Cary - your current engine oil favorites?

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IdahoDoug said:
Tarbe,

I think what Cary means is not that the synth will shed heat any faster, it's that its behavior as a lubricant at that temp is better. Mineral oil will undergo a permanent chemical change similar to 'burning' (which it's not doing only due to the lack of oxygen) that will cause deposits in a process known as "coking" that can block small passages, etc. Under the same conditions, synthetic oil will not behave like that, but will continue to behave like a lubricant. He's saying that the synth has the capacity to do this at temps from 100 to 200 degrees more than a mineral oil.

This is one of the chief reasons I prefer synthetic since I tow heavy and it is exactly these hot spots in the engine (that are not reflected in the temp guages) that I want my lube to handle.

DougM


I understand, Doug. I am trying to keep the discussion technically correct. Forgive me - as an old Chemist, I see "heat capacity" and that means something that is completely outside this discussion.
 
tarbe said:
I understand, Doug. I am trying to keep the discussion technically correct. Forgive me - as an old Chemist, I see "heat capacity" and that means something that is completely outside this discussion.

That's one of the things I love about this forum. There's a frightening number of engineers/chemists/physicists/geologists!/etc., that are as anal with their terminology as they are with their trucks :) .

What other forum would find folks being sticklers about their Joules per kilogram Kelvins in the midst of a thorough discussion of motor oil?

Makes me feel warm and cozy.

Hayes
 
Hayes said:
What other forum would find folks being sticklers about their Joules per kilogram Kelvins in the midst of a thorough discussion of motor oil?

Makes me feel warm and cozy.

Hayes


:grinpimp: Me too! And we all kinda keep each other on our toes.
 
It's funny because this forum reminds most of the old BMW forums of 10+ years ago, when everyone was a gearhead and computer access was mostly limited to corporations and colleges. There are very few car forums (only the Porsche ones that I can think of) that has as diverse of a group that keeps the BS in check, questions theories, and bring solid technical data to the table.

I have even seen a drop in the quality of posts on bobistheoilguy.com ove the last year or so. When it was 2000 members, most were gearheads, chemists, and other technically oriented people that were interested in objective data. Now every other post is "I changed my oil to xxxx and my car runs so much quieter, better, and gets 50% better mileage."
 
Cary,

Couldn't agree more. I've been on many forums over the years and they all seem to have a similar profile to what you noted on Bob... A core group gets discovered and the gene pool gets watered down. One thing that I think helps this forum in that regard is the limited numbers of 80s sold. There were probably more Tahoe's sold in 1 calendar year than all the 80 years added together.

Anyhow, great stuff on the oil. As testament to my faith in the great knowledge that is contained in all you guys I literally just picked up 3 gallon jugs of the Rotella T 5-40 synthetic. No research. No real comparison - just know you guys are well informed and being a parasite on that knowledge. Heh - there's a concept, an intellectual parasite.

Anyhow, looking forward to getting the cheap dino oil out of them that BOTH trucks have been running on as a planned couple thousand mile flush after they both got fresh head gaskets. It's killing me to know that's in there, so looking forward to getting it out now that it's served its purpose. Also killed me to use up a pair of my precious "good" Toyota filter stock but what's the point in worrying about flushing crap in there if I don't use the best filter available. Ah well...OCD behavior at its finest.

DougM
 
IdahoDoug said:
Cary,

Couldn't agree more. I've been on many forums over the years and they all seem to have a similar profile to what you noted on Bob... A core group gets discovered and the gene pool gets watered down. One thing that I think helps this forum in that regard is the limited numbers of 80s sold. There were probably more Tahoe's sold in 1 calendar year than all the 80 years added together.

Anyhow, great stuff on the oil. As testament to my faith in the great knowledge that is contained in all you guys I literally just picked up 3 gallon jugs of the Rotella T 5-40 synthetic. No research. No real comparison - just know you guys are well informed and being a parasite on that knowledge. Heh - there's a concept, an intellectual parasite.

Anyhow, looking forward to getting the cheap dino oil out of them that BOTH trucks have been running on as a planned couple thousand mile flush after they both got fresh head gaskets. It's killing me to know that's in there, so looking forward to getting it out now that it's served its purpose. Also killed me to use up a pair of my precious "good" Toyota filter stock but what's the point in worrying about flushing crap in there if I don't use the best filter available. Ah well...OCD behavior at its finest.

DougM


I don't know, man. You were anal about your coolant, look what that did for you. Now, you going to start being anal about your oil... well, you know what's going to happen..... just stay away from my rig! :D
 
cary said:
It's funny because this forum reminds most of the old BMW forums of 10+ years ago, when everyone was a gearhead and computer access was mostly limited to corporations and colleges. There are very few car forums (only the Porsche ones that I can think of) that has as diverse of a group that keeps the BS in check, questions theories, and bring solid technical data to the table.

I have even seen a drop in the quality of posts on bobistheoilguy.com ove the last year or so. When it was 2000 members, most were gearheads, chemists, and other technically oriented people that were interested in objective data. Now every other post is "I changed my oil to xxxx and my car runs so much quieter, better, and gets 50% better mileage."


A danslation:

Cary just said he "likes us"...:D




Well, most of us anyway.
 
cary, to mix it up a little more: I assume you didn't mention Amsoil syn due to it's higher/highest cost? I have used it for years with great results...
 
IdahoDoug said:
Cary,

Heh - there's a concept, an intellectual parasite.

DougM

Slightly on/off topic, but many people (I mean 'academics' :rolleyes: ) argue that humans are best at this...since the notion of originality is pretty much out the door when everyone has access, more or less, to pretty much the same information...

So, a newbie like myself can basically acquire all of the 'written' knowledge out there and seem intelligent on a topic....:rolleyes: ;p

Though, I've now got enough abrasions, cuts, scrapes, contusions, blood on the garage floor to say that I have some experience....:flipoff2:
-o-

Edit: Anyway, back on topic: Summer: Rotella 15-40 (3.5K interval changes); Winter: M1 5-30 or Kendall 5-30 Synthetic (depending on availability/price), 2 oil changes for the winter months.
 
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Beno,

To that I'd respond that we as humans have in enormous capacity to look at the same information and draw different conclusions. So, someone can research combustion chamber theory and espouse that approach A is the only way to go. But someone with years of experience (several layers of knowledge and experience around that kernel) can come along and point out that approach A is only appropriate where the goals for the engine are peak output/small displacement and high working RPM.

So, despite the increased availability of information brought by the 'net, it's only the trunk, tail or legs of the elephant. Pick one....

DougM
 
spressomon said:
cary, to mix it up a little more: I assume you didn't mention Amsoil syn due to it's higher/highest cost? I have used it for years with great results...

Amoil is a great product and I wouldn't hesitate to use it. I don't recommend it for a few reasons. 1) It is more expensive than Mobil 1, 2) in the UOA's I have seen, it doesn't perform any better than Mobil 1, and 3) it can be difficult to get for many.
 
Cary,

Based on what I have been reading written by you and others, I switched over to Shell's Rotella T 5-40 synthetic. Though, things are still fuzzy in my big head. Living in a milder climate (San Diego), at 5W-40, wouldn't 40 be too thick at operating temperatures for most any rig?
 
I like this forum just so I can improve my writing and vocabulary skilz :flipoff2:
 
roncruiser said:
wouldn't 40 be too thick at operating temperatures for most any rig?

no 40wt's seam to be the sweet spot for the 1FZ in most but the coldest climates. a heavy 40 wt should be right for your area.
 
Delo is the stuff....

IMHO, Chevron Delo in whatever weight you like is purty good stuff indeed. I am working for an earthwork contractor and have worked for others that all run Delo in 30wt in the heavy equipment and 15w-40 in the trucks and pickups. In 20 years I have only seen one engine go down to any sort of friction failure (It was bought used and lost bearings soon after) and some of these rigs have gone to 30,000 hours prior to being retired. I personally have driven two fords, one diesel and a gas six cylinder to well past 300k. My current truck is an F-250 with 190k, and it's annual Caterpillar SOS oil sample comes back almost the same as it did the first time 6 years ago. Now if we could only find an ATF that would make Auto Trannies have the same life span......
 
cary said:
My Current Favorites are:

1) Mobil 1 0w-40. This is a great oil, but some have had high consumption with it, others can't find it.

2) Mobil 1 Truck & SUV. Easier to find, shouldn't have any consumption issues, a bit heavier than the 0w-40 and generally available at Walmart for $22.88 in the 5 quart jug. I am currently trying a mix of this and 0w-40.

3) Castrol 0w-30 aka German Castrol. You have to be careful with this one as there are two versions, a US made Group III and a German Made Group IV oil. If you want to run this one you have to look carfully at the back of the bottle for those magic words "Product of Germany" or "imported from Germany". The back will also carry BMW LL-01, MB 229.3 and 229.5 approvals.

4) Shell Rotella T 5w-40 Synthetic. This is a group III oil that has turned in consistantly good results at bobistheoilguy.com. It is the value leader of the bunch when you can get it at Walmart for $12.88 per gallon. If you have to buy it at $5.00 a quart, buy one of the others above.

I have been looking around for the Shell stuff and found Shell Rotella T - Heavy Duty 15W-40 ..... besides the weight, is this the same oil as being discussed by Cary? I found it at Schucks for $8.99 a gallon + tax. Also, Costco carries the Chev Delo 500 at a good price.
 
Montana Cruiser said:
I have been looking around for the Shell stuff and found Shell Rotella T - Heavy Duty 15W-40 ..... besides the weight, is this the same oil as being discussed by Cary? I found it at Schucks for $8.99 a gallon + tax. Also, Costco carries the Chev Delo 500 at a good price.

Is this the same Rotella-T and Delo 400 used in diesels?
 
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Montana Cruiser said:
I have been looking around for the Shell stuff and found Shell Rotella T - Heavy Duty 15W-40 ..... besides the weight, is this the same oil as being discussed by Cary? I found it at Schucks for $8.99 a gallon + tax. Also, Costco carries the Chev Delo 500 at a good price.


no rotella 15w-40 is not the same oil group III oil
 
LandCrusher'70 said:
Is this the same Rotella-T and Delo 400 used in diesels?

yes
 

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