diesel oil alternative?

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djais1801

djais1801

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I'm getting ready to change the oil for the season, and was asking a few buddies what they use and one of them said they've been using Rotella 15W 40 diesel oil in his 340 for a few years.
says it seems to hold the viscosity better when hot and oil pressure is never below 30psi at idle.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?
 
Lots of discussion about oils here on FABO. Old engines need zinc to keep the flat tappet camshafts alive which Rotella has. I believe they also have a 10/30 weight that might be more what you need.
 
Shell Rotella lowered their zinc levels significantly a few years ago and it's not a great option anymore.
 
kiss said:
Shell Rotella lowered their zinc levels significantly a few years ago and it's not a great option anymore.
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Yes they did. Wonder what their levels are now. 1000ppm. is plenty.
 
Here's a link to popular oils.
Petroleum Quality Intitute of America

This is a 2015 chart. Things might have changed since then.

I did notice that Shell also produces Pennzoil, Quaker State and oil for Jiffy Lube. Nuff said!
 
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toolmanmike said:
Yes they did. Wonder what their levels are now. 1000ppm. is plenty.
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If the oil carries both CK-4 AND SN licenses, then the chemical limit of SN applies. That means lower zinc levels, the same as any modern passenger car oil. Rotella T4, T5, and T6 all carry the CK-4 designation now (since sometime in 2016), so their zinc levels have been reduced. Rotella T1 does not meet the CK-4 designation. Not sure about it's zinc content.
 
I've been running 30 straight valvoline gray bottle VR-1. But not available @ many places. Most have to order it for me. Some time ago got a good deal on 30 wt brad penn oil so have oil for 2 changes. Would like to find some oil more readily available.:rolleyes:
 
QuickDart360 said:
I've been running 30 straight valvoline gray bottle VR-1. But not available @ many places. Most have to order it for me. Some time ago got a good deal on 30 wt brad penn oil so have oil for 2 changes. Would like to find some oil more readily available.:rolleyes:
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I run plain old Valvoline in the white jug. (dino oil) and add a bit of Rislone Zinc additive. Both of my small blocks are stockers though.
rislone.jpg
 
Lucas Hot Rod oil. 2100ppm of ZDDP. Been using it for a few years. Flat tappet cam 340, no wear issues.
01-HotRod10W40_800x950.jpg
 
toolmanmike said:
Lots of discussion about oils here on FABO. Old engines need zinc to keep the flat tappet camshafts alive which Rotella has. I believe they also have a 10/30 weight that might be more what you need.
Click to expand...

Very interesting. Would this also be true of remanufactured engines?
 
i use this in the dart.. its made for flat tapped cams..

Joe Gibbs Driven HR-2 Conventional High Performance Motor Oil 02006

Joe Gibbs Driven HR-2 conventional high performance motor oil provides excellent startup and storage protection for small block engines and crate motors. Using oil additive technology developed for the US military's combat equipment, this multi-grade, high zinc content formula delivers proper anti-wear protection for older-style pushrod and flat-tappet engines. The same chemistry that's found in the Joe Gibbs Driven racing oil that has powered Joe Gibbs Racing to multiple NASCAR championships offers superior camshaft wear protection.
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kiss said:
Shell Rotella lowered their zinc levels significantly a few years ago and it's not a great option anymore.
Click to expand...



not true shell t1 has a min of 1400 ppm of zinc the shell rotella t4 t5 t6 . is reduced zinc for the newer low emission engines .that's what I was told by a shell rep 2 days ago .
 
Toolman, Like you I have been using Rislone products the last few years.Very happy with it.My old truck has a very tired 318 that was blowin' the blue/grey haze when cold getting up to traffic speed . Started using their Ring Seal . Son of a gun,after 2 oil changes the smoking was gone even under full throttle ramp speeds. Works for me!
 
jimjimjimmy said:
not true shell t1 has a min of 1400 ppm of zinc the shell rotella t4 t5 t6 . is reduced zinc for the newer low emission engines .that's what I was told by a shell rep 2 days ago .
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So that is why Rotella T1 does not meet the newer CK-4 designation. Good to know. Now, too bad it only comes in "straight" weights; SAE10, SAE30, SAE40.
 
69_340_GTS said:
So that is why Rotella T1 does not meet the newer CK-4 designation. Good to know. Now, too bad it only comes in "straight" weights; SAE10, SAE30, SAE40.
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. I use straight 30 in my boat .
 
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jimjimjimmy said:
not true shell t1 has a min of 1400 ppm of zinc the shell rotella t4 t5 t6 . is reduced zinc for the newer low emission engines .that's what I was told by a shell rep 2 days ago .
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Exactly, Shell Rotella walmart stuff that was great for years has reduced Zinc levels and isn't a good option
Shell Rotella T1 is only available in straight weights, sadly

jimjimjimmy said:
you can get it here in 15w40 and 10w30 . I use straight 30 in my boat .
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Where? Online it says its only straight grade. I've only ever seen T1 in straight weight.
 
Last documentation that I have seen on Shell t4 - t6 was 800ppm zinc. since I have both flat tappet and roller applications, I'm going with Amsoil ZRod 10w-30 synthetic (after break in). Its got 1400 ppm zinc and the detergents needed for street use. Between the 25% preferred customer discounts and the longer change interval cost is about the same as the high zinc blends or using additives for the regular oils. Over the last forty years I have used most of the brands and researched the composition/emission changes. While I believe in using the higher zinc these days due to lower grade cam materials, I am convinced that most of the hype is marketing generated. Most of us old gearheads service our engines regularly and have our stuff apart for performance changes enough that wear due to oil differences doesn't mean squat.
If nothing else, it gives opinionated old farts like us something to argue about!!!!!
 
oldskool979 said:
Last documentation that I have seen on Shell t4 - t6 was 800ppm zinc.
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If that documentation was published pre-December 2016 it is no longer valid. CK-4 and FA-4 requirements have superseded anything that was made prior to that date. Unfortunately, nowhere is Shell now saying what the new ZDDP content is in any of the Rotella oils.
 
oldskool979 said:
Last documentation that I have seen on Shell t4 - t6 was 800ppm zinc. since I have both flat tappet and roller applications, I'm going with Amsoil ZRod 10w-30 synthetic (after break in). Its got 1400 ppm zinc and the detergents needed for street use. Between the 25% preferred customer discounts and the longer change interval cost is about the same as the high zinc blends or using additives for the regular oils. Over the last forty years I have used most of the brands and researched the composition/emission changes. While I believe in using the higher zinc these days due to lower grade cam materials, I am convinced that most of the hype is marketing generated. Most of us old gearheads service our engines regularly and have our stuff apart for performance changes enough that wear due to oil differences doesn't mean squat.
If nothing else, it gives opinionated old farts like us something to argue about!!!!!
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i never even thought to go synthetic...my motor is a warmed over 340 (purple cam) stock heads, weiand intake, exhaust manifolds
 
reddog said:
PQIA runs tests on oils from time to time.

Here is Rotella T4 from March 2017.

PETROLEUM QUALITY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA TEST PROGRAM

I run this in both my valiant and corvette fuelie.
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That's in line with other posted oil analysis. Its different from the CJ but hardly low. It be fine for something with stock or close to stock spring loads.
2014 T6 5W-40, API CJ-4 / SM Petroleum Quality Institute of America
2016 T6 5W-40, API ? New bottle shell rotella t6 5w-40 | Virgin Oil Analysis - PCMO/HDEO | Bob Is The Oil Guy
2017 T6 5W-40 API CK-4 vs older CJ-4/SM VOA Shell Rotella T6 May 2017 | Virgin Oil Analysis - PCMO/HDEO | Bob Is The Oil Guy
No API S grade on the new stuff.
 
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