgot about the smell, now I'm going to have to deal with the workers bringing the tractor in saying it's leaking.

 

[cgoder]

Where can you buy Delo 400?

 

[DocStressor]

You can get Delo just about anywhere. It is about $6. 70 per gallon at Walmart.

 

[cowboybarber]

I have also notice that with the Delo I don't get that fresh oil change smell that I got with Rotella.

 

[Cooker]

As usual, Lee's post is an excellent read. A nice write up on the Delo and it's benefits. IMHO I think the Delo is hard to beat for a conventional 15w40, but I agree the Rotella is not too bad either.

 

[pwr2tow]

Hey Bill is that a typo. I didn't know Rotella made a 5-30 diesel oil or were you referring to their 5-30 for gas engines?



The reason I ask is I did a pour test last year and the Rotella 5-40 poured three times faster than the Delo 400 15-40 at -8 degrees F. which translates to faster oil pump up for the engine.



Ron

 

[Hohn]

apples and oranges?

ronsram, I agree that your test should have produced the results it did, because if the Rotella you tested was indeed 5W-40, then it was full synthetic Rotella, and comparing it to 15W-40 Delo is not quite the same.



From what I gather, the others are comparing 15W-40 Shell Rotella T to 15W-40 Chevron Delo 400. These are both conventional oils with no synthetic content. (i. e. not blends)



When I changed from Rotella T to the Delo 400 this last time (4 days ago) the engine definitely felt different. It feels much smoother with the Delo 400, but it also felt more powerful with the Rotella. This is my SOP meter feelings, nothing scientific.



Maybe the PERCEIVED smoothness of the Delo makes it SEEM like it is less peppy than before.



Who knows? I am going with full synthetic next oil change anyway. Redline 15W-40-- maybe not the "very best", but MY personal favorite.



Suit yourself, and happy motoring.



HOHN

 

[pwr2tow]

Hohn,

The reason I asked Bill is he used 5-30 three times, which seems a little confuseing if it is a true diesel oil.



Delo 400 15-40 and Rotella T 5-40 are both group III mineral base oils that can be called synthetic due to a law suit a few years ago. They are refined so well that they resemble synthetic but are truely a mineral base oil. Group IV and V are true synthetics. The price difference is about double $6. ?? for the delo and $12. ?? for the rotella 5-40 and true synthetics run almost double that again. Delo 15-40 is a great oil if you live where it never gets real cold. I choose rotella 5-40 because it gets down to -35 degrees below zero and sometimes colder and don't care to have to change back and forth between the two oils in winter and summer, I just run the rotella 5-40 year around with 5,000 mile oil changes.

Delo calls theirs iso syn and rotella calls theirs synthetic.

If you look at their perspective pour points it appears the Delo is better but in real life situations the Rotella actually flows better in cold temperatures.



Some body once said 5 weight will flow better than a higher number no matter what the pour points say. I don't remember who told me that but it is pretty much true.



Ron

 

[Hohn]

thanks for clearing that up

I was trying to understand what you were saying.



I had heard about a suit saying something to that effect about Group III oils, involving Castrol Syntec. In other countries, they can't label it as a true synthetic.



I like the Delo thus far. I would consider the Rotella syn, and other 5W-40 syn oils that are cheaper.



Something about me just feels better about having the unparalleled protection of a true Group V True synthetic. Redline costs me $30 a gallon!! Yikes. But, if a CTD costs $11K in the crate (like a read in another thread), that's a lot of oil changes.



I have followed Redline's recommendations and change the filter twice as often as the oil, and do a complete change at or around 15K. My Maxima is approaching 100K, and is surgically clean inside. Compression test shows worst cylinder within 5 pounds of new spec (valve sealing, no doubt)



I am happy with this setup. It's not for everyone, and I am certainly not here to proselytize for Redline (not in a CTD, anyway--- gasser, youwould not get off so easy)



Please, no oil wars.



Thanks for the info, ronsram







HOHN

 

[DocStressor]

Ron - Delo sells two versions of 400. The 15W-40 is a group II product while their 5W-40 is Group III, same as the Rotella 5W-40. The VI of the 15W-40 base stock is not high enough to be rated as Group III. I would imagine that they pull the 15W-40 stock off the hydrocracking run as soon as it meets 15W specs. This costs a lot less than continuing the process until 5W specs. The more severe the hydrocracking, the more closely the product resembles a"true" synthetic. Chevron calls their 5W-40 product synthetic, not iso-syn. Every company using 100% Group III base stock (except for additive carrier oil) calls their product "synthetic".



Chevron 400 5W-40 "synthetic" is now actually a better Group III deal than than Rotella 5W-40 since Walmart has discontinued the roleback price. Rotella now costs over $18 per gallon. You can generally get the Chevron product for around $16. Petro Canada and Valvoline also make good Group III 5W-40 oils that now cost less than Rotella.

 

[pwr2tow]

Lee,

The oil industry must have changed the way they catigorize their oils in the past year when I done my research. group I and group II were called mineral based regular oils, group III was severly hydrocracked mineral based that passed for synthetic, and group IV and V was full synthetics. In any surcomstance we are talking about the same thing. I'am talking about base stocks not additive packages added to them.



Sorry about the iso-syn thing, I should have made myself more clear, I was talking about the 15-40 when I was referring to the iso-syn.



After rereading your post I think we are saying the same thing except in different ways.



Ron

 

[Walker]

A Q: for the oil guru's here.



I've heard if you add at least 20% synthetic to your conventional oil, that you get approx. 80% of the protection of running full synthetic. Does this sound right?



I used to add 1 (of 5) qts. to my gas motor, and I am thinking of doing the same thing and adding the new Rotella-T (5w-40) and mixing it with the Rotella 15w-40 I run now in my CTD.



Opinions?

 

[pwr2tow]

Originally posted by Lee Weber





Chevron 400 5W-40 "synthetic" is now actually a better Group III deal than than Rotella 5W-40 since Walmart has discontinued the roleback price. Rotella now costs over $18 per gallon. You can generally get the Chevron product for around $16. Petro Canada and Valvoline also make good Group III 5W-40 oils that now cost less than Rotella.

If wal-mart has increased their price on the rotella 5-40 it looks like I'll have to switch back to Mobil delvac 5-40 full synthetic. Around here it costs $18. ?? per gallon and that is a true synthetic. The delo 400 5-40 costs over $22. 00 per gallon and it is not a true synthertic.



Thanks, I will need to change the oil in a few weeks.

Ron

 

[pwr2tow]

Walker,

I am no expert or guru on oil, but do not mix different oil weights, in the oil and auto motive industry it is a big no no to mix different oil weight. The additive packages are different.



Your really not getting much by adding synthetic oil to conventional oil and the difference in the additive packages could be enough to cause harm to the engine. This is the best way I can describe it. Maybe someone with better wording skills can chime in and explain.



Ron