DIESEL OIL GO TO

[Bmitch]

What is the next best "available" oil since Rotella T6 is always out?

 

[BossHogg]

What is the next best "available" oil since Rotella T6 is always out?

Good question. I have enough T6 for one more oil change on my Cummins but not enough for my other diesels, all land management equipment. I've decided to reserve the T6 for the land management equipment I use in the winter and for the Cummins, I'm going with Kirkland (Costco) 15w-40, it has a CJ/CK-4 rating and is fully synthetic, it is also hard to beat the price, I think right around $11 per gallon.

Oil is a highly debated choice, there are many excellent offerings and this is the solution I've chosen for my needs. The Kirkland oil has specifications that meet or exceed all of my diesel engine requirements.

 

[chri5k]

Valvoline Premium Blue is what Cummins recommends.

 

[mtnrider]

I wouldn't hesitate to run any of the known brand names that meet the specification. With that said. Rotella is showing up on the shelves again so they appear to be catching up with demand.

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[dputnam01]

I buy my Shell Rotella T6 5W40 on line from O’Reilly. Good price and readily available and no shipping cost

 

[Burla]

If you follow oil formulations you would see when the industry went to ck-4 the "top oils" such as rotella and delvac look less impressive then they used to and lesser oils such as delo or valvoline looked more impressive. Bottom line, modern specs are forcing oils to have pretty uniformed formulas, gas or diesel. I think if I still had my cummins I'd shorten the interval and run a cheap synthetic.

 

[06 Dodge]

What is the next best "available" oil since Rotella T6 is always out?

I was able to get Amsoil 5w40 cheaper per gallon then I could buy Rotella T6 from Amazon...

 

[BossHogg]

I buy my Shell Rotella T6 5W40 on line from O’Reilly. Good price and readily available and no shipping cost

T6 on the south side of the border is pricy, O'Reilly's is showing it for $32 a gallon, Menards for $23.13, and Amazon is $185 for a case of three gallons. Looks like it is Travelers or Kirkland brands for me.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Have you checked your farm & barn store on Rotella T6? Or buy 3x from Walmart.com when it's on rebate. I've been using T6 in my Jetta TDI forever. I've always gone 10k or more miles between changes. 270k on it now and runs great

I wouldn't be afraid to use Citgo diesel synth either. I've used Citgo oil (yes believe it or not) in all my vehicles since the early 80's and driven most past 200k. Never had an oil-related issue or engine problem. Usually they either rust out of fall apart.. lol

I think any of the big companies' diesel oil would be fine: Chevron, Shell, Mobil, etc. The Shell T6 is a pretty good value on a great oil though.

You're going to get a million oil suggestions though ...every person more of an 'expert' than the one before ...

Just buy some T6 online today and have it by Sat or early next week. Then you won't have any regrets.

 

[Dinky]

15/40 is what I use. Right now using amsoil synthetic I ordered 18gallons the other day. There are multiple oil that are good synthetic or conventional as long as to stick to one type after break in. Motor is shipped with synthetic blend.

 

[Whiskey13]

Valvoline Premium Blue is what I always used in my Cummins. Never had a problem finding it in my area and it used to be what Ram and Cummins recommended. Rotella T6 is also a fine oil but I stuck with Valvoline, I had always used Valvoline racing oil in my 426 Hemi and my 440's and it never let me down so I stayed with what had worked in the past.

 

[06 Dodge]

15/40 is what I use. Right now using amsoil synthetic I ordered 18gallons the other day. There are multiple oil that are good synthetic or conventional as long as to stick to one type after break in. Motor is shipped with synthetic blend.

Are you using 15w40 in your 2022, it calls for 10w30 and 5w40 synthetic can be used...

 

[Dinky]

Are you using 15w40 in your 2022, it calls for 10w30 and 5w40 synthetic can be used...

yes i use 15w40. i know what the recommendation is but where i live it is not below freezing much and my truck runs at 190deg on a cool day. My secretary husband is a ram/jeep/fiat master mechanic he said they came out with that for people in really cold environment and better fuel economy crap.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Your truck, your money, but the warning is not temperature related.

 

[BossHogg]

I wouldn't hesitate to run any of the known brand names that meet the specification. With that said. Rotella is showing up on the shelves again so they appear to be catching up with demand.

Yep, was over at Menards today (Auburn Hills Michigan) and they had a good inventory of T6 on the shelf. Looks like Shell overcame the additive supply issue. $23 and change before Menard's 11% rebate so I picked up a case.

 

[HEMIMANN]

FWIW, Cummins has a marketing agreement with Valvoline. That's why they "recommend" it. Just like FCA / Stellantis with Shell / Pennzoil. Don't let the extra profit partnerships dissuade you from an equal or better lubricant that may be more available and for less money as it cuts out the graft to the OEM

 

[HEMIMANN]

Your truck, your money, but the warning is not temperature related.

So that's why they went to 10W-30. Hydraulic valve lash lifters. I wonder how much wear they sacrificed for this downrate in viscosity not to have to adjust solid lifters?

 

[HEMIMANN]

If you follow oil formulations you would see when the industry went to ck-4 the "top oils" such as rotella and delvac look less impressive then they used to and lesser oils such as delo or valvoline looked more impressive. Bottom line, modern specs are forcing oils to have pretty uniformed formulas, gas or diesel. I think if I still had my cummins I'd shorten the interval and run a cheap synthetic.

Same here. I had the original engine.

 

[tjfdesmo]

So that's why they went to 10W-30. Hydraulic valve lash lifters. I wonder how much wear they sacrificed for this downrate in viscosity not to have to adjust solid lifters?

Yes, the new CGI engines have hydraulic lifters, a hollow camshaft, a scissor gear on the cam drive, and the water pump and other ancillary items are now aluminum instead of iron.

 

[HEMIMANN]

I read up on CGI. It's just a halfway cast iron in between grey and nodular (ductile). I suppose it's halfway priced also.