synthetic rotella 5w40

[NLeach]

I used this oil yr round in my PSD and never had a problem. Its starting to get a bit cold here in Mass and I have 2 vehicles so I dont drive the dodge very often. I have around 15k miles on her. Like I sadi before I used the 5w40 and never had a problem,could I run it in the CTD and not have a problem?Yr round?How about the ci4plus rating,is that going to change to the cj or is it staying ci4plus?Suggestions please. BTW I just dont feel like going 5w40 then 15w30 then back because I prefer to use one brand/type of oil.

 

[jwilliams3]

With Shell Rotella 5w40 you should be good all year round.
However if I was towing heavy on a regular basis I would stick with a 15w40.

5w40 shell has the consistency of water cold or hot.

 

[MConyers]

Check page 53 of issue 58, somebody seems to like this oil.



I've been running it for a while now, its only $5 more per gallon than the regular Rotella oil at the local Rural King. Funny thing is that at that store it is $2 less a gallon to buy the oil by the quart instead of the gallon jugs.

 

[MA2LA]

I have been running it year round pretty much since I first changed the oil. there is nooooooooo ploblem towing heavy with this oil when its warm. I maybe wroung but the first number in the oil spec is how it flows when cold and the other is its hot rating with if both are 40 there is no diffrence ecect ou have a little better protection since its syntetic. please let me know if i'm wroung about it.

 

[NLeach]

I dont tow heavy,nothing over 10k,and not that often. I had an oil analysis done on my ford when I used the 5w40 yr round and it came back awesome,showing almost no wear and it had no issues so I guess thats my next mod. Thanks

 

[NLeach]

I dont tow heavy,nothing over 10k,and not that often. I had an oil analysis done on my ford when I used the 5w40 yr round and it came back awesome,showing almost no wear and it had no issues so I guess thats my next mod. Thanks,15k is enough miles to switch to synthetic right?

 

[DPKetchum]

Yes but also the Shell Rotella is not a FULL synthetic If I'm not mistaken. Its a Group 3 oil not a group 4 which is a true synthetic. Would think 15k is more then enough on a engine to use it.

 

[JVantreese]

I changed to Rotella 5W40 at 12000 miles and never looked back. With cold weather and some short runs I think the 5W40 is the only way to go.

 

[amsoilman]

I dont tow heavy,nothing over 10k,and not that often. I had an oil analysis done on my ford when I used the 5w40 yr round and it came back awesome,showing almost no wear and it had no issues so I guess thats my next mod. Thanks,15k is enough miles to switch to synthetic right?

If you have 15K on your truck, there should be NO problem in switching to a Synthetic. Do it, then relax.



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[MMeilicke]

Rotella T

There was a comment that Rotella T is not a full synthetic. According to the Shell Web it is fully synthetic. Take a look at - ROTELLA Products

 

[MConyers]

There was a comment that Rotella T is not a full synthetic. According to the Shell Web it is fully synthetic. Take a look at - ROTELLA Products

I think he meant that it isn't a group IV or V oil, but can be marketed as synthetic. Seems to me Shell mentions that it is fully synthetic to distinguish it from a synthetic blend. There is a reason it isn't as expensive as Redline or others.

 

[DPKetchum]

I checked on Bob Is The Oil Guy It is a GROUP 3 oil. Same as Castrol Synthetic whom opened a door for false advertising. Its a super refined Dino oil. Thats why the price is low for a synthetic. Cause its NOT really one!Rotella's wording of their 5w40 is to me very FALSE but allowed and boy howdy to they take advantage of it. Sure don't want to hear any Amsoil bashing after reading about Rotella 5w40 kinda a synthetic!

 

[betterthanstock]

I checked on Bob Is The Oil Guy It is a GROUP 3 oil. Same as Castrol Synthetic whom opened a door for false advertising. Its a super refined Dino oil. Thats why the price is low for a synthetic. Cause its NOT really one!Rotella's wording of their 5w40 is to me very FALSE but allowed and boy howdy to they take advantage of it. Sure don't want to hear any Amsoil bashing after reading about Rotella 5w40 kinda a synthetic!

What you start out with is less important than what you end up with. If the final product performs nearly identical, then who cares if it's made by reacting alcohol with acid, or by cracking petroleum moelcules.

 

[pwknapp]

Watch out buying the quarts and even gallons. Went to the local Wally World, 110 miles away, 17 of the 22 quarts of Rotella 5w40 had broken seals on the caps and only 28 oz. of oil in each. Yes it was used oil. Pointed it out and insisted on fresh gallons from a new case. Sure would have been a little ticked when I got home (220 miles round trip) and found out I had someone elses used oil.

 

[05mxdiesel]

Watch out buying the quarts and even gallons. Went to the local Wally World, 110 miles away, 17 of the 22 quarts of Rotella 5w40 had broken seals on the caps and only 28 oz. of oil in each. Yes it was used oil. Pointed it out and insisted on fresh gallons from a new case. Sure would have been a little ticked when I got home (220 miles round trip) and found out I had someone elses used oil.

Thats because wally world will pretty much let you return anything used or not with a receipt. Its not uheard of for some idiot to use oil, put it back in the bottle and return it because they weren't fully satisfied with it. Just wish the store workers wouldn't put it back on the shelves.

 

[MMeilicke]

Having to do with the question, is Rotella T a fully synethic or not. I sent an e mail to Shell asking this question. Here is their reply.

Mick, Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 is a fully synthetic engine oil.

http://www.shellusserver.com/products/pdf/RotellaTSynthetic.pdf

If you have another question or want to discuss this further, please call us at 800-231-6950. Thank you for your interest in Shell products.

Richard Moore
Staff Engineer
Shell Global Solutions (US) Inc.
Westhollow Technology Center, PO Box 4327, Houston, TX 77210, United States of America

I guess we also have to keep in mind that Shell, according to their web site, makes a synthetic blend. Might this be part of the confusion?

 

[DPKetchum]

Its a Group three oil. Thats also why its cheaper then the Full REAL syns. Its got some good additives and its super cracked and refined buts its is missing items full REAL syns. have. One is the ability to go the mileage the others can go and dosen' have the real slick molecules. It all started with Castrol several years ago being able to use the same wording in the description as the Syns were using back then. Get on Bob Is The Oil Guy and do some posting/searches and reading. It will explain the differances,whys and why nots about Rotella T Syn. and other oils. First HINT between real syns and kinda syns is the PRICE and that not the only thing differant. In my mind its false advertising and I guess Mobil thought so cause they sued Castrol back then over it. Mobil lost in court over WORDING. Not saying I think Rotella T Syn. is bad or anything but it is a GROUP THREE and not a TIME OF LINE synthetic like they want you to believe.

 

[betterthanstock]

Its a Group three oil. Thats also why its cheaper then the Full REAL syns. Its got some good additives and its super cracked and refined buts its is missing items full REAL syns. have. One is the ability to go the mileage the others can go and dosen' have the real slick molecules. It all started with Castrol several years ago being able to use the same wording in the description as the Syns were using back then. Get on Bob Is The Oil Guy and do some posting/searches and reading. It will explain the differances,whys and why nots about Rotella T Syn. and other oils. First HINT between real syns and kinda syns is the PRICE and that not the only thing differant. In my mind its false advertising and I guess Mobil thought so cause they sued Castrol back then over it. Mobil lost in court over WORDING. Not saying I think Rotella T Syn. is bad or anything but it is a GROUP THREE and not a TIME OF LINE synthetic like they want you to believe.

Not another oil war, but why do I always see the Amsoil compared against the mineral (regular) oil, never against the rotella T synthetic, in their 4 ball wear test? Could it be that there is not much, if any difference?



Oil facts:

multigrade oils start out with oil base of the lower number. A 15W-40 mineral grade, starts out with 15 weight oil, then adds viscosity improvers to make it not thin out at high temperatures. After thousands of miles, these polymers will break down into carbon and other junk, and the oil will thin out back to the 15 weight. Soot will make it look like it has not really thinned out, but it is abrasive.



A synthetic has a natural multigrade property, let's say 15W-40 wihtout any VI added.

Synthetic 5W-40 may need a few VI improvers, though no very much by comparison. No one makes a mineral 5W-40, because it would take too much VI, and would break down too badly, or not lubricate properly.



Shell claims that their diesel oils have the most durable VI improvers of any oil out there. (at least I recall having read that somewhere on their web site)



The trade off is that 5W-40 oil gives measurable better cold engine performance (better MPG the first 10 miles after a cold start), and much easier cold starts, and better cold engine lubrication, which is relevant to most of us that drive relatively short trips of 10-20 miles between shutoff, but not relevant to long-haul trucks.



If you live in a hot climate, and go on long trips, 5W-40 will not give you a lot of benefits in better MPG.



Oils with VI will break down sooner than those without.



IF you live in a hot climate, or drive very long trips, and have bypass filtration, go with the amsoil 15W40, since it has no VI and will go a little longer before breaking down.



The question becomes, do you throw the oil out because it has accumulated too much soot, even though it is still in good shape (maybe you could use a bypass filter), or do you throw it out because it has broken down? Or you just look at it, like me, and say "I think 10K is long enough, and it's getting dark".



I think the 5W-40 pays for itself in cold engine MPG, longer battery/starter life from easier cranking, and it also has better high temperature protection than mineral oil. It's good to use it, if you change it at least every 10K.

 

[DPKetchum]

Wasn't in the least trying to start a oil war or a Amsoil anything. I just get this bug up my butt when the truth about a product is not fully disclosed or more hype is added to it. Like I said I'm sure Rotella T syn. is a fine oil its just not a top of the line synthetic. Is that better wording? Nor is Castrol Synthtec. They are not in the same league as Redline,Mobil,Royal Purple and yes Amsoil. The Amsoil 7500 mile oil was brought out to compete with these high grade dino oils.