Mechanic won’t use oil I’ve chosen

There are two sides to every story, and I'd be interested to hear the other side. I've had enough bosses over the years that talk out of their ass while having no clue about the actual job their employees do while thinking they know everything to take things like this at face value. That goes both ways, of course. Regardless, while there are some things you seem to have a valid complaint regarding, such as lack of documentation and not seeking lower-cost options. Others however, shouldn't matter to you. In fact, you're the one ignoring manufacturer specifications. In the industry I work in, ignoring manufacturer specifications is a fast way to failure and millions of dollars being wasted. Manufacturer specifications exist for a reason. I once had a department request a new server for an application that required 128GB of RAM and minimum 16 CPU cores, according to the documentation. But they didn't want to pay the upgrade, and instead insisted we used a cheaper one, with 64GB and 8 cores. And then asked why the application didn't perform as they expected.
 
I can't believe that the mechanic was not fired the first month. Companies can ALWAYS fire an employee who doesn't do as he is told and refuses to get on board with the new management. Fire him NOW! My gosh, you have been put through the wringer all because he wasn't fired. I will come and fire him for you. I have always worked at jobs where they would fire you pretty quick if you did HALF of with this jerk has done. FIRE HIM NOW! Crap, I want to fire him myself. What a real piece of crap employee.
I've seen that type thing before. I am betting over the years that mechanic was allowed to take over more and more responsibilty and made himself an island so to speak. He probably took on so much work and the slackers laid down on the job as they will given the chance. Once this is allowed to go on, and accepted as normal, they wind up in a situation where is seems they can not survive without this person. The slackers are and were allowed to get by thru minimal effort and knowledge (most barely qualified) to be employed. They grow fat and lazier each day. Then the company (feels like) they can not survive without that one guy. That one guy is happy too because he feels like he has all the power to manipulate his bosses. In some cases he does until someone has the will power to stand up to him. But one thing remains TRUE , everyone no matter how good, smart, qualified is ultimately REPLACEABLE.
 
I’m a fleet manager for a delivery company. Recently we expanded into another state and in this purchase came a mechanic and his apprentice.
He is a old school kind of guy, he uses what he’s been using forever, and it is not working. The equipment that came with this purchase is in rough shape.
A Ford V-10 with 85k on it is sludged up For example.
He has been buying the oil as needed at the most expensive place around. The oil he’s been buying is Mag1 which is a Warren Distributing dino oil and he’s paying $6/qt.
For the diesels he’s using Rotella or Delvac.
He is way over paying for the oil.

So I brought him a syn blend 15w-40 diesel oil and told him to use it in everything, he refuses to use it in the gas engines because, according to him, it will mess up the cam phasers and hydraulic timing chain tensioners.
He also claims it will sludge up the engines and that “they are rated for 5w-20 for a reason“

Now I’ve been using this oil in my gasoline engines for almost a year with zero problems. I have one truck closing in on 50k quickly and I am going to do a oil sample at that oil change.
The very first oil change there was oil consumption. 1 qt in 10k on the factory fill.
Now there is zero oil consumption. In the hottest dog days of summer the trucks used less than a quart in 10k.

The cam phasers are electronic.
I have zero timing/run issues. MPG is good for what we do (~8mpg)

Do I need to put my foot down and say use this or else?
Do I need to switch motor oil?

Also he does not go by miles for oil changes, he goes by “I have a system”

Any help would be appreciated.
I've always known not to use oils made for diesels in gasoline engines.
I'd not use a 15W** in an engine that calls for 5W** from the factory manual.
Having said that I'd ask for a signed release of liability by YOU and then do as you wish.
Would you sign it?
 
I've always known not to use oils made for diesels in gasoline engines.
I'd not use a 15W** in an engine that calls for 5W** from the factory manual.
Having said that I'd ask for a signed release of liability by YOU and then do as you wish.
Would you sign it?
Many "diesel" (HDEO) oils are mixed fleet, intended to work in both gas and diesel engines. The Winter rating isn't going to be an issue unless you are experiencing temperatures that it's not appropriate for like the -20C we saw the other day, or the -30C they are seeing in Calgary right now.

Is any of this ideal? No, and the above is not an endorsement for running 15w-40 in a Modular, but if the ambient temp doesn't get super cold, it's not going to hurt anything other than maybe gas mileage.
 
There are two sides to every story, and I'd be interested to hear the other side. I've had enough bosses over the years that talk out of their ass while having no clue about the actual job their employees do while thinking they know everything to take things like this at face value. That goes both ways, of course. Regardless, while there are some things you seem to have a valid complaint regarding, such as lack of documentation and not seeking lower-cost options. Others however, shouldn't matter to you. In fact, you're the one ignoring manufacturer specifications. In the industry I work in, ignoring manufacturer specifications is a fast way to failure and millions of dollars being wasted. Manufacturer specifications exist for a reason. I once had a department request a new server for an application that required 128GB of RAM and minimum 16 CPU cores, according to the documentation. But they didn't want to pay the upgrade, and instead insisted we used a cheaper one, with 64GB and 8 cores. And then asked why the application didn't perform as they expected.
Last job I had, ignoring or changing the very important manufacturer specs u mention without a written and signed approved (by management)
Change of Design or Specifications request was the quickest / easiest way to get escorted straight off the job site and told "DO NOT RETURN, oh and YOU ARE FIRED."
 
Management is all about putting imperfect people together to perform a task or produce a product in the pursuit of profit and doing so while keeping your ego out of the mix.

I'd fire the mechanic and then use his suggested oil. That would prove to your other employees who wears the pants in the organization and at the same time shows that you are open to employee suggestions and input.
 
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