Synthetic Oil

Topic: Synthetic Oil (Read 1566 times) previous topic - next topic

Synthetic Oil

September 23, 2012, 10:15:17 am

Is any one here using synthetic oil in there engine and what are your thoughts?
What is the suggested oil change schedule with Rotella T synthetic oil vs Rotella T regular oil?

I was able to buy Rotella T6 Synthetic 5W-40 oil yesterday for $13.76/gal at our local Meijer's store. In fact I bought all their stock, 20 gallons. The next closest price was at Walmart for Rotella T @ $12.97 for regular oil.

I guess that should hold me over for a "few" miles.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #1 – September 23, 2012, 10:42:35 am

It is not that much to change the oil but if you wanted to run synthetic oil and extended drain intervals, you still have to send off samples for analysis... So if you are crawling under there anyway, why not change it.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #2 – September 23, 2012, 11:00:39 am

What is the oil change interval for your engine using mineral oil? If that number does not exceed your annual driving miles, why switch to synthetic? You need to change the oil annually anyway.
Peter

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #3 – September 23, 2012, 11:03:58 am

I use AMSOIL synthetics in all places (even Allison) I use 15/40 marine/diesel in engine. Coach had it before I bought it too. I find the 2 samples I had done 2 yrs ago after 10k that it was almost the same as new. I am a dealer so it is also cheaper for me and I supply a couple of Deisel mechanics in town who have been using it for many years on their 350's. They rebuild Diesel engines for a living and say you only have to take one apart and can see the difference it makes with less wear. They will not stop using it.
That was good enough for me to continue.
Time is the big factor of course
John H

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #4 – September 23, 2012, 12:08:17 pm

I took many aircraft engines apart. All of them that had been using synthetic oil had little to no wear on major parts like cams, cranks and lifter assemblies and the inside of the motors was always much cleaner. If you go 1 year with regular oil or one year with synthetic oil, the wear will be less in your motor....... On the down side, $12-13+ a gallon for a 20+ gallon oil change is pretty darn expensive.........plus regular oil in these diesels has proven itself over and over. A conundrum for sure!

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #5 – September 23, 2012, 12:32:31 pm

I have used Amsoil in my U270 since I bought it almost 5 years ago. I do the oil analysis every year, change filters and top off the oil. Went 4 years without an oil change, the last oil analysis still showed oil was good but getting dirty. I was having MOT change my Transmission fluid and rear axle, so I decided to change the oil then also. Amsoil in everything now and will use the oil analysis to determine when to change.

Like John, I am also a dealer and get it at dealer costs. Preferred Customers can buy at dealer costs for their own use-FYI. Contact me or John for more information about that.

Ted 2001 U270

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #6 – September 23, 2012, 02:49:47 pm

I converted to AMSoil synthetic everywhere (engine, tranny, diff, wheel bearings, grease) for lower friction, lower fuel consumption, lower running temperatures, greater heat tolerance and extended change intervals. With by-pass filter on engine and annual oil analysis, I expect to change engine oil in 5 years. After changing in California and driving to Canada, pulled dip stick and looked at crystal clear oil, like it had just been changed. Running synthetic in transmissions with retarders is highly recommended by Alison.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #7 – September 23, 2012, 03:15:41 pm

Cummins recommendation is no difference in change interval with synthetic. Check your owner's manual for your engine. Most of us do annual changes unless we have the Centinel system.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #8 – September 23, 2012, 03:19:53 pm

Is anyone using the synthetic oil you can buy at Walmart in their Cummins? We have the 5.9B mechanical (1993) engine. Just wondering what to move to as none of the synthetics on our WM shelves mention diesel use.

Craig

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #9 – September 23, 2012, 03:22:58 pm

Walmarts frequently have Rotella synthetic. Don't use any oil that doesn't have diesel spec., currently CJ.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #10 – September 23, 2012, 04:44:46 pm

Quote from: wa_desert_rat – September 23, 2012, 03:19:53 pm

Just wondering what to move to as none of the synthetics on our WM shelves mention diesel use.

Craig

They will not say "for diesels", but on the back of the jug, you will find the API donut symbol. The symbol for diesel is C and the symbol for gas is S. Find the API Service C inside the donut circle and you will be all set. The CJ 4 is the current best. The Rotella T6 will work just fine in your Cummins 5.9 and has excellent reviews and analysis for that application over at Bob Is The Oil Guy forum. In fact I would not hesitate in running any Rotella T "C "category oil in your engine. The Rotella T6 is the current top of the line diesel motor oil offered by Shell Rotella.

(Do not run the S categories in a diesel engine. But you can run a combination C & S category in a diesel.)

Some more API CERTIFICATION MARK AND SERVICE SYMBOL reading: http://www.api.org/certification-programs/engine-oil-diesel-exhaust-fluid/~/media/Files/Certification/Engine-Oil-Diesel/Publications/Engine-Oil-Guide-2010-120210.ashx

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #11 – September 23, 2012, 05:58:40 pm

Thanks, Pat.

Craig

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #12 – September 23, 2012, 08:15:57 pm

Since we're looking more and more at 93-94 U300 coaches that have the 2-cycle Detroits in them, should we be thinking about synthetic oil in them, too? This will be my first diesel engine, and I don't want to destroy it by doing something stupid.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #13 – September 23, 2012, 08:46:08 pm

No, The DD engines ,2 cycle require straight 40 wt oil, not 15 W-40 or any other miracles.
Dave M

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #14 – September 23, 2012, 09:28:24 pm

Thanks, Dave. I assume, then, that there is no straight 40 weight synthetic oil?

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #15 – September 23, 2012, 10:16:47 pm

Synthetic oils are the only oils used in jet aircraft and that is how the motor industry use got started. It was Al Amatuzio (founder of Amsoil) that while being a fighter pilot could not figure out why aircraft use it but not the auto industry. He soon found out as it was the industry not basically bringing it in as it would cut a large part of their income off. He single handed started all the testing etc needed and came up with the business today. It is the #1 oil in racing and offshore racing boats and getting bigger in motocycling racing. Their testing has proven it is better than mineral oils and stands up to heat and wear much better. Why would a person not use it, even if it is a tad more expensive. The Foretravel we all own is a bit more expensive than a similar SOB, BUT we know the difference in quality, and it is the same in oils. Protecting my engine, tranny etc are important to me.
IMHO
John H

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #16 – September 24, 2012, 06:58:22 am

Just a basic note. Your basic oil rarely wears out, whether dino or synthetic. It's the additive package that is used up, whether it's neutralizing acid or holding soot in suspension. That's why we change oil as scheduled. Additive packages vary greatly between S and C oils, but little between dino and synthetic.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #17 – September 24, 2012, 08:01:47 am

I agree with amos. I saw an independent test done comparing syn and real oil and the conclusion was that in EXTREME heat and EXTREME cold, syn will flow better, but as for the over all lubricity they were found to be the same. Oil changes are recommended the same but for the cost, Consumer Digest says to stay with regular oil. I would use it in my tranny and never change it, but my engine gets regular oil. I use syn in the Harley, though, because of the heat factor.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #18 – September 24, 2012, 09:04:17 am

"Synthetic oils are the only oils used in jet aircraft engines"
Jet engine is NOT a reciprocating, oil slinging, vibrating, mass trying to tear its self to pieces.
The oil in a jet engine never comes in contact with the heat producing section of the engine. It is sprayed on the friction producting components.
Hence does not pickup the by products of combustion.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #19 – September 24, 2012, 10:55:12 am

Quote from: Twig – September 24, 2012, 08:01:47 am

Consumer Digest says to stay with regular oil.

I'm wondering if Consumer Digest went out and hired a lubrication engineering firm to make this determination. I really doubt that they have anyone on staff that could knowledgeably make such a call considering that it is such a specialized field.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #20 – September 24, 2012, 12:25:44 pm

Consumer Digest doesn't test anything. They just report the findings of the laboratories in the field of whatever they are testing to do the analysis. They don't sell oil, either.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #21 – September 24, 2012, 12:28:24 pm

Consumer digest can be influenced by ad revenues, consumer reports does not have that issue

but I love my synthetic in my motorcycle...

Run Exon elite in my airplane engine.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #22 – September 24, 2012, 12:38:44 pm

Coulda been consumer reports. Was a long time ago and I only remember that it was an independent test. It all comes down to personal choice, really, though.

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #23 – September 24, 2012, 02:37:45 pm

First you need to keep everything in order, Talking oil, religion or politics, you can get into a disagreement real quick, so it becomes an opinion based on experience, so considering all the above, MY opinion is the synthetic is great IF you need it or you get the warm fuzzies spending more money for it. I have put many hundreds of thousands miles on mostly diesel engines, and I always used the Shell Rotella 30, 40, 50 or 15W-40 and NEVER had a wear issue due to lack of oil, so I do not see all the excitement that makes mewant to run out and spend the extra money, my warm fuzzies do not come from oil, either version

The single biggie for me, when running a 2 cycle Detroitg Diesel, you want straight 40 until you crank the HP up over 500 HP (8V-92 Engine). The 6V-92 does not have the same weakness on the rear main I am sure there EXPERTS that feel 50 is not important, so I guess they have lots of money. The experts that know run 50 even on 400 hp versions, they have sperience, Told ya, a very opinionated subject with much BS and factual experience.
Dave M

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #24 – September 24, 2012, 03:06:11 pm

Amos is correct. Oil does not "wear out" it's the additive package that becomes depleted as well as the amount of wear and combustion by-products the oil collects. It's generally accepted that synthetics are only needed in extreme operating conditions such as super low temperatures for maintaining low viscosity or high bearing loads, high revs for shear strength and heat breakdown etc. Think the Arctic or race cars. There is a lot more to oil than this but a good quality oil from a reputable manufacture is all one needs for common engines in normal service.

Keith

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