Shell Rotella

[Pat Patterson]

Any idea as to where I can find Shell Rotella oil, 15/40, near Huntington Beach? Shell's website hasn't been updated and so far all the stores listed are no longer carrying it but they have Chevron's version.

[nineball]

that stuff is available at all our local (ohio) auto parts stores like autozone and napa. i use it in my bike.

[EarlyPorsche]

Are you looking for the current SM or the classic SL Rotella? If SM then you shouldn't have a problem going to any of the big auto parts stores. If you are looking for SL you will need to find the people who stocked up long ago. If you cannot find it may I suggest a suitable substitute known as Brad Penn oil. You should be able to find that at most every race shop or Porsche shop.

[pete3799]

Most Wall-Marts have it.
Any truck stop will have it, but you'll pay a premium for it there.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by EarlyPorsche

Are you looking for the current SM or the classic SL Rotella? If SM then you shouldn't have a problem going to any of the big auto parts stores. If you are looking for SL you will need to find the people who stocked up long ago. If you cannot find it may I suggest a suitable substitute known as Brad Penn oil. You should be able to find that at most every race shop or Porsche shop.

Agreed. The "SL" is NLA (unless you find a stash...like I have). The current "SM" ain't what it used to be:

Ultimate Motor Oil Thread or Why we hate CJ4/SM oils

[brads911sc]

SM rules dont apply to 20W50. In fact most of the "acceptable" oils on that thread are indeed SM... Oils def arent what they used to be... but its not required to buy SL if you use one of the 20w50 oils. the SM doesnt mean a thing on 20w50 oils. My Kendall GT1 20w50 and Valvoline VR1 20w50 are both SM.

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

Agreed. The "SL" is NLA (unless you find a stash...like I have). The current "SM" ain't what it used to be:

Ultimate Motor Oil Thread or Why we hate CJ4/SM oils

[Ramathorn]

as much as i hate to say it i get mine at walmart.

[chapo]

I live in Newport. The Costa Mesa Pep Boys has it, along with a decent selection of other "diesel" oils. Royal Purple, too.

[w00t911]

I get mine in Autozone. They always are fully stocked with the Shell Rotella T 15W 40 (1 gallon).

[Flyer88]

Originally Posted by pete3799

Most Wall-Marts have it.
Any truck stop will have it, but you'll pay a premium for it there.

Walmart had 2.5 gallon containers for $25 about 2 weeks ago!

[jlex]

Is this supposed to be one of the oils with the correct amount of ZDDP?

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by brads911sc

SM rules dont apply to 20W50. In fact most of the "acceptable" oils on that thread are indeed SM... Oils def arent what they used to be... but its not required to buy SL if you use one of the 20w50 oils. the SM doesnt mean a thing on 20w50 oils. My Kendall GT1 20w50 and Valvoline VR1 20w50 are both SM.

We're not discussing 20/50, we're discussing "new" Shell Rotella 15/40, which changed formulation in 2007 to accomodate the new catalytic converters on diesel engines...

From LN Engineering:

Can I use a diesel oil like Rotella to break in my engine?
Many cam manufacturers have recommended Rotella T in the past for cam break in. Remember, this was the CI-4 Rotella T some manufacturers were recommending, not the new CJ-4 Rotella. Be advised that we do not recommend the continued use of the new CJ-4 Rotella T for cam break-in or any other CJ-4 oil for this purpose. Additionally in support of this position, magazines such as Fleet Equipment, in one such article "Focusing on Oil," stated that CJ-4 oils should only be used in 2007 and later diesel engines and that earlier diesel or mixed fleet engines should remain on CI-4 oils.

More: http://www.turbodieselregister.com/TDR57_Oil.pdf

[914efi]

Could somebody expand on the comment about SM not meaning the same thing (lower ZDDP?) on 20-50 oils?

[Bill Verburg]

20w/50 & 15w/50oils can have higher levels of zddp, it's is only the lighter weight oils that meet ILSAC GF-4 standards that are limited to the lower zddp levels

look at this chart, notice that it's the GF4 oils that are way down, an SM rating per se isn't necessarily the worst thing, of course the older SG, SH, are going to be preferred
oils

you can always use a racing oil for the highest levels of zddp

[Pat Patterson]

Thanks, I will try a different Walmart and the Pep Boys in CM as the Napa store locally no longer carries it and Autozone was temporarily out. I have the new Pure Power lifetime filter and my mechanic also upgraded the oil.

[drauz]

Just because the industry spec does not limit heavier oils to low ZDDP does not mean the refiner/marketer doesn't do so of their own volition.
Trust, but verify.

[Trackrash]

20w/50 & 15w/50oils can have higher levels of zddp, it's is only the lighter weight oils that meet ILSAC GF-4 standards that are limited to the lower zddp levels

Thanks for the chart, (oils)good info.

[bklyn]

My Wal-Mart always has plenty of it, sells for around $12.00 a gallon.

[Vmarch]

Get Valvoline VR1 20w50 at O'Reilly, it has the right amount of ZDDP and smells good too