Rotella T synth vs. Delvac 1300 shoot out

[Gary Allan]

Now this won't be a perfect test ... naturally. My son agreed to subject his rig, a 00 4.0 Cherokee with 85k miles, to Delvac 1300 15w40 for at least 7500 miles. I'm currently running Rotella synthetic 5w-40 for a 10k run in my wife's 99 4.0 Wrangler with 92k on it. Neither engine has any consumption issues over somewhat extended drains (my son has only gone about 7-8k on Delvac 1 and has never done a used oil analysis) and both engines are extremely clean inside. Now the 99 sees mostly highway with a 52 mpd commute..while the Cherokee sees more suburban speeds (a few lights 40-55 mph) on his 24 mpd commute. They don't do any "urban" driving of any amount worth mentioning.

Given the price difference between Delvac 1 (13k last OCI) and Rotella synthetic ..I only have to get 7500 miles to break even ...in the same cost comparison ...Delvac 1300 only has to make it around 4000 (3600) miles, a little more to account for the cost of the filter.


If Rotella can make it to 10k (which I'm pretty sure it can) I think that Delvac 1300 will hit 7500 without breaking a sweat.

This naturally doesn't include the costs of the used oil analysis.

Our climate rarely hits 0°F and hovers between the mid teens to just below 32°F for most of the winter. If Delvac 1300 proves acceptable in performance ..synthetic will be a thing of the past.

 

[Bio-T]

Gary, I just posted in another topic before I saw this one. I may as well get flamed here also, so I will just cut/paste it here:

My own personal observation is I will not run 15w40 in a gas engine when the expected temp. is below 25F. (Diesel engine excepted with block heater or gasoline engine with a pan heater) I don't like the hard cranking and noises associated with cold temps and XXW40.

Many on here do run XXW40 below those temps, but not a thing I choose to do. Flame suit on.

 

[Gary Allan]

No flame here

This may very well prove to be too thick an oil for our climate. Only one way to find out. Some engines tolerate this better than others. My Caravan doesn't like it in 80°F weather..at least at startup (then again it doesn't like anything too thin after warm up at that temp

)

I believe that this engine during the 70s spec'd a 20w-50 for anything above 0°F in a Cherokee (I can't verify that) and only devolved with the changes in energy policy ..not that it makes squat difference in this engine.

My jeep engine has been proven to need a 40 weight. Naturally the synths ease the cold starting issues and Delvac 1 has served my wife's 4.0 with outstanding wear numbers and no startup issues over substantial extended drains (through a couple of winters). So I'm confident in, at least, the synths being acceptable ..and a 40 weight being somewhat required.

I understand your apprehension. I would never consider this on any other powerplant ..except maybe my old BB SBC ..and even that I'm uncertain of the need.

I doubt that I will employ the use of a block or pan heater in either of these vehicles. It would be easier to just swap out to a thinner oil for the winter.

If nothing else, I'll learn what not to do.

I do thank you for your input.