UPDATED: 20Nov2003 (UTC -8), 15:11hrs.
Based on requests, I've updated this list with Shell ROTELLA T
Synthetic 5W-40 and Chevron Delo 400 15w40 info.
==============================================
I'm looking for the best diesel oil for a daily driver/weekend warrior.
Amsoil Series 3000 5w30, Mobil Delvac1 5w40 and Redline 15w40
are all synthetic oils at the same price range, & mind share of market.
Here's what I found so far:
1. Standards specifications/approval
Mobil: API CI-4/CH-4/CG-4/CF-4/CF/SL/SJ
Amsoil: API CI-4, CF, CF-2, CG-4, CH-4, SH, SJ
Redline: API SJ/SH/SG/CD/CE/CG-4/CH-4
Shell: API CH-4, CG-4, CF-4, CF; SL, SJ, SH
Chevron: CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, CF-4, CF, CE, CD, SL,
SJ, SH, SG
* These are most important designations to be aware of.
Mobil: JASO DH-1
Amsoil: ILSAC GF-3, GF-2
Redline: no data
Shell: JASO DH-1
Chevron: JASO DH-1
*ILSAC GF-3/GF-2 is a standard developed by American &
Japanese cooperation, while JASO DH-1 is purely Japanese.
Though both seem relevant to my Toyota engines, I do not
know which is most applicable.
Mobil: ACEA E5/E4/E3; Global DHD-1; Detroit Diesel (4-stroke)
DDC 7SE270; Caterpillar ECF-1; Mack EO-M, EO-M Plus,
EO-N Premium Plus; Cummins CES 20078/77/76/75;
Volvo VDS-3, VDS-2; Cummins CES 20072/71; Renault
RVI RXD
Amsoil: ACEA A-2, A-3, B-2, B-3, E-2, E-3, E-5; Global DHD-1;
Detroit Diesel 7SE270; Mack EO-M, EO-M+; Cummins
CES 20076, 20077; Volvo VDS, VDS-2; Chrysler MS6395J;
Scania LDF; DB 228.2, 228.3, 229.1, 229.3; Allison C-4;
GM 4718, 9986137; Ford WSS M2C-153G, M2C-171C;
VW 502.00, 505.00; EMA LRG-1; MTU Type 2; MAN 271,
M3275
Redline: no data
Shell: Cummins CES 20076/20071; Detroit Diesel 7SE270; Mack
EO-M, EO-M+;
Chevron: ACEAE5, E3; Global DHD-1; Caterpillar ECF-1; Cummins
CES 20078, 20077, 20076, 20072; EMA LRG-1; DDC Types
1 and 2; Mack EO-N Premium Plus 03, EO-N Premium Plus,
EO-M PLUS, EO-M, EO-L PLUS, EO-L; MAN 271, 3275;
Mercedes Benz 228.3, 228.1; MTU Categories 2 and 1; ; Volvo
VDS-3, VDS-2, VDS; Chrysler MS 6395-G; GM 6094-M;
Ford ESE-M2C153-E
*Nice to know things. Amsoil obviously has more approvals for
American- and European-focused, engine-test & vendor perf specs.
2. Oil Properties
Viscosity, ASTM D 445 (cSt @ 40ºC)
Mobil: 102
Amsoil: 66.5 (good)
Redline: 105
Shell: 88.8
Chevron: 116
Viscosity, ASTM D 445 (cSt @ 100ºC)
Mobil: 11.7
Amsoil: 14.8 (good)
Redline: 15 (another 15w40)
Shell: 14.6
Chevron: 15.6 (best 'coz it's 15w40)
* Viscosity is the measure of how thick an oil is. This is the most
important property for an engine. An oil with too low a viscosity
can shear and loose film strength at high temperatures. An oil with
too high a viscosity may not pump to the proper parts at low temp
and the film may tear at high rpm.
Viscosity Index, ASTM D 2270
Mobil: 151
Amsoil: 175 (good)
Redline: 155
Shell: 176 (best)
Chevron: 134
* Viscosity Index is an empirical number indicating the rate of
change in viscosity of an oil within a given temperature range.
Higher numbers indicate a low change, lower numbers indicate a
relatively large change. The higher the number the better. This is
one major property of an oil that keeps your bearings happy.
These numbers can only be compared within a viscosity range. It
is not an indication of how well the oil resists thermal breakdown.
Total Base Number (TBN), mg KOH/g, ASTM D 2896
Mobil: 12
Amsoil: 12+ (best)
Redline: no data (Redline just says they have a "high" TBN)
Shell: 10
Chevron: 11.3
* A measure of total alkalinity; used to neutralize acids and other
contaminants in the system; higher number means better cleaning
properties. There is no clear (pun intended) winner here.
Pour Point, ºC, ASTM D 97
Mobil: -45
Amsoil: -51 (best)
Redline: -45
Shell: -40
Chevron: -39
* This measurement is especially important for oils used in winter,
as it shows the coldest temp the oil will still flow. The lower the
number, the better.
Flash Point, ºC, ASTM D 92
Mobil: 226
Amsoil: 230 (good)
Redline: 257 (best)
Shell: 246
Chevron: 230 (good)
* Flash point is the temperature at which an oil gives off vapors
that can be ignited with a flame held over the oil. The higher the
flash point the better.
Four-Ball Wear Test (ASTM D 4172: 40kgf, 150°C, 1800 rpm, 1 hr)
Scar diameter, mm
Mobil: 0.646
Amsoil: 0.39 (good)
Redline: no data
Shell: 0.636 (for Shell Rotella 15w40)
Chevron: 0.52
* The Four Ball Wear Test determines the wear protection properties
of a lubricant by measuring the wear scars produced by 4 metal balls
in sliding contact under the test parameters. The smaller the average
wear scar, the better the wear protection provided by the lubricant.
Based on http://www.amsoil.com/products/hdd.html only, no data
from http://www.mobil.com, but was tested by independent lab.
Sulfated Ash, wt%, ASTM D 874
Mobil: 1.35
Amsoil: 0.5 (good, but I'm waiting validation from Amsoil)
Redline: no data
Shell: 1.3
Chevron: 1.35
* Indication of how much solid material is left when the oil burns. A
high ash content will tend to form more sludge and deposits in the
engine. Low ash content also seems to promote long valve life. Look
for oils with a low ash content.
References:
http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXE2CVLMOMobilDelvac1_5W-40.asp#TypicalPropertyTitle
http://www.amsoil.com/products/hdd.html
http://www.redlineoil.com/redlineoil/mopds.pdf
Automotive Lubricants Reference Book: Caines, Haycock (ISBN 1-56091-525-0)
http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~lists/archive/vfr/199707/msg02380.html
http://www.shell-lubricants.com/products/pdf/ROTELLA%20T%20SYNTHETIC.PDF
https://www.cbest.chevron.com/generated/MSDS/PDS7668667.PDF
Based on requests, I've updated this list with Shell ROTELLA T
Synthetic 5W-40 and Chevron Delo 400 15w40 info.
==============================================
I'm looking for the best diesel oil for a daily driver/weekend warrior.
Amsoil Series 3000 5w30, Mobil Delvac1 5w40 and Redline 15w40
are all synthetic oils at the same price range, & mind share of market.
Here's what I found so far:
1. Standards specifications/approval
Mobil: API CI-4/CH-4/CG-4/CF-4/CF/SL/SJ
Amsoil: API CI-4, CF, CF-2, CG-4, CH-4, SH, SJ
Redline: API SJ/SH/SG/CD/CE/CG-4/CH-4
Shell: API CH-4, CG-4, CF-4, CF; SL, SJ, SH
Chevron: CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, CF-4, CF, CE, CD, SL,
SJ, SH, SG
* These are most important designations to be aware of.
Mobil: JASO DH-1
Amsoil: ILSAC GF-3, GF-2
Redline: no data
Shell: JASO DH-1
Chevron: JASO DH-1
*ILSAC GF-3/GF-2 is a standard developed by American &
Japanese cooperation, while JASO DH-1 is purely Japanese.
Though both seem relevant to my Toyota engines, I do not
know which is most applicable.
Mobil: ACEA E5/E4/E3; Global DHD-1; Detroit Diesel (4-stroke)
DDC 7SE270; Caterpillar ECF-1; Mack EO-M, EO-M Plus,
EO-N Premium Plus; Cummins CES 20078/77/76/75;
Volvo VDS-3, VDS-2; Cummins CES 20072/71; Renault
RVI RXD
Amsoil: ACEA A-2, A-3, B-2, B-3, E-2, E-3, E-5; Global DHD-1;
Detroit Diesel 7SE270; Mack EO-M, EO-M+; Cummins
CES 20076, 20077; Volvo VDS, VDS-2; Chrysler MS6395J;
Scania LDF; DB 228.2, 228.3, 229.1, 229.3; Allison C-4;
GM 4718, 9986137; Ford WSS M2C-153G, M2C-171C;
VW 502.00, 505.00; EMA LRG-1; MTU Type 2; MAN 271,
M3275
Redline: no data
Shell: Cummins CES 20076/20071; Detroit Diesel 7SE270; Mack
EO-M, EO-M+;
Chevron: ACEAE5, E3; Global DHD-1; Caterpillar ECF-1; Cummins
CES 20078, 20077, 20076, 20072; EMA LRG-1; DDC Types
1 and 2; Mack EO-N Premium Plus 03, EO-N Premium Plus,
EO-M PLUS, EO-M, EO-L PLUS, EO-L; MAN 271, 3275;
Mercedes Benz 228.3, 228.1; MTU Categories 2 and 1; ; Volvo
VDS-3, VDS-2, VDS; Chrysler MS 6395-G; GM 6094-M;
Ford ESE-M2C153-E
*Nice to know things. Amsoil obviously has more approvals for
American- and European-focused, engine-test & vendor perf specs.
2. Oil Properties
Viscosity, ASTM D 445 (cSt @ 40ºC)
Mobil: 102
Amsoil: 66.5 (good)
Redline: 105
Shell: 88.8
Chevron: 116
Viscosity, ASTM D 445 (cSt @ 100ºC)
Mobil: 11.7
Amsoil: 14.8 (good)
Redline: 15 (another 15w40)
Shell: 14.6
Chevron: 15.6 (best 'coz it's 15w40)
* Viscosity is the measure of how thick an oil is. This is the most
important property for an engine. An oil with too low a viscosity
can shear and loose film strength at high temperatures. An oil with
too high a viscosity may not pump to the proper parts at low temp
and the film may tear at high rpm.
Viscosity Index, ASTM D 2270
Mobil: 151
Amsoil: 175 (good)
Redline: 155
Shell: 176 (best)
Chevron: 134
* Viscosity Index is an empirical number indicating the rate of
change in viscosity of an oil within a given temperature range.
Higher numbers indicate a low change, lower numbers indicate a
relatively large change. The higher the number the better. This is
one major property of an oil that keeps your bearings happy.
These numbers can only be compared within a viscosity range. It
is not an indication of how well the oil resists thermal breakdown.
Total Base Number (TBN), mg KOH/g, ASTM D 2896
Mobil: 12
Amsoil: 12+ (best)
Redline: no data (Redline just says they have a "high" TBN)
Shell: 10
Chevron: 11.3
* A measure of total alkalinity; used to neutralize acids and other
contaminants in the system; higher number means better cleaning
properties. There is no clear (pun intended) winner here.
Pour Point, ºC, ASTM D 97
Mobil: -45
Amsoil: -51 (best)
Redline: -45
Shell: -40
Chevron: -39
* This measurement is especially important for oils used in winter,
as it shows the coldest temp the oil will still flow. The lower the
number, the better.
Flash Point, ºC, ASTM D 92
Mobil: 226
Amsoil: 230 (good)
Redline: 257 (best)
Shell: 246
Chevron: 230 (good)
* Flash point is the temperature at which an oil gives off vapors
that can be ignited with a flame held over the oil. The higher the
flash point the better.
Four-Ball Wear Test (ASTM D 4172: 40kgf, 150°C, 1800 rpm, 1 hr)
Scar diameter, mm
Mobil: 0.646
Amsoil: 0.39 (good)
Redline: no data
Shell: 0.636 (for Shell Rotella 15w40)
Chevron: 0.52
* The Four Ball Wear Test determines the wear protection properties
of a lubricant by measuring the wear scars produced by 4 metal balls
in sliding contact under the test parameters. The smaller the average
wear scar, the better the wear protection provided by the lubricant.
Based on http://www.amsoil.com/products/hdd.html only, no data
from http://www.mobil.com, but was tested by independent lab.
Sulfated Ash, wt%, ASTM D 874
Mobil: 1.35
Amsoil: 0.5 (good, but I'm waiting validation from Amsoil)
Redline: no data
Shell: 1.3
Chevron: 1.35
* Indication of how much solid material is left when the oil burns. A
high ash content will tend to form more sludge and deposits in the
engine. Low ash content also seems to promote long valve life. Look
for oils with a low ash content.
References:
http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXE2CVLMOMobilDelvac1_5W-40.asp#TypicalPropertyTitle
http://www.amsoil.com/products/hdd.html
http://www.redlineoil.com/redlineoil/mopds.pdf
Automotive Lubricants Reference Book: Caines, Haycock (ISBN 1-56091-525-0)
http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~lists/archive/vfr/199707/msg02380.html
http://www.shell-lubricants.com/products/pdf/ROTELLA%20T%20SYNTHETIC.PDF
https://www.cbest.chevron.com/generated/MSDS/PDS7668667.PDF