Preparing a mix: RotellaT and QS Torque Power 5w20

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NilsonCain

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This is going in my 98 Corolla 1.8L 4-cyl; 5 speed; 186,000mi. Car is used to drive 150 miles/day five days a week on the highway for commute to work.

Recently purchased from trusted seller, has had oil changes around 3,000 its whole life, and doesn't seem to be affected by the hit-or-miss oil consumption problems on these engines; I've burned maybe a quart over the past 4000mi.

I have two quarts of QS Torque Power 5w20 "Full Synthetic" (just changed oil in F150 with this) and A half jug of Rotella T 15w40 Dino Oil. I plan to mix them (2qt QS, ~1.7qt Rotella; 3.7L capacity) for my upcoming (first) oil change on the car.

I've tried to use the viscosity calculator to label the new viscosity, but I'm not getting the winter grade calculation to seem sane.

Oil Data:
Code:


5w20 TORQUE POWER

40C 44.51 cSt

100C 8.68 cSt



15w40 ROTELLA T TRIPLE PROTECTION

40C 120.0 cSt

100C 15.5 cSt



RESULT

2 QT 5w20 TORQUE POWER (54%)

1.7QT 15w40 ROTELLA T (46%)



40C 68.86 cSt

100C 11.24 cSt SAE 30


Edit: Recommended oil is 5w30. Filter will be PureONE.
 
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I guess if you are really low on cash and can't pony up the money for the right oil in the right weight it would be OK, but IMO 2 different brands with possibly 2 different additive packages "could be" asking for trouble.
 
I plan to run it out to around 5,000 miles... It should be approximately a 10W30 oil, synthetic blend. I don't really expect any problems from conflicting additives.

I just want to use up oil I have lying around before purchasing new oil; otherwise this stuff will just continue to sit around.
 
Just out of interest, how do you plan to accommodate the additives that are different between the formulas. For example. If one formulation uses a titanium based AW additive and the other a tin based one, each will then be diluted to one half of the original formula.

aehaas
 
...and the multiple other "unknown, secret" additives that are not routinely tested? Will things be buffered properly for long term stability and for corrosion resistance?

Obviously I am not a proponent of randomly mixing motor oils nor add-in additives. Formulation is a well guarded profession for many reasons. I think it is far better to find an off-the-shelf oil that meets your needs.

aehaas
 
Originally Posted By: NilsonCain
I plan to run it out to around 5,000 miles... It should be approximately a 10W30 oil, synthetic blend. I don't really expect any problems from conflicting additives.

I just want to use up oil I have lying around before purchasing new oil; otherwise this stuff will just continue to sit around.


Despite all the above naysayers you will be fine for that OCI.

As the UOA show, there are no titanium or other "secret" additives in the oils you use. Maybe except for possible esters in Torque Power.
 
I figure if the two used different AW additives, I'd have half of each, but still, half of two makes enough of total...

I just don't buy into the FUD about mixing oils, unless you are mixing with some known bad oil.
 
Here is my simplest way to put it.

So you go to the Dr. because you have a Strep Throat infection. The Dr. says he is almost out his best antibiotics but he can give you half a dose of Azithromycin and half a dose of cephalexin. Will it cure your infection? Will you have a reaction to the cocktail? What about your Kidney and Liver? You and I can't answer these questions, maybe not even the Dr. So why risk it just to save a few $$?
 
Mix away, no harm will be done. If you do not believe me ask Shell. I honestly expect more factual responses from a few site members that some I have seen here.
 
Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
Here is my simplest way to put it.

So you go to the Dr. because you have a Strep Throat infection. The Dr. says he is almost out his best antibiotics but he can give you half a dose of Azithromycin and half a dose of cephalexin. Will it cure your infection? Will you have a reaction to the cocktail? What about your Kidney and Liver? You and I can't answer these questions, maybe not even the Dr. So why risk it just to save a few $$?



The ONLY problem with your analogy is that 95+% of all oil additives are identical.
 
Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
Here is my simplest way to put it.

So you go to the Dr. because you have a Strep Throat infection. The Dr. says he is almost out his best antibiotics but he can give you half a dose of Azithromycin and half a dose of cephalexin. Will it cure your infection? Will you have a reaction to the cocktail? What about your Kidney and Liver? You and I can't answer these questions, maybe not even the Dr. So why risk it just to save a few $$?



The ONLY problem with your analogy is that 95+% of all oil additives are identical.

Good point, not to mention all API oil MUST be mixable. In other words no additive can be used by a formulator that is known to "clash" with any other API oil on the market.

Regarding the mix ratio, it should give you a heavy 10W-30 oil but to get a lighter 10W-30 I'd go with the 2 qts of the 5W-20.
 
Hello all,

I ended up buying a DriveWorks filter (DW-4476 / PL14476) for the oil change. They seem to have decent reviews and are comparable to Purolator Classics. Good enough for me this time.

And I will note, yes, I am very cash-strapped right now. I just started a new job (hence 150mi commute) and am awaiting my first paycheck (which will be nice).

Hopefully after a few months at the new job I'll be looking for oil advice for a 2013 Polaris RZR4 XP900
wink.gif



I'll be sure to post up if the engine explodes over the next 5k
wink.gif
(It won't)
 
I ended up knocking over one of the jugs of 5w20 and spilled 1/2 qt of it, so got about 50/50 5w20/15w40 in. Put on the new DriveWorks filter etc etc.

Was still about 1/2 qt low so I had someone grab me a bottle of oil (Supertech 10w30) to use to top off.

No now it's a QS TorquePower 5w20 / Rotella T 15w40 / Supertech 10w30 blend
wink.gif
I think it will work just fine (and quite well) for the 5,000 miles I intend to run it.
 
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Originally Posted By: dave1251
Mix away, no harm will be done. If you do not believe me ask Shell. I honestly expect more factual responses from a few site members that some I have seen here.


OK Dave. If you ask Shell I am sure that they would give 2 different responses depending on how you asked the question.

1. I'm on my way home from a trip and need to top off a quart to get home. They don't have your brand at this gas station. Do you all think it would be OK for me to buy this so I can get on the road again?

I am sure they would say yes.

2. Now call Shell up and tell them that you want to mix their brand and another brand 50/50 so you can make something different.

I would bet my paycheck that they wouldn't recommend it.

The guy says money is tight so OK, go do it. But is it a best practice? No, I don't think so but I have been known to lose a paycheck or 2 in the past.
 
Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
Originally Posted By: dave1251
Mix away, no harm will be done. If you do not believe me ask Shell. I honestly expect more factual responses from a few site members that some I have seen here.


OK Dave. If you ask Shell I am sure that they would give 2 different responses depending on how you asked the question.

1. I'm on my way home from a trip and need to top off a quart to get home. They don't have your brand at this gas station. Do you all think it would be OK for me to buy this so I can get on the road again?

I am sure they would say yes.

2. Now call Shell up and tell them that you want to mix their brand and another brand 50/50 so you can make something different.

I would bet my paycheck that they wouldn't recommend it.

The guy says money is tight so OK, go do it. But is it a best practice? No, I don't think so but I have been known to lose a paycheck or 2 in the past.


At least the OP's engine will be OK. What about all the mixing the blenders do? Should I check the date codes on all my bottles because I have oil bottles from the same brand with different date codes over that where blended over 27 months of production. What should I do to make sure there is no batch variances? What about the oil left from my last OCI?
 
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