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Old 08-30-2017, 05:44 PM   #1
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Shell Rotella oill

I have twin Lehman SP225s. The previous owner had used Rotella T 15W40 oil for the last 15 years, so I have been using it also. I now see a Rotella T4 as a new version of the oil. Has anyone used the T4 and is this a direct replacement for the old T version? The T4 says it is a heavy duty diesel oil.
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Old 08-30-2017, 05:47 PM   #2
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I think T4 is just a relabel of the normal 15-40. T5 is syn blend, T6 is syn, T1 mono grade.
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Old 08-30-2017, 06:33 PM   #3
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Shell Rotella and Chevron Delo is found in the majority of both diesel pleasureboats and workboats. If you want to buy a good brand name product here's your chance. And if I wanted to stray I'd go Valvoline.
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Old 08-30-2017, 09:31 PM   #4
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Rotella is all I use. I also noticed that it had been revised to T4. When I looked up the new specs it still seems to cover the same older classifications as before. So I'll keep using it.

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Old 08-30-2017, 09:55 PM   #5
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Thanks for the info Ken, that is what I was looking for.
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Old 08-30-2017, 11:31 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by Nomad Willy View Post
Shell Rotella and Chevron Delo is found in the majority of both diesel pleasureboats and workboats. If you want to buy a good brand name product here's your chance. And if I wanted to stray I'd go Valvoline.
Can't get Rotella in Australia and I am about to drop my oil and was about to get 60 litres of Valvoline.
Cummins guy who works on mine advised against it.
Said for mine, delo (caltex here) or castrol rx.

Observations from 20 years working on my model is that they guzzle and leak shell and valvoline product even though the specs are essentially the same.

Castrol rx is easy to get and pretty cheap so that's what it'll get.
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Old 08-31-2017, 07:07 AM   #7
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Here's a radical approach to engine oil selection...

If it's in the correct weight range called for my the engine manufacturer, AND

If it meets or exceeds the API or other standard specs (CJ-4, for example) called for my the engine manufacturer, AND

It is a reputable oil manufacturer, THEN

Use it.

I doubt anyone, anywhere, can show that an engine failed because they used Delo instead of Rotella, or instead of Castrol, or instead of Valvoline.
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Old 08-31-2017, 07:36 AM   #8
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Can't get Rotella in Australia and I am about to drop my oil and was about to get 60 litres of Valvoline.
Cummins guy who works on mine advised against it.
Said for mine, delo (caltex here) or castrol rx.

Observations from 20 years working on my model is that they guzzle and leak shell and valvoline product even though the specs are essentially the same.

Castrol rx is easy to get and pretty cheap so that's what it'll get.
That is interesting, in the USA Cummins specifically recommends Valvoline Premium Blue 15-w40 oil. All of their preferred oils are Valvoline...
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Old 08-31-2017, 07:57 AM   #9
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That is interesting, in the USA Cummins specifically recommends Valvoline Premium Blue 15-w40 oil. All of their preferred oils are Valvoline...
Bruce
But that is specific to extended drain intervals, if you want to go that route. The engine manual (at least my QSC manual) just lists engine oil weight and specification (the Cf, CJ etc. designation) as the requirement.
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Old 08-31-2017, 08:07 AM   #10
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I have used the Valvoline Blue, it is alittle harder to find. Now using Rotella.
Delo 400 also widely available.
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Old 08-31-2017, 11:10 AM   #11
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............... Observations from 20 years working on my model is that they guzzle and leak shell and valvoline product even though the specs are essentially the same..... .
If your engine guzzles and leaks oil, the problem is not with the oil or the brand of oil, it is with your engine. That's assuming of course that the oil you are using meets the engine maker's specifications.
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Old 08-31-2017, 11:10 AM   #12
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Simi60 wrote;
"Cummins guy who works on mine advised against it.
Said for mine, delo (caltex here) or castrol rx."

What a Cummin's guy or a Yanmar guy or a mechanic recommends is not worth much. These are specs that only a manufacturer has the knowledge to dictate. Engineers only have the knowledge to specify what to use.

Manufacturers almost never recommend by brand name. For the record though Castrol and Chevron are excellent products.
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Old 08-31-2017, 11:19 AM   #13
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In my area, Rotella is about $14 per gallon at Walmart. $24 per gallon at West Marine and I've seen it as high as $39 per gallon at marinas.

When I leave on a cruise I carry enough with me for all the oil changes I anticipate.
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Old 08-31-2017, 11:37 AM   #14
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About $17 per gallon at Advance Auto. Suprising how many are accesible near the AICW from Jersey to Florida.

But I still try to stock up at Walmart.
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Old 08-31-2017, 11:47 AM   #15
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When I had my Cummins 6BTA I used Valvoline Premium Blue as it was what was recommended in the owner's manual.
It was no different in cost than Rotella and it was in stock at every local NAPA store.
Now I use Rotella in my Lehman. Best price I have found is at Tractor Supply.
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Old 08-31-2017, 12:31 PM   #16
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"When I leave on a cruise I carry enough with me for all the oil changes I anticipate."

Carry MORE! an accidental flooding may require 2-3 flushes .

Oil filters and fuel filters are cheaper by the case.

Most oils are back compatible so the "newest" will be fine , but most changes are to assist exhaust products , and cleaning/treating the exhaust.

If your antique requires CD oil going to a newer oil probably just means a higher percentage of additives that your engine doesn't require and reduces the volume of lubricating oil in the blend.
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Old 08-31-2017, 01:12 PM   #17
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My last purchase of Delo 400 15-40 was in newly designed containers labeled T-4, it made me wonder what (if anything) had changed from the previous formulation. It was all they had in Delo 400 15-40 and all of the 5 quart as well as the 2 1/2 gallons size containers they had were marked the same. The 2 1/2 gallons size gets me about two quarts free over the 5 quarts size containers.
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Old 08-31-2017, 01:30 PM   #18
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Has anyone used Miles oil. Meets all spec's but much cheaper.
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Old 08-31-2017, 02:39 PM   #19
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If your engine guzzles and leaks oil, the problem is not with the oil or the brand of oil, it is with your engine. That's assuming of course that the oil you are using meets the engine maker's specifications.
My engine doesn't seem to use oil and doesn't leak any currently.
He said if I wanted to speak to some owners who had these shell/valvoline issues specific to my model he'd be happy to put me in contact.
As Castrol RX is pretty much the same price and easily available I couldn't be bothered checking, I'll just trust his observations in the industry.

And yes, castrol rx meet spec as does valvoline super diesel.
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Old 08-31-2017, 02:51 PM   #20
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That is interesting, in the USA Cummins specifically recommends Valvoline Premium Blue 15-w40 oil. All of their preferred oils are Valvoline...
Bruce
I mentioned that to him.
He said my engine even though newish build, is old tech and likes an older style oil if that makes any sense.
Said the newer cummins run the valvoline product fine.

Up until a few years ago I had an 1975 vintage car that I put in for a service not at my usual mechanic and they put semi synthetic oil in it.
That engine developed oil leaks, used some and sounded rattly.
When we changed back to a cheaper product advertised as "for older engines" the leaks eventually stopped and it sounded happier.
Don't know why, just the way it was.
I assume my new/old cummins is the same.
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