Synthetic oil

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Hannibal wrote:
Cummins uses Rotella? I would think they would use their own Valvoline Premium Blue recipe. Used to be contracted with Castrol years ago. No smella either.

Can't remember for a fact but they do use Synthetic.

I followed this stuff when I owned my four Cummins Rams. Back then factory fill was this. If factory fill is now synthetic, it's something new.

https://valvoline.com/products/commercial-industrial-products/oem-endorsed-products/10

With my gas powered vehicles I use synthetic motor oil with the car that is driven the most during the year. I have a coupe that is driven less than 8,000 miles a year on average and I do the recommended annual oil change and use dino. No point in changing out the synthetic at 7,000 miles and it too needs to be changed out at least annually.

With my diesel powered truck the oil is changed every 7500 miles as it is used for towing and heavy hauling and this constitutes "severe duty" in terms of the maintenance schedule. With diesel there is also much more of a problem with soot and sludge in the motor oil that are byproducts of burning diesel fuel. The only way to get this material out of the motor oil is to drain the oil and put in new oil. Again, no reason to run synthetic oil when it is going to be changed out every 7500 miles.

Most synthetics for diesel are not available in a 15W-40 grade which is also what is needed for temperatures above 0 degrees. A 5W-40 oil in temperatures above 0 degrees is not going to provide nearly as good protection in warmer temperatures. One is already sacrificing lubrication performance with a multi-grade oil with polymer shear which is most evident when oil is forced into the main bearing journals of an engine.

I do have to give credit to the petroleum industry which has done an outstanding job of brainwashing people into mindlessly buying synthetic lubricants for everything.

Hannibal wrote:
Cummins uses Rotella? I would think they would use their own Valvoline Premium Blue recipe. Used to be contracted with Castrol years ago. No smella either.

Can't remember for a fact but they do use Synthetic.

ib516 wrote:

myredracer wrote:
My BIL owns an auto parts shop and told me that synthetic oil is thinner. Not sure if that's a myth or true.

So is it true that if you switch to synthetic at some point that you can end up with leaks you wouldn't have had otherwise? I know dino oil thins out with temp. but I thought synthetic has relatively stable viscosity with temp. changes? Maybe it's that synthetic has some other properties that cause it to leak more?

I've thought about switching to synthetic in our F250 but I sure don't want to end up with a leak, but maybe there is no major advantage anyway.

Here's are some facts:

Synthetic oil isn't "thinner" than regular oil, given the same viscosity grade (5w30 to 5w30 for example).

Synthetic oil doesn't cause leaks.

Synthetic oil is superior to conventional oil in every measurable way, other than cost.

Here is my opinion:

You have to decide if the benefits outweigh the cost in your situation and intended use.

Again, just my opinion, but in extremely low (-30*C or colder), or extremely hot/high load applications, it's worth it to use synthetic.

This is the internet. You can't go muddying up the thread with factual information. Shame on you. No donut.

Cummins uses Rotella? I would think they would use their own Valvoline Premium Blue recipe. Used to be contracted with Castrol years ago. No smella either.

The Mad Norsky wrote:

AH64ID wrote:
The Diesel engines built since Jan 1 2007 are not capable of extended oil drain intervals with their emissions intact.

:h


Hmmmm?

My new Cummins Ram says to go 15,000 miles before oil change.

Mind you, I am NOT wild about that idea. Especially considering they tell me it is just normal old Rotella 15W/40 in the crankcase.

New Cummins come with Synthetic oil.

agesilaus wrote:
I used Amsol synthetic on my latest oil change thinking that I could get 10-12000 miles between changes. Only to find, after I bought it, that Amsol is now saying to change it when the truck says to change it. That's because of the regeneration system on new trucks loads up oil with soot. So based on that I'll probably switch back to synthetic blend or just non synthetic next time. Longer periods between changes may not be wise on the latest generation of diesels.

Read a little closer. Oil analysis like with Blackstone can get you more miles if they say to go longer.

DELETED DOUBLE POST

Happen to have my 2014 F150 Owners Manual next to me.

On oil change intervals, it says:

7500-10000 miles = Normal-Normal commuting w/ highway driving. No, or moderate load or towing. Flat to moderately hilly roads. No extended idling.

5000-7500 miles = Severe-Moderate to heavy load or towing. Mountainous or off road conditions. Extended idling. Extended hot or cold operation.

3000-4999 miles = Extreme-Maximum load or toeing. Extreme hot or cold operation.

On breaking in the engine, it says:

Avoid driving too fast during the 1st 1000 miles. Vary your speed frequently & change up through gears early. Do not labor the engine. Do not tow during the 1st 1000 miles.

On engine oil, it says:

Use Motorcraft 5w-30 (Ecoboost engine), or equivalent, that meets Ford spec. XO-5W30-QSP or XO-5W30-QFO (US)

myredracer wrote:
My BIL owns an auto parts shop and told me that synthetic oil is thinner. Not sure if that's a myth or true.

So is it true that if you switch to synthetic at some point that you can end up with leaks you wouldn't have had otherwise? I know dino oil thins out with temp. but I thought synthetic has relatively stable viscosity with temp. changes? Maybe it's that synthetic has some other properties that cause it to leak more?

I've thought about switching to synthetic in our F250 but I sure don't want to end up with a leak, but maybe there is no major advantage anyway.

Here's are some facts:

Synthetic oil isn't "thinner" than regular oil, given the same viscosity grade (5w30 to 5w30 for example).

Synthetic oil doesn't cause leaks.

Synthetic oil is superior to conventional oil in every measurable way, other than cost.

Here is my opinion:

You have to decide if the benefits outweigh the cost in your situation and intended use.

Again, just my opinion, but in extremely low (-30*C or colder), or extremely hot/high load applications, it's worth it to use synthetic.