Opinions please

[citabria]

Hello the is my first post. I have been doing alot of reading on the site and need a little help in deciding which oil to use. I have a new 2004.5 Dodge Cummins. I am currently breaking the truck in on 15-40 Delo. I will move to a synthetic at about 10,000 miles per Cummins instruction. I know that there is alot of controversy about the Group III oils but I am considering Rotella 5-40. Does Rotella 5-40 have to use alot of vicosity improvers or is more like conventional synthetic in viscosity performance.

Anyway, any practical downsides to this oil? I am thinking of redline for the gear boxes?


Thanks Dave

 

[Gurkha]

I dont see any reason not to continue with Delo, truly great oil and great value, also Delvac Super or MX are excellent oils. If you do wish to spend extra and go on synth, try Delvac-1, a very good option.

 

[citabria]

Thank you. I would really like to hear the practical advantage of Mobil 1 (delvac-1) over the group III Rotella. Is there one? Thank you Dave

 

[Gurkha]

For one, Delvac is pure synthetic, the industry consensus is that it is an excellent oil just like Delo and Delvac Super. Ask any trucker and he will confirm that.

 

[k1xv]

There is a lot of opinion on this board that Mobil 1 Truck and SUV and Delvac 1 are the same product, in different packages. At WalMart, a 5 quart jug of Truck & SUV is $19.97 while a 4 quart jug of Shell Synthetic Rotella is $13.47.

So, on a per quart basis, Truck & SUV is not much more expensive than Rotella Synthetic.

Both are top choices, however. Nevertheless, now that the prices are so close, I think I would opt for the Truck & SUV.

 

[Rebel Rouser]

quote:

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Originally posted by citabria:
Thank you. I would really like to hear the practical advantage of Mobil 1 (delvac-1) over the group III Rotella. Is there one? Thank you Dave

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Unless you're cold cranking in sub-zero weather often, I don't think there's really a practical advantage to using a full synthetic in that engine. I believe the recommended OCI is now 15K miles on the 6BT Cummins using conventional petroleum oil. In the past, this engine has shown excellant wear numbers, regardless of what brand oil was used.

Now in the driveline, where internal combustion does not take place, syn lubes make sense. Redline is a fine product.

 

[Vstrom]

How long you gonna keep it? Many diesels easily go 200,000 in pickups with plain old oil. Why spend the bucks for synthetic if you aren't gonna keep it that long? Heck I just put rings in my son's Mazda B2200 with a gas engine at 190,000, still had factory cross hatching visible! That truck will go another 190,000 and I have no idea of previous maintenance, probably like most, rather sorry

 

[TooSlick]

The 5w-40, Group III based Rotella T will allow the engine to start easier in cold weather and may give you a small fuel savings. However I'd be surprised if it holds up better than their 15w40, Delo 400, Delvac 1300, etc.

From what I've seen, only the very best, PAO/Ester based synthetic diesel oils like the Amsoil 15w40 or Delvac 1, 5w-40 allow for a significant extension of service intervals. I"d recommend using one of these two products; supported by oil analysis and filter changes every 7500 miles.

Tooslick

 

[brian fix]

In your truck ,why not Schaeffers 5w-40,its a VERY good lube for your engine,plus extended change outs,,,, also Amsoil is really good,,for a mineral base Mystik 15w40 is a tough oil with reasonable spec and a track record to notice,BL

 

[widman]

If you want to spend the money, there are lots of good synthetics out there. But I've got several UOA on Cummins engines that show 500 hours with less than 8 ppm of iron with Delo. (Stationary engines, not exactly the same use, but those engines seem to love it)

 

[pastmaster]

HI citabria, Congratulations on your new Dodge truck

I remember reading the Valvoline Oil, site that they have developed a new HDEO with Cummins Diesel, for their engines. It's called Valvoline Blue Extreme Duty, specifically for Cummins. It's 5w40 Synthetic. I would take a hard look at that oil. I don't know if Wal-Mart, carries it or you got to find a Dodge dealer or Valvoline Oil Distributor.

Good Luck...Paul

 

[n8wvi]

Our local NAPA has (or can order for the same price if he's out) the Valvoline PremiumBlue Extreme that was specifically developed for Cummins.

Dave