Any oil brands or types to avoid?

[albow]

I've used regular Delvac for at least 150,000 of my 205,000 miles with no problem, so I reckon I will continue doing so. I ran full synthetic once and when I had my oil changed for me a couple times I used something else. I don't know if the newer trucks require full synthetic or not or what the oil change intervals for them are (am interested to hear though). IF I'm starting a firestorm here, please don't fan the flames. I'm not trying to but I know on car forums oil questions seem to start fights. I'm just curious, not needing viscosity and breakdown figures, etc. but analysis figures from those who have had it done and the conditions the oil was run in would be nice to see.

[LIKE2BUILD]

ShinerBock wrote:
You are correct in terms of viscosity. From that data I have seen from Cummins, the only time synthetics is really needed is at colder temps. There is not much of a difference viscosity wise at hotter temps. For most that live in warmer climates, synthetic oil does not add any real benefit when it comes to viscosity to justify the extra cost.

Right. Technically I could run 15W40 in spring through fall and 5W40 through the winter. Winters in central Illinois can be mild and we can have dips into 0*F and below. If the 5W40 is good for all temperature ranges I think I'll just stick with it and then I don't have to worry if I temps what viscosity to run and when.

KJ

[ShinerBock]

LIKE2BUILD wrote:


The chart shows 5W40 good in all directions but 15W40 only good at 0*F and above. Technically, the only difference in the two should be viscosity at lower temps.

You are correct in terms of viscosity. From that data I have seen from Cummins, the only time synthetics is really needed is at colder temps. There is not much of a difference viscosity wise at hotter temps. For most that live in warmer climates, synthetic oil does not add any real benefit when it comes to viscosity to justify the extra cost.

[LIKE2BUILD]

albow wrote:
Got to be a misprint on the upper temp range. So, the current recommendation for a Cummins is 15K, even when used for towing, i.e. severe duty, or are you stretching it out like me and only tow occasionally? Mine is a paltry 3,750 severe and 7,500 non severe

I'm not sure about a misprint. If you look on Page 289 of the 2014 Ram Diesel Supplement you'll see what I'm talking about.

The chart shows 5W40 good in all directions but 15W40 only good at 0*F and above. Technically, the only difference in the two should be viscosity at lower temps.


These charts are from Viscopedia. Basically, if you look at viscosity values at 30*C, you'll see 15W and 5W are nearly identical. 30*C is a typical hot summer day, so even when the engine is 'cold' on those days your 15W40 is flow just about the same as 5W40 would be. Once the oil warms 50 *C there is no difference at all.

[Sam_Spade]

Lynnmor wrote:

LIKE2BUILD wrote:


So, I just run Rotella T6 5W40 year 'round at 15K change intervals.

KJ

Of course you know that T6 has changed about six months ago. It now has reduced anti-wear additives and no longed is approved by Ford. When my old stock runs out, you can be sure that I won't run an inferior oil.

Well it is odd to hear that because..........

The motorcycle community thinks that they have added Moly to the formula, which would be an ADDITIONAL anti-wear additive and makes it not compatible with the wet clutches on bikes.

Now I wonder what the true story IS.

[Durb]

My engine is about the same as yours. I have a good supply of Delo 400LE CJ4 oil that I bought from Costco when they were discontinuing it to make room for CP4. When that is gone I'll have to revaluate. I do change my oil at 5k-6k due to the relatively low use my truck gets. In my opinion suspended dirt in the oil does more damage to an engine than oil breakdown. I could never get myself to run 15K on an oil change. Right now I am at $45 to change the oil with Fleetguard filter and it takes about 20 minutes, a simple and inexpensive maintenance chore.

[albow]

ktmrfs wrote:
the lower zinc level is primarily an issue with flat tappet cams. Many, maybe most, of the newer diesels and cars run a roller cam, so it isn't as much of an issue.

Best thing to do is use a CK oil, not a CK SN oil. Since they aren't SN rated, they don't need to meet the lower zinc level.

But that is easier said than done.

Yeah, primarily an older vehicle issue, but if you look at the article I linked, the diesel oils only have a minimally higher amount of zinc in the last several iterations to come out.

[albow]

LIKE2BUILD wrote:

albow wrote:
...I don't know if the newer trucks require full synthetic or not or what the oil change intervals for them are (am interested to hear though).....I'm just curious....analysis figures from those who have had it done and the conditions the oil was run in would be nice to see.

My 2014 Ram manual gives a little conflicting information. The generic owners manual says to run 15W40. But, if you look in the diesel supplement it's a little different. There is a chart with arrows that shows 15W40 from 0*F and just points out past 32*F. But then there's another arrow for synthetic 5W40 that points below 0*F and beyond 32*F. I could be wrong, but I the Cummins equipped trucks ship with 5W40 in them.

So, I just run Rotella T6 5W40 year 'round at 15K change intervals.

KJ

Got to be a misprint on the upper temp range. So, the current recommendation for a Cummins is 15K, even when used for towing, i.e. severe duty, or are you stretching it out like me and only tow occasionally? Mine is a paltry 3,750 severe and 7,500 non severe

[ktmrfs]

the lower zinc level is primarily an issue with flat tappet cams. Many, maybe most, of the newer diesels and cars run a roller cam, so it isn't as much of an issue.

Best thing to do is use a CK oil, not a CK SN oil. Since they aren't SN rated, they don't need to meet the lower zinc level.

But that is easier said than done.

[FishOnOne]

albow wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
I would stay away from oils that have a dual rated diesel and gas ratings of API CK4 and SN which reduces the anti wear additives zinc and phosphorous. This would include Mobil Delvac and Chevron Delo.

At least until we see some UOA on these dual rated oils.

These would be very hard to find and ck4 wouldn't even meet my 2003 engine requirements. I once ran an older formulation of diesel oil in my car for the zinc but as you will see in the linked article, there's not much you can do now and there are some drawbacks to the zinc and phosphorous as well as benefits. https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2012/10/18/tech-101-zinc-in-oil-and-its-effects-on-older-engines/

I ran Delvac in my 05 6.0PSD for ~170k miles and it was a great oil. That was a API CI4 Plus and later the CJ4. It was actually a synthetic blend but wasn't advertised as such.

API CK4 is supposed to be backwards compatible and will be the only oil available in the near future.

[Lynnmor]

LIKE2BUILD wrote:


So, I just run Rotella T6 5W40 year 'round at 15K change intervals.

KJ

Of course you know that T6 has changed about six months ago. It now has reduced anti-wear additives and no longed is approved by Ford. When my old stock runs out, you can be sure that I won't run an inferior oil.

[LIKE2BUILD]

albow wrote:
...I don't know if the newer trucks require full synthetic or not or what the oil change intervals for them are (am interested to hear though).....I'm just curious....analysis figures from those who have had it done and the conditions the oil was run in would be nice to see.

My 2014 Ram manual gives a little conflicting information. The generic owners manual says to run 15W40. But, if you look in the diesel supplement it's a little different. There is a chart with arrows that shows 15W40 from 0*F and just points out past 32*F. But then there's another arrow for synthetic 5W40 that points below 0*F and beyond 32*F. I could be wrong, but I the Cummins equipped trucks ship with 5W40 in them.

So, I just run Rotella T6 5W40 year 'round at 15K change intervals.

KJ

[albow]

fj12ryder wrote:
I've used Delvac 1300 and Shell Rotella TTT in my 2001 Dodge Cummins, and always have gotten better reports from Blackstone Labs with the Delvac. So now I just use Delvac unless I have to get the oil changed on the road and they don't have Delvac.

Glad to hear that. I wonder what difference it makes when an engine changes. For example, yours is 24v and mine is the first common rail. I wonder with each engine change if the results hold true, but I'll bet it changes some, making some more favored than others. I can't imagine anything being wrong with any of the major brands, just some a little better or able to go longer between changes than others.

[albow]

WTP-GC wrote:
Let me be the first to suggest a specific oil that I wouldn't run...MYSTIK (or MYSTICK)

I used this for a few oil changes in my older TV. When I ran oil samples, the results showed several unfavorable characteristics, such as poor viscosity, low flashpoint, etc. The report suggested that it would be fine for shorter change intervals (3000 miles or less). It was readily available and fairly inexpensive at a local fuel/lubricant dealer nearby.

These days, I only run Schaeffers in my diesel trucks.

I've seen Mystik advertised a time or 2. I always figured it was more of an expensive exotic like amsoil or royal purple. Good to know. Never heard of Schaeffers but glad you're happy with it.

[albow]

Grit dog wrote:
Don't worry, it's as hotly debated here as anywhere.....lol. But you already knew that.
You seem to know what works for you and in the first half dozen posts were reccomended against that, that you've had good performance out of. So the answer is, keep changing your oil.....regularly!

Yeah. I had no intention of changing after 200K, but did want to hear thoughts and hopefully oil analysis on various ones, particularly if someone said stay away from something more than anything with a valid reason.