Synthetic Oil

[Cummins2014]

I know , I know, I'm the one that argues about synthetic oil, and dumping it out every six months, but.
Some pretty fair prices on three brands of synthetic oil I looked at. Valvoline Premium Blue, Delo 400 XSP, and Rotella T6 . All 5-40 .

Never have run a synthetic, pretty much always Rosella T4 in my diesel trucks. I know all three I mentioned would be okay. Thought I would do synthetic this time, for an extended summer trip towing the fifth wheel. Kinda of leaning towards the Delo, no reason other then drawing straws. Any thoughts on these three brands. I know a silly question, but I would like to hear opinions, or facts Thanks

 

[kthaxton]

Who are you and what have you done with Cummins2014?

I use T6, for these three reasons:
It's synthetic
It's easily accessible (Wal-Mart).
It's cheap (because, Wal-Mart)

 

[Cummins2014]

Who are you and what have you done with Cummins2014?

I use T6, for these three reasons:
It's synthetic
It's easily accessible (Wal-Mart).
It's cheap (because, Wal-Mart)

He's on vacation, I am filling in for him Why not on the Rotella brand, what you say makes sense, as said its about all I have ever run, T4. Thanks

 

[Newsa]

Why not try a semisynthetic? Ease in gradually! This (my opinion) is some bad adss snake oil .

Jk, (Really) it is one of my favs

http://petroleumservicecompany.com/kendall-super-d-xa-w-ti-15w-40-api-ck-4-3-1-gallon-bottles/

 

[Cummins2014]

Why not try a semisynthetic? Ease in gradually! This (my opinion) is some bad adss snake oil .

Jk, (Really) it is one of my favs

http://petroleumservicecompany.com/kendall-super-d-xa-w-ti-15w-40-api-ck-4-3-1-gallon-bottles/

My reasoning on the synthetic, and what I have learned from Kthaxton, and others ,but mostly Kthaxton mostly what I have read is it cools a little better, little more slippery etc etc ???? Seems like a good idea going with the synthetic in the heat of the summer, and towing a pretty heavy fifth wheel.

As far as ease in gradually , not sure what that means ??? As far as price difference not much with synthetic blend ,and full synthetic. I like your link you gave, but as far as brands go, I have a hard time believing one is better than another. IMO pick your poison. Conventional Rotella has always been my choice, and never found a reason to change.

 

[Newsa]

My reasoning on the synthetic, and what I have learned from Kthaxton, and others ,but mostly Kthaxton mostly what I have read is it cools a little better, little more slippery etc etc ???? Seems like a good idea going with the synthetic in the heat of the summer, and towing a pretty heavy fifth wheel.

As far as ease in gradually , not sure what that means ??? As far as price difference not much with synthetic blend ,and full synthetic. I like your link you gave, but as far as brands go, I have a hard time believing one is better than another. IMO pick your poison. Conventional Rotella has always been my choice, and never found a reason to change.

Yeah. The kendall is not meant for extended drain intervals like many of the other synthetics. Just thought I'd give you an option that saves you $20

 

[Cummins2014]

Yeah. The kendall is not meant for extended drain intervals like many of the other synthetics. Just thought I'd give you an option that saves you $20

Thanks,There is never extended drain intervals with my truck , Its been six months, and I won't even mention how many miles , lets put it this way, not many.

 

[Cummins2014]

Why not try a semisynthetic? Ease in gradually! This (my opinion) is some bad adss snake oil .

Jk, (Really) it is one of my favs

http://petroleumservicecompany.com/kendall-super-d-xa-w-ti-15w-40-api-ck-4-3-1-gallon-bottles/

I was tempted on that Kendall, until I saw shipping ,and tax. Comes to $64.63 to my door, just about to the dollar for Delo or Valvoline full synthetic to my door from Amazon . Rotella T6 just over $70.00. from amazon. All are for three gallons.

 

[kthaxton]

I was tempted on that Kendall, until I saw shipping ,and tax. Comes to $64.63 to my door, just about to the dollar for Delo or Valvoline full synthetic to my door from Amazon . Rotella T6 just over $70.00. from amazon. All are for three gallons.

Yeah. The kendall is not meant for extended drain intervals like many of the other synthetics. Just thought I'd give you an option that saves you $20

Man, you guys keep confusing me! The K in "Kthaxton" is for Kendall. I keep thinking you are talking about me.

 

[Cummins2014]

Man, you guys keep confusing me! The K in "Kthaxton" is for Kendall. I keep thinking you are talking about me.

Well ,after much thought ,and consideration I ordered three gallons of the new Delo 400 XSP 5-40. 66.81 to the fine state of Utah from Amazon. Why Delo ,it was about $7.00 cheaper then Rotella , that paid for half the filter

 

[Newsa]

Well ,after much thought ,and consideration I ordered three gallons of the new Delo 400 XSP 5-40. 66.81 to the fine state of Utah from Amazon. Why Delo ,it was about $7.00 cheaper then Rotella , that paid for half the filter

Yeah. I thought I remembered shipping being less. Can't go wrong with Delo. I like the 15w 40 variety. And i get a coupon for a discount every time I buy from them. So they got me hooked.

 

[Will_R]

I always liked the T6 in my 7.3 PSD, however my father (owned a large boat yard the majority of his life) has always sworn by Delo 400. He's got ~400k miles on his PSD and hasn't touched the injectors, turbo, or anything else; still sounds like new. Must be doing something right.

I did a little digging a if I remember right, the Delo had more ZDDP and detergents than the Rotella did... but that might have changed...

Regardless, the synthetics are 5W40 while the dino oils are 15W40. The first number only applies at cold temperatures, engines are designed for the oil to be at operating temperature, so the closer you can get the cold viscosity to the hot, the better. As such, syn's lubricate better at startup than conventional oil, in addition to the other improvements that were engineered into them.

Run a synthetic, test it, change it based on that data, save money and time.

 

[Cummins12V98]

AMZ/OIL 15-40 not much more.

What happened to buying what ever was the cheapest???????

 

[Cummins2014]

Well ,after much thought ,and consideration I ordered three gallons of the new Delo 400 XSP 5-40. 66.81 to the fine state of Utah from Amazon. Why Delo ,it was about $7.00 cheaper then Rotella , that paid for half the filter

AMZ/OIL 15-40 not much more.

What happened to buying what ever was the cheapest???????

Hell , you thought maybe I hit the lottery ???. No such luck.

Well, I was just getting ready to get back on here, and admit I lied. I changed my order from Delo to Valvoline, it was cheaper . No I just thought I would give it a try instead. My last oil change I bought the conventional Delo 15-40 , thought I would give something else a try for no real reason. As I have said Rotella 15-40 is all I have ever run except for a few times, never had a good reason to change.

This will be the FIRST time in the 20 years I have owned diesel trucks that I am going with a synthetic oil. AMZ/OIL 15-40 you never know I may fall off the deep end one of these days ,and try some of that snake oil .

 

[Cummins2014]

I always liked the T6 in my 7.3 PSD, however my father (owned a large boat yard the majority of his life) has always sworn by Delo 400. He's got ~400k miles on his PSD and hasn't touched the injectors, turbo, or anything else; still sounds like new. Must be doing something right.

I did a little digging a if I remember right, the Delo had more ZDDP and detergents than the Rotella did... but that might have changed...

Regardless, the synthetics are 5W40 while the dino oils are 15W40. The first number only applies at cold temperatures, engines are designed for the oil to be at operating temperature, so the closer you can get the cold viscosity to the hot, the better. As such, syn's lubricate better at startup than conventional oil, in addition to the other improvements that were engineered into them.

Run a synthetic, test it, change it based on that data, save money and time.

I ran T4 in my 7.3 for 16 years, it never missed a beat. Just never really bought into synthetic oil, but here I am giving it a shot, although probably just a one time shot .

 

[Newsa]

AMZ/OIL 15-40 not much more.

What happened to buying what ever was the cheapest???????

I think you have to buy a membership (and log in with that membership) with amsoil to get their good price. I have the membership because I buy their bypass filters. And I'm going to go with their new 20w 50 competition oil (dominator) probably soon. It's $30+ per gallon with my membership. Definitely better than what I'm using now.
My good friend and diesel tech 6v92 will laugh at me and call me names (for buying scamsoil), but I like to run a quality oil. I know it's not the manufacturer recommended viscosity. But we don't get cold temps here in S. Fl. Synthetic flows smoother than dino so I'm not concerned about pushing the envelope on viscosity. I won't ever buy another 5w 40. There are too many really good 15w 40 synthetics (and syn blends) that have the same cold flow characteristics as Rotella, Delo, Valvoline, and others. Coldest my truck has seen is -17°F. 15w 40 kendall syn blend flows fine at that temp according to their material info. I use my block heater as often as I can at those temps just to be safe.

 

[6V92TA]

I'm going to quote something one of my Facebook Friends posted two days ag.. QUOTE "I use Rotella T4 and fleetguard oil filter and change mine every 15000 miles. Been doing just fine in my 2014 with T4 and going 15000 mile intervals I have over 365,000 miles now" QUOTE

always makes me wonder how much better synthetic oil really would be in a diesel.

 

[Killer223]

Synthetic is no better in a diesel engine and dino. The ONLY place it's better is in COLD climates. they both have additive packages. when that is depleted the oils life is done. regardless of type. these engines don't run hot enough to need a syn oil. heck most race engine can do just fine on dino oil.
When the oils are subjected to combustion chamber gases, it's really a matter of how deep your pockets are.

While the efficiency of drivetrain components is largely fixed by design, gross efficiency losses can be minimized through proper selection of lubricants.
Synthetic base lubricants are manufactured in the laboratory to exhibit superior high temperature stability and low temperature fluidity.
Since these fluids are created to exhibit less thickening at low temperatures, pumping losses are reduced and substantial reductions in spin losses can be realized at low
operating temperatures.
Test results indicate no significant difference in engine efficiency between synthetic and mineral base lube oils at normal operating temperatures.
Since the synthetics are more expensive and, in an engine crankcase, are subject to the same contaminants as mineral-based oils, they may not be cost effective.
All oils thicken at low temperature, causing increased fuel consumption.
The synthetic oil is less affected by temperature.
This makes synthetic oils more fuel efficient at lower ambient temperatures.

 

[gsbrockman]

After running into an issue sourcing 5W40 Rotella at a few nearby wal-Marts, I bought some 5W40 Delo 400 LE.

It actually is a couple of bucks per gallon less expensive than the Rotella. Additionally.... I used less make-up oil between oil changes with the Delo in The Radio Flyer.

For the ~$7.00 per gallon ($21.00 per oil change increase) over dino oil, it is a decision I feel good about. White Lightning will get Delo 400 LE as well.

 

[Newsa]

Synthetic is no better in a diesel engine and dino. .

No better? Not required, but I wouldn't say "No Better."

1) is better in your hot turbo after shut down even if you do the prescribed idling on cool down after towing heavy.

2) resists moisture and fuel dilution better.

3) lubes and flows better (is slipperier) at all temps.

4) Requires fewer thickeners and detergents/dispersants. (fewer total additives) because most syn has some cleaning properties and some thickening properties built into the actual oil molecules. Fewer additives = more lube per unit volume.

I may have omitted some benefits of syn. But these are what comes to mind.

Definitely worth it to me to invest an extra $20-$40 per oil change a couple (Or 3) of times per year.