What are everyone's thoughts on running Rotella 5w-40 synthetic diesel oil in a ford 4.6L gas engine. The engine has 7500 miles on it and is spec'd for 5w-20. Anyone see any problems with using this oil?? I use it in other gas engines and all my diesel equipment and want to simplify my oil inventory and use the same oil in everything..... any educated opinions out there?? thanks
rotella 5w-40 synthetic in gas engines
- Thread starter cdnfireman
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It will do no harm. Gas mileage may drop, but it's not likely to be enough to notice.
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Depends on the year. We just had a thread that indicated that some of the 4.6 in earlier years had oil pump relief valves that were prone to sticking ...some to the point of ballooning the filter
I think that it was over by 95 or so ....hmmmm here's the thread
So the oil will be just fine with the engine (although this engine does do quite well with the spec'd 5w-20) ..there can be side effects of heavier oils unrelated to lubrication properties.
I think that it was over by 95 or so ....hmmmm here's the thread
So the oil will be just fine with the engine (although this engine does do quite well with the spec'd 5w-20) ..there can be side effects of heavier oils unrelated to lubrication properties.
JHZR2
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Im not sure Id use it in that engine... when there are so many robust 30wt oils that have no VIIs, and are still much heavier at the bearings than your specced 20wt.
That said, Ive used rotella 5w-40 in my E30 BMW with great success...
JMH
That said, Ive used rotella 5w-40 in my E30 BMW with great success...
JMH
I had been considering Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 for quite a while in my 1994 Ford T-Bird 4.6. I decided against it. I went the other way, using Motorcraft 5W-20, and have noticed an improvement in cold start-up and acceleration...this happening on an engine with 103,500 miles (currently on a rinse phase after Auto-RX). Here is the link to my post inquiring about the same subject:
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I just caught his location. At least it's a synthetic ..but you will pay at the pump a bit. The shorter the trip length ..the more you're going to use in fuel pumping the stuff.
If I was there, with that engine ..make that most engines, I'd be using a 0w-20 synth. But I can appreciate the desire to reduce the parts/materials inventory.
If I was there, with that engine ..make that most engines, I'd be using a 0w-20 synth. But I can appreciate the desire to reduce the parts/materials inventory.
At 7,500 miles, it's still under warranty, right? I'd think twice before doing anything that might cause a possible future warranty issue. What if your oil filter did that 'balloon' thing, for instance.
I've been running M1 5w-30 (which, according to the thread referenced earlier here about the balloned filter, isn't recommended, either) in a number (5) of the modular Fords since '94, at least until I switched to Motorcraft 5w-20 this year, and never had any problems, but, would there have been one in the event of a claim? "So, Mr. West, you knowingly used a non-recommended weight of oil in your Expedition. Hmmm. Claim denied!". I know, I know, cold pour points and all the other technical terms that are invoked here regularly may mean that a higher viscosity oil actually is better when cold than a lighter weight, BUT, warranty issues are no fun under the best of circumstances, so why give 'em one?
BTW - Did anyone see the December issue of Road & Track (the one with the 605 HP Shelby Super Snake on the cover
)? In the Tech question section, a guy asked about oil pressures in modern engines, given that most vehicles have oil pressure lights or gauges marked "L" and "H", but no actual numbers. In any event, here's the link - http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=19&article_id=6052 Look at the numbers they're showing for the modular Ford. What's it say, 75 PSI @ 2000 RPM? Holy mackerel!! Assuming that's with 5w-20 at operating temp, imagine what they'd be if the car was sitting outside in subzero temps or if a heavier oil was used.
I've been running M1 5w-30 (which, according to the thread referenced earlier here about the balloned filter, isn't recommended, either) in a number (5) of the modular Fords since '94, at least until I switched to Motorcraft 5w-20 this year, and never had any problems, but, would there have been one in the event of a claim? "So, Mr. West, you knowingly used a non-recommended weight of oil in your Expedition. Hmmm. Claim denied!". I know, I know, cold pour points and all the other technical terms that are invoked here regularly may mean that a higher viscosity oil actually is better when cold than a lighter weight, BUT, warranty issues are no fun under the best of circumstances, so why give 'em one?
BTW - Did anyone see the December issue of Road & Track (the one with the 605 HP Shelby Super Snake on the cover
Originally Posted By: RWEST
75 PSI @ 2000 RPM?
Holy mackerel is right! That's pretty amazing. A far cry from my
Yeah I would just stick with the 20weight. We run the rotella syn in two of our older vehicles (speced originally 10-30) while the third newer one still uses 20weight. I like the cold startup of the 20.
75 PSI @ 2000 RPM?
Holy mackerel is right! That's pretty amazing. A far cry from my
Yeah I would just stick with the 20weight. We run the rotella syn in two of our older vehicles (speced originally 10-30) while the third newer one still uses 20weight. I like the cold startup of the 20.
I'd stick with 5w20 in that Ford.
However, if you have a vehicle that needs Xw40 oil, that Shell Rotella syn is a bargain for what it can do.
However, if you have a vehicle that needs Xw40 oil, that Shell Rotella syn is a bargain for what it can do.
Originally Posted By: cdnfireman
What are everyone's thoughts on running Rotella 5w-40 synthetic diesel oil in a ford 4.6L gas engine. The engine has 7500 miles on it and is spec'd for 5w-20. Anyone see any problems with using this oil?? I use it in other gas engines and all my diesel equipment and want to simplify my oil inventory and use the same oil in everything..... any educated opinions out there?? thanks
Be careful using too "thick" of an oil in an engine calling for a "thinner" oil such as 5w-20. I'm not saying that 5w40 is like a SAE 50 but you get my point. Some engine builders spec (build) an engine based on the "thickness" of the engine oil that is going to be used and of course to achieve better MPG. If you use a "thick" oil in an engine that has tight tolerances and tight clearances, the oil will not be able to flow through the bearing journals and such properly and your engine may suffer excess wear.
What are everyone's thoughts on running Rotella 5w-40 synthetic diesel oil in a ford 4.6L gas engine. The engine has 7500 miles on it and is spec'd for 5w-20. Anyone see any problems with using this oil?? I use it in other gas engines and all my diesel equipment and want to simplify my oil inventory and use the same oil in everything..... any educated opinions out there?? thanks
Be careful using too "thick" of an oil in an engine calling for a "thinner" oil such as 5w-20. I'm not saying that 5w40 is like a SAE 50 but you get my point. Some engine builders spec (build) an engine based on the "thickness" of the engine oil that is going to be used and of course to achieve better MPG. If you use a "thick" oil in an engine that has tight tolerances and tight clearances, the oil will not be able to flow through the bearing journals and such properly and your engine may suffer excess wear.
I'm going to Rotella 5w40 for my next oil change in my Suburu GT Turbo. This engine likes to use some oil,especially at interstate speeds, and I usually must add a total of a quart of synthetic during a change interval of 5000 miles. This seems to hold true with all the 5w30's I've tried. The only run to which I didn't add much was with Texaco SL synthetic 5w40. Can't get that anymore, ergo SL Rotella, while it lasts. The owner's manual specs many different weights and I believe that the European spec is 5W40. We shall see. SL was the standard in 2005, so there should be no catalyst problem.
My first car was a VW Bug and I soon learned to hate an oil burner/leaker.
My first car was a VW Bug and I soon learned to hate an oil burner/leaker.
There's nothing wrong with using the Rotella 5W40 in a gas engine. Before Castrol released the Syntec 5W40, I used the Rotella in various gas burning VWs for years. If the Castrol didn't exist, I'd still be using the Shell.
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