Shell Rotella--which one am I looking for (link)?

harrydunn · 10-19-09, 07:54 AM

New oner here and I've decided to go with Shell Rotella 5w-40 but am unsure which "type" I should use (or I'll find locally)?

- Shell Rotella Products

Also, I'm a bit confused on filters. I understand that the 90915-20004 is no longer available. The po has a very large filter on it, possibly from Napa. I've read through several posts but am having trouble weeding through all of the opinions.

Thanks...Mark

phrogg4evr · 10-19-09, 08:10 AM

The WIX / Napa Gold filters are fine.

As far as the type, the synthetic blend would be fine, I've been interested in trying the Triple Protection, but it would have had to me ordered and I still have a while before my next oil change

edog's 80 · 10-19-09, 08:38 AM

I use that type, I was not aware of different types available, I just go with the 5W 40 that is available at my local Checker. I use the small filter (OEM) that I buy from CDAN.

harrydunn · 10-19-09, 08:50 AM

Does cDan still have these available? If not, I was going to order one online from Carson Toyota. Do I just send cDan a PM to order?

Thanks.

firetruck41 · 10-19-09, 09:12 AM

I use the NAPA gold filter (made by wix), and the Rotella Symthetic that comes in the blue jug, it is about $18 at Walmart. I have never seen it called "T6" like in that link though, must be a new marketing thing.

AShoe · 10-19-09, 09:45 AM

+1 for the 5-40 synthetic and napa gold filter.

UCBerzerkeley · 10-19-09, 10:27 AM

you want this

also, the little 20004 filters are, i believe, still available. my last order from cdan included a couple more. i have about 5 in my garage, all from within the last year

Cancruiser · 10-19-09, 10:50 AM

Chevron Delo 5W40 is another good choice. I tend to find it easier than the Shell Rotella 5W40 in my neck of the woods..

UCBerzerkeley · 10-19-09, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cancruiser

Chevron Delo 5W40 is another good choice. I tend to find it easier than the Shell Rotella 5W40 in my neck of the woods..

I run Delo as well. Personally, if I was gonna run synthetic, I would run a full synthetic (one of the mobils, shell rotella is not a full synthetic). The rotella used to be a better deal when it was priced the same as Delo ($10-12).

Cancruiser · 10-19-09, 11:11 AM

I run Delo Synthetic 5W40 in winter and regular 10W30 or 15W40 in summer (it is a diesel) and the 5W40 makes a HUGE difference in cold starting. May not be an issue in warm climates but it is around here.. Never burned a drop of oil and never leaked..

UCBerzerkeley · 10-19-09, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cancruiser

Never burned a drop of oil and never leaked..

Ain't it the truth. Delo is good stuff

firetruck41 · 10-19-09, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UCBerzerkeley

I run Delo as well. Personally, if I was gonna run synthetic, I would run a full synthetic (one of the mobils, shell rotella is not a full synthetic). The rotella used to be a better deal when it was priced the same as Delo ($10-12).

Rotella Full Synthetic is not a full synthetic? I guess some people debate whether group III base qualifies... Rotella Syn or Delo will be fine for most.

UCBerzerkeley · 10-19-09, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firetruck41

Rotella Full Synthetic is not a full synthetic? I guess some people debate whether group III base qualifies... Rotella Syn or Delo will be fine for most.

i stand corrected. never heard of this T6 business, just always read from cory that the rotella wasn't full synth. what do i know, i just run delo

though most of the time i am just smart enough to know when someone else is smarter.

edit: looks like in the last week Shell has rebranded their Rotella Synth to "T6" labelling. same stuff, new bottle.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...43#Post1619743

Right Turn Clyde · 10-19-09, 12:05 PM

Whilst on the topic, how many miles do Rotella users typ go between changes?

UCBerzerkeley · 10-19-09, 12:31 PM

Safely 7500. I have always gone 5000 on dino or 10000 on synth, so somewhere in between

Truckasaurus · 10-19-09, 12:57 PM

^^^ X2

It sounds insane, but I've run similar mileages on synthetic oils with the 20004 filter, and my Blackstone reports all come back with glowing praise.

firetruck41 · 10-19-09, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UCBerzerkeley

i stand corrected. never heard of this T6 business, just always read from cory that the rotella wasn't full synth. what do i know, i just run delo

though most of the time i am just smart enough to know when someone else is smarter.

edit: looks like in the last week Shell has rebranded their Rotella Synth to "T6" labelling. same stuff, new bottle.
New Rotella - Bob Is The Oil Guy

No worries, as far as I know the white jug has always been dino oil, and the blue jug has always been full synthetic. Looks like now there are some new marketing terms, and also a new "blended" Rotella available, according to the shell website.

harrydunn · 10-19-09, 08:17 PM

Got the oil and filter changed tonight. The oil and filter from the previous owner looked pretty new but I just feel better knowing exactly when it was changed. AutoZone (I know, I know

) was $4.30 cheaper PER gallon than NAPA by the way!

You're saying I can run Shell Rotella Synthetic 5w40 b/w 5,000-7,000 miles between changes?

cary · 10-20-09, 01:22 PM

The blue bottle is the "Synthetic" oil. Traditionally, Group IV PAO's and Group V Ester bases were considered true synthetics while Group III hydrocracked oils status as synthetic is heavily debated. Group III oils are cheaper to make, and it used to be didn't offer quite as good of performance as Group IV and V oils. The newer Group III+ hydrocracked oils (ala Shell Rotella Synth) have performance that is indistinguishable from Group IV and V oils.

corsair23 · 10-20-09, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harrydunn

You're saying I can run Shell Rotella Synthetic 5w40 b/w 5,000-7,000 miles between changes?

IMO that depends on whether 5-7K miles equals 6 months of driving or 1 year of driving or ?

On both of my rigs annual mileage is in the 8-10K miles per year range so I just change the oil every 6 months. Once in the spring to a summer weight oil and then once in the fall to a winter weight oil.

I started doing this after getting several Blackstone reports with a TBN analysis on each rig using various oils. Every report came back fine and with a note that I could easily increase the mileage to 5K+ miles running the various oil I've tried.

IMO your type and style of driving have as much of an impact on your oil change frequency as does how many miles you drive. If you tend to only have short duration trips where you never really heat up the oil to burn off the crap and only put on 3K miles per year I'd be inclined to change the oil every 6 months even though you may only have 1500 miles on the oil. If you drive long highway trips and put 6K miles on every 6 months I'd be fine with changing the oil every 6 months using a good oil and filter.

My LX has been getting the royal treatment for the last 3 yrs...The aftermarket warranty I had required the oil to be changed every 3 months OR 3K miles...I never got to 3K miles in 3 months so the LX was typically getting new oil and a new filter every 3 months with only 2K or so miles on it. On the plus side it gave me the opportunity to try out quite a few different oils to see what I, and the LX, liked best.

harrydunn · 10-20-09, 02:38 PM

Very good points. I definitely fall into the short "getaway" trips around mid-Missouri category. This is not my daily driver.

--Mark

greenseaman · 10-20-09, 03:25 PM

should the 5w-40 rotella be used year round or just the colder months. I'm in the Southeast US in South Carolina... thanks

corsair23 · 10-20-09, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenseaman

should the 5w-40 rotella be used year round or just the colder months. I'm in the Southeast US in South Carolina... thanks

My understanding is you can use it year round...The only reason I change is that I have a bunch of "summer" weight oil to use up and sometimes I can't find 5W in the summer either...

greenseaman · 10-20-09, 06:11 PM

thanks

IdahoDoug · 10-20-09, 09:15 PM

Cary,

Glad you checked in on this thread. Any other developments that would change your list of Top 5 favorite oils for the 80? I'll be changing mine in the next couple weeks.

DougM

4x4CPOSEADOG · 11-07-09, 10:04 AM

Hey guys, can I mix both Mobil Synthetic 5W40 (3 quarts) oil with Shell Rotella Synthetic 5W40 (4 quarts) and run it for about 5k to 7k miles using 90914-20004OEM filter? Will there be any issues mixing different brand of synthetic oil in the engine during the cold winter days?