hard to find 20w-50 for diesels?

[amaurer]

I'm having trouble finding 20W-50 diesel oil here in Kalifornia at the usual stores. I wanna try the thicker stuff in the summer and see if it perks up my hot oil pressure.

Anyone got a source? All the 20W-50 I'm finding is for gassers: oils with a CD (or better) rating are elusive!

I have one glimmer ray of hope: Autozone does have "Valvoline VR-1 Racing Oil", which claims to be for gassers, but the datasheet here: http://www.valvoline.com/products/VR-1 Racing Motor Oil.pdf says that the 20W-50 meets API CD (which is what the FSM calls for).

Its not more expensive than Rotella (too bad there isn't 20W-50 Rotella)... would you guys give it a try?

 

[bagh33ra]

I've been able to get 20w-50 cases from the local Kragen, don't recall the brand but I could go take a look if you are curious.

It can be harder to find if you are on the road and need to pick up a quart at a gas station or something, other than that I haven't had much trouble.

Is there really a difference in oil of the same weight for gassers vs. diesels? (Honest question, I have no idea).

 

[amaurer]

I've been able to get 20w-50 cases from the local Kragen, don't recall the brand but I could go take a look if you are curious.

Would you please? That'd be awesome.

Is there really a difference in oil of the same weight for gassers vs. diesels? (Honest question, I have no idea).

There is certainly a difference in the specification rating, but then oils like the VR1 I mentioned ARE properly rated for both so... who the hell knows that they're putting in these bottles.

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! My son runs Chevron Delo 400 in his 6bt. It is rated at CJ. He runs 10-40, but I thought I saw it in 20-50 before. Usually in gallon jugs around here. John

 

[amaurer]

Howdy! My son runs Chevron Delo 400 in his 6bt. It is rated at CJ. He runs 10-40, but I thought I saw it in 20-50 before. Usually in gallon jugs around here. John

Sadly, no. Rotella and Delo 400 are the two "Easy to find" brands, but neither comes in 20W-50.

Delo 400 • Available in SAE 15W-40. Also available in monogrades SAE 30, 40, and 50, which meet API CF-2 requirements and are also suitable for two-stroke diesel engines.

Delo: U.S., Canada & Mexico

 

[FJn00b]

walmart in milpitas has 20x50

 

[amaurer]

walmart in milpitas has 20x50

Do you know who makes it? I considered hitting the Mountain View Walmart on friday but told myself it was impossible - stupid decision I guess!!

 

[inkpot]

OK, so how about the Delo 100 that comes in a straight 50weight? I've run 50w around here year round without any problems. John

 

[BlueHZT60]

Valvoline synthetic 20-50w. It's not too hard to find - I've never had a problem at least. Bob

 

[amaurer]

Valvoline synthetic 20-50w. It's not too hard to find - I've never had a problem at least. Bob

I heard synthetic makes seals leak....?

 

[prado t]

Mobil 1 has a 20-50w synthetic, It can be used for diesel or super high compression gas pots. It is available at our Super Store grocery stores.

 

[Kroll]

I heard synthetic makes seals leak....?

Depends how fresh your gaskets and seals are.

But yes, synthetic usually makes seals leak.
I haven't found much trouble with that when using semi-synthetic though.

 

[amaurer]

Went to walmart - no dice.

Bought 7 quarts of the VR1 stuff - might as well try it, everywhere seems to have it.

The only other 20W-50 I could find with a diesel rating was a semi-synthetic blend. Maybe that'll be the next experiment - all of my seals are new.... except for the rear main... DOH!

 

[Tapage]

except for the rear main... DOH!

the more fun to change ..

I always have problems sourcing 20W-50 for diesels down here .. All that I can score are 15W-40 ( Castrol CRB that I use right now ) ..

I do the test with 20W-50 for gassers and it hold the hot pressure a little better than 15W-40 but not sure the complications for my engine using gassers oil ..

 

[amaurer]

the more fun to change ..

I always have problems sourcing 20W-50 for diesels down here .. All that I can score are 15W-40 ( Castrol CRB that I use right now ) ..

I do the test with 20W-50 for gassers and it hold the hot pressure a little better than 15W-40 but not sure the complications for my engine using gassers oil ..

My hot pressure is a little higher on this 20W-50, about 5psi or so. I was expecting more, but this'll do.

Whats odd is that if I test my oil pressure at 3000rpm in neutral its 10psi higher than at 3000rpm cruising...

 

[Tapage]

My hot pressure is a little higher on this 20W-50, about 5psi or so. I was expecting more, but this'll do.

Mine too .. about 20 - 22 PSI with 20W-50 and 16-18 PSI with 15W-40

Whats odd is that if I test my oil pressure at 3000rpm in neutral its 10psi higher than at 3000rpm cruising...

not really .. when you are cruising you are pushing your engine .. it making effort so your oil have more " work " to do ..

 

[gerg]

I always wondered if higher oil pressure meant that there would be a decrease in oil volume delivered. I cant see how you can get higher pressure and volume at the same time from the same pump.
Just a thought.
g

 

[amaurer]

I always wondered if higher oil pressure meant that there would be a decrease in oil volume delivered. I cant see how you can get higher pressure and volume at the same time from the same pump.
Just a thought.
g

Gear oil pumps are constant volume - same flow rate no matter what. The only difference is how much oil fails to reach where it needs to be because its pissing out of worn components. Thats the bit that heavier oil helps with.

 

[bagh33ra]

Would you please? That'd be awesome.

Looks like I am late to the party, but it's just plain Penzoil 20w-50 dino. No clue on the ratings or anything, but it is readily available at the Kragen near my place here in Oakland.

There is certainly a difference in the specification rating, but then oils like the VR1 I mentioned ARE properly rated for both so... who the hell knows that they're putting in these bottles.

Yeah, this sort of nuance goes beyond my knowledge base by a bit. I haven't had any complaints using the stuff I mentioned above, pressure stays within spec when measured on my gauge, though the dash gauge makes it look like pressure is consistently very high. I trust the external gauge more than the OEM dash one though, if only because the former has numbers while the latter has a bad reputation.

Let us know how you like the VR1 stuff, maybe I should be using higher quality stuff than what I have?

 

[cruiser_guy]

Personally I think we're getting a tad picky with searching high and low for a 20w-50 diesel oil instead of a 15w-40 oil which is readily available and used by many long haul trucks that see heavier duty than our 'Cruisers will ever see!!

As for the difference between gas oil and diesel the gasser oil will be rated as S? for spark ignition and diesel oil is rated C? for compression ignition. The farther down the alphabet the second letter is the higher the oil is rated. If you're running an aftermarket turbo you'll want a better oil than specified in the original owners manual to deal with the higher demands of the turbo (make sure the oil you're looking at is suitable for use in a turbocharged engine). I imagine that the diesel oil has different characteristics to deal with the soot loading (why diesel oil is always black) from the diesel combustion process.