CI-4 oils...any benefit for pre-2007 vs CJ-4

[Ponch]

Oil guru's...aside from higher zinc and phosphurous additives in CI-4 oils, and maybe better TBN retention...are there anymore benefits to these oils vs CJ-4 oils? Amsoil in particular still recommends CI-4 oils for 1st choice for vehicles in the pre-2007 category without DPF filters. I know that CJ-4 oils have proven to be very worthy as shown in used oil analysis, but if I can benefit for from a CI-4 I might go that route instead. I am starting to look at amsoil's HDD series 3000 5w30 (CI-4) a bit closer now as far as using it, I am gaining more trust in using a 30 wt oil in a diesel engine now after seeing "Dnewton3's" and "arkapig's" results in a duramax engine with a CJ-4 10w30. This amsoil HDD is at the higher end of the 30 wt spectrum at 11.7 cst..and after reading more and more about this oil, it seems pretty robust and shearproof. I emailed amsoil tech service years ago to inquire about this oil, and was told that a conventional 15W40 once heated to about 280 degress is about the same viscosity as a 30wt anyway, and that their HDD oil remains in grade at even hotter temps, and resists breakdown. I guess with this CI-4 oil even if I did encounter "breakdown" I would have the extra antiwear addtives to help out with "boundary lubrication". Chime in all!

 

[shpankey]

I can't be of help to your question but the series 3000 oil is some awesome stuff. I was entertaining the idea of using it myself in a gas, direct injected, turbocharged car that has fuel dilution issues. This oil in particular seems to have everything I want.

 

[Jim Allen]

The HDD 5W30 is an excellent choice. Good range of temps, stout and shear resistant. In theory, the only downside to CI4 is the potential contamination of the cats, but if yours doesn't have one...

 

[xxch4osxx]

Does anybody have a recent VOA of HDD to see how stout it is? Im using it in my 2004 Silverado with the 4.8 engine and it seems to be working great.

 

[Johnson615]

I have heard that the CJ-4 is better suited for the ULSD that everyone sells now,and that the CI-4 was intened for the higher sulfer diesel that no longer available. Maybe someone with more knowledge could comment.

 

[A_Harman]

For a Duramax, I don't think you need a CI4+ oil. This engine has a roller-lifter valvetrain, and doesn't need the higher zddp content to guarantee low wear. Ultra-low sulfur fuel has reduced the need for extremely high TBN numbers in oil. These days, anything above 10 is good.

I can't remember what year your truck is. Does it have a DPF? If your truck has a DPF, stick with CJ4 oil.

 

[rufushusky]

The ci-4 vs cj-4 is the result of a lot of people doing afraid of change. I have yet to hear about fleets burning threw cams with new oil. Cj handles soot very well IMHO I have not seen anything conclusively show that CI is any better than cj unless you a stockpile of LSD (low sulfur diesel 500 ppm). By the by DPFs started in late 2007 as my 2008

 

[Ponch]

"A harman" my truck is early 07...without DPF. Thanks for the info guys....so far I am convinced I have no reason to switch to a CI-4 oil. I currently am running rotella T6, and I get one more free oil change from the dealer where I bought this truck from...they stock rotella dino CJ-4...so this summer I will post a used oil analysis of the 15w40. And then the T6 afterwards.

 

[bullwinkle]

The only reason I can think of to use CI-4/+ in older trucks is if you have short trips & don't work the truck hard regularly-resulting in some condensate-based acidity-which is easy to do in winter. Otherwise the superior soot handling ability of CJ-4 wins out.

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: rufushusky
The ci-4 vs cj-4 is the result of a lot of people doing afraid of change. I have yet to hear about fleets burning threw cams with new oil. Cj handles soot very well IMHO I have not seen anything conclusively show that CI is any better than cj unless you a stockpile of LSD (low sulfur diesel 500 ppm). By the by DPFs started in late 2007 as my 2008


Fleets won't necessarily have cam problems due to lower zddp in the CJ4 oils. All of the engines that I know of in heavy duy trucks use rotating cam followers. I worry about zddp content because of the sliding followers in my Cummins B-series engine.