New Shell Rotella 15W-40 now has boron

movin · 02-26-2007, 07:35 PM

Noticed the new 15W-40 Rotella now has boron, although zinc and phosphorous are slightly reduced. Some claim boron helps remove heat from bearings.

Dueller · 02-26-2007, 08:04 PM

I've just done an oil change in my 87 w/Rotella 15W40 for the first time. Oil Pressure seems a bt lower than normal but still within acceptable (2.5 @idle upt to 5 at 3500 rpms). Wonder if it will develop leaks compared to 20W50.

dentist90 · dentist90's Garage

Also available in sugar-free. Same great Rotella taste with none of the calories in orginal formula Rotella.

I run 15w40 in my 911. Do you mean removes heat (cools) or removes heat marks (bluing)? I feel this weight is a good compromise for climates up north here that can have frosty mornings and scorching afternoons... on the same day! But I have to put up with the NAPA guy always asking me if the Porsche is a diesel.

tiwebber · 02-26-2007, 09:33 PM

I just put in Rotella 15w40 in my 72 911e - no complaints so far. I think Boron neutralizes engine acid (sulpur dioxide) -> reduces corrosion.

Not sure how well it will control pressure on a summer day at the track - we'll see. Pretty cool here on the coast...

cnavarro · 02-27-2007, 04:45 AM

I just updated my oil faq, which explains boron.

http://www.LNengineering.com/oil.html

The boron is an anti-wear additive that forms anti-wear films, but only in the presence of Zn and P wierdly enough. Not as good as Zn and P...

Also, our good old standby of Mobil 1 15w50 has been reformulated to and SM classification, and now has 0.10% or less Zn and P. It looks like we will all need GM EOS pretty soon. (Thanks to John Dilger of the 911S Registry for letting me know of this sudden change on Mobil's part)

EarlyPorsche · 02-27-2007, 05:28 AM

Well then Rotella T is still good, it has everything we need which is Zn P and B. I think too much is probably not a good idea either. I have been running Rotella T for over a year now and I don't think it needs to be supplemented with anything. It is a diesel oil so it should also be pretty good on hot track days for us.

EarlyPorsche · 02-27-2007, 05:35 AM

Charles, taking a look at your website an using sheer number to back this. For someone like myself that uses 15W-40 all year round, which of the diesel oils is best for me. Seems like they are all close but some have more P and Zn as you have listed. Is there something else that some have that make the others with more P and Zn actually worse? I am a huge fan of Rotella T.

cnavarro · 02-27-2007, 05:41 AM

Well the reformulation of Rotella is av ery recent thing, since the beginning of the year. The CI-4 and CJ-4 formulations are very different, again reformulated for emissions purposes. I can't say that the new Rotella is any better or worse, just that it has significantly less Zn and P than the ideal 0.12-0.14% for our engines.

EarlyPorsche · 02-27-2007, 06:11 AM

So I need to do two things. Go buy up all the old bottles of Rotella at Pepboys and buy a couple bottles of the 4 cylinder treatment!

cnavarro · 02-27-2007, 06:13 AM

Same goes with Mobil 1 15w50 - if that is what you use, get a bunch of the SL formulation before all that is available is the new SM. You do not need the STP 4 cyl treatment or EOS with the old formulation of Rotella or Mobil 1, only the new ones.

Wil Ferch · 02-27-2007, 06:18 AM

Charles:
In reading your new text on your web page....you say :

Aside from break-in, in most cases, there is no reason other than cost, to use a synthetic in place of a non-synthetic.

Hmmm..... backwards ?

- Wil

cnavarro · 02-27-2007, 06:20 AM

Thanks Wil, most definately a typo!

SCWDP911 · SCWDP911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by cnavarro
I just updated my oil faq, which explains boron.

http://www.LNengineering.com/oil.html

The boron is an anti-wear additive that forms anti-wear films, but only in the presence of Zn and P wierdly enough. Not as good as Zn and P...

Also, our good old standby of Mobil 1 15w50 has been reformulated to and SM classification, and now has 0.10% or less Zn and P. It looks like we will all need GM EOS pretty soon. (Thanks to John Dilger of the 911S Registry for letting me know of this sudden change on Mobil's part)

Wow, awesome website! I do not know you, but thanks for all of the testing and reporting.

As a new owner, I am a bit sheepish to say that I am still not quite sure that I know what is best for my sitch. I am located near Memphis, TN. I used 20W50 in my Miata with no known problems, but not sure what I should be using for my 1983 cab. Motor is stock except for topend rebuild. The car is a daily driver for the most part. The PO used and recommended Castrol 20w50 (he was in Orange County, CA), but I wonder now if that is best choice where we are. From what I am reading here and on the Charles' website, the Castrol 20w50 would probably be fine here in all but the coldest of winter. Maybe I should go to the 15w50 Mobil for the winter. I thought that the Mobil 1 was all synth though. I had always had the belief that it was not a good idea to switch back and forth between dino and synth, due to potential seal leaks. Maybe it is different in the p-cars. I am still learning, so look forward to being set straight on the matter. If there is a thread or another website that covers my questions, please let me know. I do not wish to waste anyone's time. Just curious what is best here in the mid-south.

Thanks

EarlyPorsche · 02-27-2007, 08:05 AM

Charles, so is the SL rated oil better? Because all of the generic house brands are still SL and so is 5W40 synthetic rotella. On a side note, I just bought this, any idea if it has enough zinc in it? It claims More Anit Wear Agents that other leading stabilizer brands and then it says ZDDP anti-wear agents which I assume means zinc? I like this because it doesn't thicken the oil like the STP 4 cylinder treatment and oil treatment do. This stuff is easy to pour. Most importantly, a quart of it is only $3.50.

cnavarro · 02-27-2007, 08:18 AM

Where did you find that? I've never seen it before. More than likely, that is the replacement for the 4-cyl treatment and probably will work fine. If I can find it by me, i'll test it with this next batch of samples.

EarlyPorsche · 02-27-2007, 08:22 AM

Walmart has it, if you can't find any let me know and I will send you a bottle or a sample or whatever you need. I think this might be the ticket if it has Zinc, it doesn't thicken the oil which I hate about the rest. Oh have you tested the Lucas stuff?

cnavarro · 02-27-2007, 08:26 AM

Yes, it's snake oil IMHO. There is nothing in it. Just a viscosity improver.

Their oils don't look anything more than a cheap pennzoil product either.

Steve@Rennsport · 02-27-2007, 08:36 AM

Hi Charles:

Thanks for the information; I'm going over everything.

One more oil to test is the superb Swepco motor oils; 15w-40 & 20w-50. These are really high-end dino oils.

cnavarro · 02-27-2007, 09:14 AM

Jerry Woods just sent me some of the Swepco 15w40 - I will be testing it shortly.

Steve, I'll forward you the results from this last batch of testing when I'm done.

holtjv · 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cnavarro
I just updated my oil faq, which explains boron.

http://www.LNengineering.com/oil.html

The boron is an anti-wear additive that forms anti-wear films, but only in the presence of Zn and P wierdly enough. Not as good as Zn and P...

Also, our good old standby of Mobil 1 15w50 (edit: extended performance) has been reformulated to and SM classification, and now has 0.10% or less Zn and P. It looks like we will all need GM EOS pretty soon. (Thanks to John Dilger of the 911S Registry for letting me know of this sudden change on Mobil's part)

Charles--I truly appreciate all the work you've done. So appreciative, in fact, that I just replaced my oil with Mobil1 15w-50!

How can I tell if it's the old stuff (better) or the new stuff?

Many thanks...Jack