Dumb Question - Shell Rotella

[trapper_canada]

OK....been reading some lovely oil threads....want something relatively inexpensive to do for a couple months so don't want the cost of synthetic.

Seems there are many who have been satisfied with Shell Rotella...now I was not familiar with it so I wondered by the parts store....and saw that it is diesel oil.

Now I am so non-knowledgeable in this area...but is that right? Diesel Oil in the '87 Turbo?

[redstrosekNic]

Yep.

Shell Rotella is a great oil because of its high levels of zinc.

Edit: I'll let the turbo guys chime in for a better opinion regarding your application. I'm an NA guy...

[oh snap]

I know of a guy with a turbo miata that sees heavy track time that swears by rotella t6.

here is his thread on bob is the oil guy
turbo track miata Rotella Synth UOA - Bob Is The Oil Guy




He called my precious Brad Penn over rated What do the aircooled oil experts say? i wouldnt mind switching because Rotella is easier to get and cheaper than BP

On the other hand I dont mind the hassle/cost for a little piece of mind

[Noah930]

I used the Rotella for years in my 930. Just make sure you get the older formulation stuff, as it has the proper ZDDP levels (see the ultimate oil thread for details). My local auto parts store no longer stocks the old formulation Rotella.

I'm running Brad Penn now, but have also used Valvoline VR-1 (which was $2.50/qt when on sale).

[James Brown]

hard to find the old formula, scour the wall marts for good deals. but soon, you will have to get the brad penn or swepco oils. or (gasp) an additive.

[Noah930]

Those additives are surprisingly hard to come by, too. At least in the FLAPS around me.

[pete3799]

I've been using Rotella in my truck (s) for 30+ years. Currently over 1,233,512 miles on this motor. Use it in the 911 also.

[trapper_canada]

Originally Posted by James Brown

hard to find the old formula, scour the wall marts for good deals. but soon, you will have to get the brad penn or swepco oils. or (gasp) an additive.

How do you know if its the old formula? Can you tell by the container/label?

[Ramathorn]

been using rotella t for the past 6 years or so in multiple rigs (cars and bikes). love the cost and protection.

[KNS]

I've been running Rotella T6 5W-40 synthetic in my '04 BMW for a couple of years, I wonder if 5W-40 is too thin for an air cooled car in Arizona..? It does have plenty of zinc and Phos.

[db_cooper]

Rotella T6 5W-40 CJ4 manufactured 01/27/12 virgin oil analysis ...nice big dose of ZDDP.

Have no fear using it in the summer months. I have used SRT 5w40 for years with no issues during the hot summer months. The synthetic Rotella works very well at elevated temperatures.

"How do you know if its the old formula? Can you tell by the container/label?"

Trapper, the Rotella in Canada may have different labels. Here in the USA they use the API CI-4+ or CJ4. The old stock CI-4+ Rotella had about 1300/1400 ppm zinc. New regulations pushed it down to about 1200ppm. Still a very good number. Shell added some moly too.

The bottle in your post shows the dino oil..15w40 rather than the synthetic 5w40. Both are fine for a 911. Probably CJ-4.

I like the 5w40.

[trapper_canada]

Originally Posted by db_cooper

Trapper, the Rotella in Canada may have different labels. Here in the USA they use the API CI-4+ or CJ4. The old stock CI-4+ Rotella had about 1300/1400 ppm zinc. New regulations pushed it down to about 1200ppm. Still a very good number. Shell added some moly too.

The bottle in your post shows the dino oil..15w40 rather than the synthetic 5w40. Both are fine for a 911. Probably CJ-4.

I like the 5w40.

Thanks for the info. There is a good chance I will be getting some gaskets replaced so will probably be doing another oil drain in the not too distant future. I would wait if I "knew" I was doing the gaskets but just in case I don't I thought I'd get some fresh oil in it now as I do not know the history or type of oil.

As such, I want to go with the inexpensive dino oil but want to get the best bang for the buck. We are not blessed with good auto parts stores / oil selections in these parts....

[Drisump]

Do you know when she last had a valve adjustment, if not you should consider doing a 15k tune up. Filters and valves at the same time to properly "base-line" the car. I usually run Brad Penn but I have been known to run 15-50 Mobil 1 every now and then since BP is not easy to get. The issue with choosing an oil with this engine is the ZDDP content, manufacturers have without notice reduced this in their oils to levels unacceptable for these engines. Oil, even expensive oil, is such a cheap element in the overall cost of running a car (especially a car that does at most 8000km a year (mine)) I don't concern myself that I COULD save maybe $50 per year if I bought the sale brand at Walmart. When buying mass market oil, I would be concerned that they have changed the formulation without notice and you're not getting what you think you are. If the Rotella that is available in your market has adequate ZDDP levels, go for it. Cheers

[gregwils]

Things have changed a lot in oil, and they continue to change. The old "tried and true" brand of oil may not be what you were buying five years ago. Zinc is removed because of the potential harmful effect on catalytic converters, and most newer engines don't require the same level of protection the old flat tappet motors do. I would suggest everyone read LN Engineerings write up on oil. Charles Navarro sometimes posts on the board.

What motor oil is best for my aircooled Porsche?

[trapper_canada]

Originally Posted by db_cooper

Rotella T6 5W-40 CJ4 manufactured 01/27/12 virgin oil analysis ...nice big dose of ZDDP.

Have no fear using it in the summer months. I have used SRT 5w40 for years with no issues during the hot summer months. The synthetic Rotella works very well at elevated temperatures.

"How do you know if its the old formula? Can you tell by the container/label?"

Trapper, the Rotella in Canada may have different labels. Here in the USA they use the API CI-4+ or CJ4. The old stock CI-4+ Rotella had about 1300/1400 ppm zinc. New regulations pushed it down to about 1200ppm. Still a very good number. Shell added some moly too.

The bottle in your post shows the dino oil..15w40 rather than the synthetic 5w40. Both are fine for a 911. Probably CJ-4.

I like the 5w40.

Here is a pic of the Rotella T6....

In the specs and approvals it has CJ-4, CI-4 Plus, CI-4 .....

So there is CJ4.....






Saw the same in the Mobil 1 turbo Diesel....

Now on the Rotella T5 I did not see it....

But 0W-40???

Pic in next post...

[trapper_canada]

[RSTarga]

With the cost of a Turbo rebuild I would not put anything but a full synthetic 15-50 in. I've always used Mobil 1 150-50w.

[db_cooper]

Here is a VOA of the Rotella T5 0w40 from - Bob is the Oil Guy. Still a good dose of ZDDP. I would not use it here in Georgia..just being old school. Our engines were not designed with a zero weight oil in mind.

See below.

While in Toronto this summer, celebrating our anniversary, my wife and I stopped at a Canadian Tire on the way home so I could browse oil. I picked up a 5L jug of Shell Rotella T5 Arctic Blend 0w40 (CF / CF-4 / SJ). Below is the VOA:

(ALL Values not listed are equal to 0 ppm)

Potassium - 3
Sodium - 2
Boron - 2
Silicon - 1
Calcium - 2694
Magnesium - 6
Phos - 1100
Zinc - 1227

kV@100C - 14.34
Flashpiont - 405F
TBN - 10.4

All in all, this looks like a pretty conventional HDEO. No moly and no boron, but a pretty healthy shot of ZDDP and a decent TBN. I plan to run it in my M54 2.5L BMW motor this winter.

[S2GART]

Earlier this morning I e-mailed Shell inquiring about the ZDDP levels in their Rotella 15W-40. Their reply was "1200 ppm".

[db_cooper]

Originally Posted by S2GART

Earlier this morning I e-mailed Shell inquiring about the ZDDP levels in their Rotella 15W-40. Their reply was "1200 ppm".

That is what Rotella, in most of our favorite flavors, has as an additive package. Virgin oil analysis tested from several sources confirm.

That will work fine in a flat tappet engine. The exception might be with heavily loaded valve trains with racing valve springs and heavy push-rod applications.

911s are fine.