Engine Oils

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Gentlemanfarmer, Apr 19, 2015.

  1. Gentlemanfarmer

    Gentlemanfarmer Medium Load Member

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    We have all heard the oil advertisements on the radio about how well they lubricate engines and get over a million miles with little wear and tear on the bearings, rockers and such. Can anyone really tell the difference between the different oil brands: Mobile Delvac, Shell Rotella T, Chevron Delo? Can anyone really say that any one works better than OEM brand? I mean if an oil meets SAE qualifications, which all I mentioned do, will anyone be able to tell the difference at the end of the day?
     
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  3. tnevin225

    tnevin225 Road Train Member

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    Simple answer is NO
     
  4. Fajo

    Fajo The Dark Knight

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    The best thing I do for mine is just change it more frequently and do oil samples here and there, try to catch the problem before it kills anything.
     
  5. king Q

    king Q Road Train Member

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    Oem brands are just badge engineered oil from one of the reputable vendors.
    One of the things I remember my dad telling me was that you wont save any money buying cheap tires or lubricants.
    Things have changed a bit on the tire side but I still recon you must use good lubricants.
    There are differences even when all compared meet the minimum spec.
    I have always used Delo and Fuchs but any known brand with a reputation to protect would do.
     
  6. Fajo

    Fajo The Dark Knight

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    I use Rotella and 1 gallon of Lucas every 15k to 20k miles, Everyone is different and everyone's mileage will very. To me tires and oils are kind of like brands of cars, everyone has a brand they swear by and only buy that brand.

    Rotella lubricants
    Lucas
    Michelin tires.

    This is what my grandpa used and sense he is the one that taught me to drive it has naturally carried over into my buying practices with my own truck.
     
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  7. gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    Whatever you do don't go switching oil brands or grades ... Use the same kind forever. They all have slightly different additives and your engine gets used to running a particular brand. Change it every 12-20k miles, whatever you decide. I do mine around 15 ... Get oil samples done at least every 100k miles or less ... There is no magic "best oil" out there, its kind of like dodge vs Chevy vs ford argument.
     
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  8. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    Pay attention to the little details. And yes, there are differences in the brands.

    My experience in all the trucks I've driven 4 ywars otr. Mobile delvac runs the quietest. Gives better fuel economy. Cools down faster. Holds higher pressure. Lubricates
    Gaskets better.

    I've seen one brand blow heads. Because it runs hot. And makes the gaskets leak. It's a name brand none of us have heard. Used by the company at that time. Because it was really cheap.
     
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  9. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    They all have to meet the same minimum standards. And I know you'll have drivers argueing about which one is best. I used to notice the oil pressure would dropp a little after 10,000 miles on Rotella where it didn't on Delvac. But when I was an O/O I was using Mystic. Whichever you use, keeping it clean and using good filters is a good bet. When I worked overseas we drove some of the Army's FLD day cabs. They had a line into the motor and tranny (auto) where they could draw samples. If the analysis show ok they just changed the filters and left the oil. Blackest oil I've ever seen in a truck but they kept on running.
     
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  10. Starboyjim

    Starboyjim Road Train Member

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    I can't help, I've got to throw my $.02 into the arena. My DD60 14L and I have tried most major brands of oil. (gokiddogo, I felt the need to be confident in my selection, so I experimented) We like 15K PM service, maybe a chassis lube in between, we completely hate Chevron Delo, like Rotella, like Castrol, but like most the Mobil Delvac. We'll be running Delvac from now on, and Detoit filters when possible. (I agree with gokiddogo) I believe advertising claims about as much as I believe claims from company recruiters. That is to say, not a whole lot. It seems to me the only real differences are engine to engine, or driver to driver. Mostly, consistent PM service is probably the most important.

    I used to use the Lucas oil stabilizer, but quit, like I quit adding Diesel Treat. Naturally, I use the PDDF (white bottle) anti-gel in winter. My o-rings and gaskets thank me. Lucas misses the money.
     
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  11. ColoradoGreen

    ColoradoGreen Heavy Load Member

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    Not the most thorough experiment, but, I once decided to run Rotella T, then at the next oil change, Mobil Delvac, and then finally Delo 400. Gallon of Lucas with all oil changes. None of them performed particularly better when it came to the oil analysis.
     
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