Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Synthetic Rotella T eng. oil

[Jack in Alaska]

I have used regular Rotella T in my engine since new changing every 6000-7500 miles. No problems so far in 148k miles.

Yesteday I purchased synthetic Rotella T for my next change. .

Did I waste my money, is it a good thing. ?

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[jabird]

Wondering the same thing here..... just changed oil. Then I was told I shouldnt have gone to a synthetic after 150,000 miles of not useing it. "I will spin a bearing or see a seal leak" is what I was told. Hope that is just a urban myth. Any thoughts for us?

 

[GKinney]

me too

Jack, I have looked at that oil myself many times thinking of switching over to that. I have used Mobil Delvac 1 for about 5yrs now, but I figure if the Rotella is as good, I can buy that for around $12/gl. compared to $26/gl. Hope someone using the Rotella Synthetic chimes in to let us know how they like it.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I've used Delo 400 in all three of my trucks. In the winter of 2002 I switched to the Rotella T syn. However, after reading the info here on TDR about PAO 5 synthetics versus the "fake" synthetics, and considering if I really wanted to do extended oil change intervals, I decided to go back to Delo 400 for my oil needs ($37 for six gallons). I change oil/filter every 5K.



Having said that, I had stockpiled some of the Rotllella T syn at a good price. I am using up the stockpile this winter and I will have enough for next winter also. Then it's back to Delo 400 all the time. Undoubtably it is excellent syn oil BLEND, but if you are looking for a true synthetic you will need to look elsewhere.

 

[DTangstrom]

I've used the Valoline Blue until this winter when I switched the the Rotella Synthetic. I have noticed a little easier startup and quiter operation in the cold. Has not seemed the change the fuel economy.

 

[MDale]

So is Rotella T Syn. not a full Syn just a blend?

 

[MLeppen]

Rotella is not even a synthetic oil,it is a group 3 hydrocracked petro oil. The purest form of refined petro oil. Mobil lost a lawsuit that challenged castrol for marketing their syntec oil as synthetic oil when it's only a group 3 oil. Now everyone else is on the band wagon to mis lead the consumer.

 

[FourBarR]

348000km. on rotella t. no problems , does not use any oil between changes at 10,000 kms. when i did the valves at 150,000 miles the valve cover ,and valve train was super clean.

 

[tURBOdIEZEl]

well guys, changed the oil today with 10qts of rotella t syn. and 1 qt. of marvel mystery oil. i wont know how well its working untill i change the oil but it seemed to really freshen my motor up. i was not sure about switching to a syn. oil with almost 235,xxx on the clock, but we'll see... .

 

[MLeppen]

well guys, changed the oil today with 10qts of rotella t syn. and 1 qt. of marvel mystery oil. i wont know how well its working untill i change the oil but it seemed to really freshen my motor up. i was not sure about switching to a syn. oil with almost 235,xxx on the clock, but we'll see... .

DUH you never did switch to a synthetic oil so... ... NO ,you won't see

 

[DEickhoff]

Rotella T synth

Bought a bunch of this on sale 2 months ago. I'll be using it during my oil change next weekend. I guess I have little worry as is now appears Rotella T is not a true synthetic oil but a fancy group 3 oil. Right now I am running Delo 400 5w40 but will be sending in an oil sample for testing.



Dawna

 

[brianMo]

I have been using Rotella T synth for a year now. I sure was mislead. I thought it was a pure synth. My truck seems to like it though. I was wondering why it was so much cheaper then the other synths on the market. Wal-mart sells this for, I think $12. 84 and gallon. Also on the container it says it can be used in gasser vehicles. I have been using it in everything. No problems though. I even put it in my tractor and ATV.

 

[moparguy]

BHazelrigg, any concerns about the Rotella Syn containing moly. I understand moly is bad for ATV clutchs. Rotella may be molyless, does anyone know?



RJR

 

[Wood Scott]

Rotella T synthetic.

Ok, I'm a newbie here just my second oil change. I was running delo 400, just changed to Rotella fake synthetic(didn't know it was a fraud, :{ gotta read the fine print) I drove round trip from birmingham to nashville, the week before my oil change and got 16. 5 mpg. just completed same trip with new Rotella syn. and got 17. 1. cruise set on 78 both trips. filled up at same Flying J same pump. round trip on same tank both times. I was pretty happy with it. I probably won't extend the oil change past my normal 7500 sense it isn't a true syn. but i'll take the extra . 5 mpg.

 

[MLeppen]

Although Rotella T syn. is not a synthetic oil it is still at the top of the petro oils,and would not hesitate to use it. I will probably switch back in the summer to Rotella "syn" from Delvac 1 that I use in the winter. But this business of false advertising [ Castrol,Shell ] is sneaky at best. But I guess the old saying goes... ..... "you get what you pay for"

Mike

 

[brianMo]

I went to the website to make see if I was getting ripped. They claim it is full synthetic. They do make a blend, but this is not what I have been buying. Check the specs out. http://www.shell-lubricants.com/products/pdf/RotellaTSynthetic.pdf

 

[MLeppen]

This is how they can make that claim, copied from texassynthetics.com





CASTROL AND MOBIL GO TO COURT TO BATTLE IT OUT:



Recently, Mobil accused Castrol of reformulating its synthetic by substituting other basestocks in place of its synthetic polyaphaolefins (PAO's). Castrol Syntec is a hydrocracked oil. That's right, Castrol has replaced the PAO synthetic base stock with hydroisomerized petroleum base stock. Hydrocracking, as it's called, is the highest level of petroleum refining. Castrol isn't even a synthetic yet Castrol ended up winning the battle when the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus ruled that Castrol could still market its oil as "synthetic" despite their new formulation. Basically, they expanded the definition of synthetics to include Group III hydroprocessed petroleum oil. This high profile case took place because synthetics are recognized as the market's best hope for growth. Synthetic oil sales have outpaced petroleum oil sales by a wide margin and the gap continues to widen every year. Consumers are getting smarter and demand the best for their vehicles. Read the full story on the Castrol issue in our informative articles section. Additionally, just as soon as Castrol won this battle, several other major oil companies jumped in and came up with hydroprocessed motor oils of their own and labeled these products to be "100% synthetic", when they still are Group III hydroprocessed petroleum oils.

 

[RustyJC]

Yeah, that's the problem. The FTC now allows suppliers to call lubricating oils with severely hydrocracked hydrocarbon base stocks (e. g. , Group 3 oils) a "synthetic". This term was originally applied to automotive lube oils with polyalphaolefin (PAO) base stocks (e. g. , Group 4 oils) - such as Delvac I, Amsoil, etc. There's another classification - Group 5 oils - but I'll leave them out of the discussion for now.



Call me a traditionalist, but if it ain't a Group 4 or better, it ain't a synthetic in my book!



Just MHO, of course.



Rusty

 

[mhenon]

well guys, changed the oil today with 10qts of rotella t syn. and 1 qt. of marvel mystery oil. i wont know how well its working untill i change the oil but it seemed to really freshen my motor up. i was not sure about switching to a syn. oil with almost 235,xxx on the clock, but we'll see... .

tURBOdIEZEl, Why the marvel mystery oil? It's mostly kerosene. I don't use Rotella T 5W/40 but I'm sure it's a good oil. The mystery stuff though... ... I dunno!!!

Mike