Diesel engine oil shortage predictions, will it happen?

Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by vanlith, Jul 18, 2022.

  1. vanlith

    vanlith Bobtail Member

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    I have noticed a lot of chat online + vids up talking about a diesel engine oil shortage coming because the additives from chevron + lubrisol are currently not producing + have not been for a while now + will not until 2023 sometime so by early sept. at the latest we will see this happen 1st slowly then get really bad by about nov. with around 10% of trucks dropping off the road each week due to the shortage according to them...now i have checked many auto dist. in my city (almost 1 million people) up in central canada + 0w40 is pretty much not around for 3 weeks now with some 5w40 out there but mostly only store brands as Mobil1 delvac + Rotella are gone now + have been mostly for about a month. Seems like a pretty healthy amount of 15w40 but that is being limited to 4-6 gallons a purchase but non Mobil1 + Rotella that are rarely around unless they are 15w-40 so these dealers must know something also. I have also checked online in the USA mostly from Autozone in places mostly through the midwest + its the same with very little to no Mobil1 + Rotella but it seems for now a pretty healthy amount of non those brands but mostly 15w40 + with limits. So it is very true to the gen. public who get their oil not in bulk unlike trucking ind. I have also heard companies who buy bulk cannot buy the usual amount in barrels ect. as they are being limited also...not always but i have read that some can only get 1 after ordering 2 barrels ect. There does not seem to be a great deal of knowledge about this even in the automotive ind. although about 1/3 of the guys in these stores + esp. the top guys in these stores who i ask to see are very aware of this pending huge problem on the horizon as 1 told me he loses sleep at night thinking about later this year.... so i would like to get input from the guys who drive these 18 wheelers that put food on our table have you/they heard about this + the BIGGEST Q. i have is....has the trucking ind. stocked up on this stuff before it runs dry...If it runs dry + typically how many months worth of oil does the ave. trucking company stock up on diesel engine oil....also what % of 18 wheelers run syn. 0 or 5w40 in their trucks compared to the 15w which i know most do but of course the winter is coming so syn. is great for that period esp. in the N. USA + Canada of course....a lot of Q. + a lot to unpack here but cannot wait for you truckers out there thoughts.
     
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  3. Short Fuse EOD

    Short Fuse EOD Road Train Member

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    I cannot comment on future speculation. I have not had difficulty finding what I use. Delo XLE 15W-40.
     
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  4. Arctic_fox

    Arctic_fox Experienced mx13 execrator

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    Let it happen. I have 4 barrels of rotella 10W-30 sitting in my barn along with about a hundred filters.
     
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  5. Short Fuse EOD

    Short Fuse EOD Road Train Member

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    If a shortage does happen… nobody will think you were over reacting, but call you prepared! Funny how things are. I think your smart. If anything, you will have bought before prices continue to climb.
     
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  6. Animosus

    Animosus Medium Load Member

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    We've been having a hard time buying drums of rotella.

    Filters were super hard to get 6 months ago too. Have a year or two supply now.
     
  7. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    I've heard about shortages of a few dozen products since 2020 and haven't seen there actually be a shortage of any of them as of yet.

    I'll believe it when I see it.
     
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  8. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    Must be locale. I've had a hard time (at times) getting Delvac or Rotella. Couldn't get either last oil change and had to use a blend.

    Several times I've not been able to get fuel filters.
     
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  9. GYPSY65

    GYPSY65 Road Train Member

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    I’m not sure if this is a shortage or supply chain issue
    I think some companies in the past have been able to order a product on Monday and have it by Wednesday

    I think they do the same thing now but get it a week or two later

    I normally run Delo but BJ’s stores have Mobil Delvac synthetic blend on sale for like $12 gallon
    Ad said 20 gal ( 5 case ) max but store didn’t care how much I bought and I found filters online for about $40 less per kit than at Peterbilt

    If there was a shortage then there wouldn’t be any sales
     
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  10. Arctic_fox

    Arctic_fox Experienced mx13 execrator

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    I had fun times trying to buy the stuff during the beer virus panic. So now i buy a barrel every other month then cycle between the two im using filling one when its empty. I get about 4 changes per barrel so i have enough oil on hand to get through roughly a year. And i just bought a pallet of filters for my rig. Got 25 each of both oil and both fuel filters as well as about a dozen coolant filters. Also have 10 each for my APU.

    If oil dries up i can at least keep my truck on the road for a good long while.
     
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  11. vanlith

    vanlith Bobtail Member

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    Jul 18, 2022
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    What % of you 18 wheelers of any make run 0w40 or 5w40 in your rigs....i have read + watched vids that it runs cleaner, smoother + most import. longer by up 50% between changes (30-40k miles) so if there is a diesel oil shortage which i do 100% believe there will be in the fall.....syn. oil would be gold esp. for the fact you can run it longer when a great % of truckers + farm eqip. ect ect will not be running at all. Now i know its more expensive but i have seen trucker vids on UT talking about the dif + have seen many old timers that have been running 15w for a long time + they made the switch when looking at the overall benefits.
     
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