What kind of Engine Oil?

[Smokewagon]

Ok,



I know that some of you fellers and fellee's like the synthetics. But... ... other than that, what kind of engine oil do you prefer? Would an oil with ratings of API CD, CE, CF, CF4, CG-4, Allison C-4, MIL-L-2104F and TO2? Be sufficient in our little Cummins?



I have to admit, for years I drove a PHERD but honestly the truck was tough, it was the motor I had trouble with. I ran Rotella 15-40 Wt. and it would drink it. I switched to this oil and usage stopped. You couldn't pay me to put Rotella in my SCHWEET little Cummins.



If I tell you what it is, you probably won't believe me:--)

BTW, lets not :-{}, I was just wondering what everyone preferred.



Dave

 

[LSMITH]

I use Rotella, and my super scientific reason for it is that it pours easier into the engine from the gallon jugs than Delo does. I make a mess with Delo bottles. How is that for sound reasoning?



Take a look at the owners manual for required ratings, anything that meets those ratings is fine.

 

[monkfarm]

amsoil

amsoil 15-40 marine diesel, I buy it by the 55 gal drum. (Just bought 2 more) I use it in my big trucks also (The Peterbilt has a N14 500 hp; the kenworth has a ISX 550 hp)(all three best american diesel made: Cummins) Cummins

 

[Chief USA]

I use John Deere 15W-40 Plus 50. I get by the 55 gallon drum and it comes to around $1. 29 per quart. Use a Fleetguard 3894 Stratapore oil filter.



If you like synthetic, John Deere makes a 0W-40 Plus 50 oil that comes to around $3. 94 per quart if you get the 55 gallon drum.

 

[BillGotthelf]

I switched from delo400 in my trucks to amsoil synthetic. Had two friends put over 300,000 on their 302 f-150's and there still going strong.

 

[Smokewagon]

That's what I'm talkin' bout

It makes it alot easier for us farmers to buy bulk and keep the inventory the same. I've ran Deere oil in all my tractors for 25 years and the oil analysis has always came back GREAT! I have alot of faith in Deere and their products, even though I'm not crazy enough to believe that Deere makes this product. But... I know for a fact that they scrutinize their product when they farm them out to vendors for their specific applications. If it's good enough for my tractors to put out mega hp. and live while they have the guts pulled out of them, it's got to be good enough for my little cummins.



Dave

 

[Sixpack]

Delo 400 15w-40 here...

Cosco has it for $32. 99 a case (6 1 gallon jugs)

Sixpack

 

[AKDrifter]

I need synthetic for the cold

I'm using Delo 400 5w-40 synthetic. So far so good.

 

[Dane]

Everybody knows Lubrication Engineers is the best oil



And it comes in 2 gallon jugs

 

[RustyJC]

Delo 400.



Rusty

 

[illflem]

Delo 15w-40 in drums, $4. 27/ga or $1. 06/qt. No problems in thirty years.

 

[jtisdale]

I was using Rotella T 15w-40 for the last 20k. I just took a sample to send in. I just switched to Cenpeco at this change. No reason.

 

[klenger]

WHAT? You mean you're supposed to change the oil in these things? I thought a diesel was suposed to be low maintenance.

 

[rfcom]

Oil

I'm currently using Rotella-T but switching back to Valvoline Premium Blue for the simple reason that 3 x 3. 78L is exactly the amount I need. 3 x 4L is almost a liter too much and I don't want to screw with holding some back and saving it for next time. At 5K km intervals, I doubt the particular brand makes any difference.



Jim

 

[RKohn]

3-in-1 oil is great stuff.

Here go the oil wars again.



I figure I'd do it all by color so leaks would be easy to diagnose. Royal Purple in the trans... . gotta find some Red Line.

 

[illflem]

Jim, I know many folks here don't worry about the extra quart, just dump it all in.

 

[apkole]

Started out with the 15-40 Diesel rated Valvoline until I started reading the register and this website. Switched to Rotella-T. No compelling reason other than the over the road drivers being sold on it.



Andy

 

[othomas3]

Valvoline Premium Blue Extereme 5W40

I've run AMSOIL 15W40 for an extended period with no problems. But I switched to Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme because I can get it locally from NAPA.

I liked the AMSOIL but don't like having to order it. When I was stationed in Washington State I would drive down to Puyallup and buy it from the a store front vendor. I don't know anyone who has it in a store in the Charleston, SC area so I switched.

Speaking of Puyallup, what a gun show they have. The local Charleston show could fit in a corner of the Puyallup show.

 

[bmoeller]

Rotella-T. Rarely have to add any oil between changes every 3k, even with over 157k.

 

[CROW]

illflem: Could you post the results of the oil poll you ran a few months ago? Smokewagon would find them interesting. Think I remember the results but would add to the confusion I happened to be too far off. It was a little bit of a surprise to me in that DELO was the most popular oil among TDR members.