Rotella Viscosity
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Junior User
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Rotella Viscosity
I just finished an oil change and noticed that I put 5w-40 (Rotella T6 Synthetic) in my 7.3 Powerstroke. Do I need to dump it and replace with 15w-40? It's about to get hot here in Texas and I'll change the oil at least once more before it gets cold again.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 994
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From: Republic of Texas
Leave it in good oil... You may need to add a make up quart as you get towards the end of the change cycle as some have reported it eats some of the 5w-40 faster than the 15w-40. No personal experience because I have always run the 15w-40.
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Junior User
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Great! I'm going to have to start going somewhere other than Walmart for oil. Price is good, but the selection at my local store has been dwindling in recent years. I just picked up the only synth rotella diesel motor oil and it was not what I expected.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,076
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From: Aransas Pass, Tx
Check out tractor supply. My truck likes Traveller oil better than Rotella T4 and it's $35-45/5gal
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Junior User
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I guess I should bring some more business to the Autozone that always takes my used oil with a smile and never a hassle.
@jarrett -- I've heard about having to drive into town to pick something up, but this would have me driving out of town to pick something up! I should probably do it and pick up some good bbq while I'm at it! Did you move some 400 miles south recently?
@jarrett -- I've heard about having to drive into town to pick something up, but this would have me driving out of town to pick something up! I should probably do it and pick up some good bbq while I'm at it! Did you move some 400 miles south recently?
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 664
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From: Columbia, MD
Second number is the "hot operating temperature" viscosity. That's the critical one.
The first number is a weird cold comparison for winter. Basically, when cold, it's viscosity is like a cold straight 5-weight oil... which is still a lot thicker than a 40-weight that's at operating temperature. 5W will still be thicker, harder to crank and harder to pump into bearings, than a hot 40-weight, but won't be as thick as a cold 15W.
So... 15W40 and 5W40 should perform equally well when at operating temperature (the "40" part). But the 5W will be easier to start and should provide better lubrication than the 15W when both are cold... but both cold will be thicker, harder to crank, and harder to pump into bearings than any XXW40 when hot.
Conclusion... keep the oil. It's nicer to your engine on cold starts, and performs equally well when warm.
The first number is a weird cold comparison for winter. Basically, when cold, it's viscosity is like a cold straight 5-weight oil... which is still a lot thicker than a 40-weight that's at operating temperature. 5W will still be thicker, harder to crank and harder to pump into bearings, than a hot 40-weight, but won't be as thick as a cold 15W.
So... 15W40 and 5W40 should perform equally well when at operating temperature (the "40" part). But the 5W will be easier to start and should provide better lubrication than the 15W when both are cold... but both cold will be thicker, harder to crank, and harder to pump into bearings than any XXW40 when hot.
Conclusion... keep the oil. It's nicer to your engine on cold starts, and performs equally well when warm.
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Thanks for the explanation! I skimmed an article that explained the "w" means "winter" and you explain how that works.
Now, you mention "harder to crank and harder to pump into bearings", but this oil is also used to drive the injectors. I wonder if the "5w" has any effect on this hydraulic role during a cold start? ("cold" here is still > 70 degF).
Now, you mention "harder to crank and harder to pump into bearings", but this oil is also used to drive the injectors. I wonder if the "5w" has any effect on this hydraulic role during a cold start? ("cold" here is still > 70 degF).
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,248
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From: Chino Valley, Arizona
my '97 has 312,000 miles running rotella t6 I have towed with it in temps over 120F and it almost always towing. normally uses 2 quarts in 10,000 miles.
my excursion has 230,000 running rotella t6 almost never add oil in 10,000 miles
my excursion has 230,000 running rotella t6 almost never add oil in 10,000 miles
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 21
From: Aransas Pass, Tx
I guess I should bring some more business to the Autozone that always takes my used oil with a smile and never a hassle.
@jarrett -- I've heard about having to drive into town to pick something up, but this would have me driving out of town to pick something up! I should probably do it and pick up some good bbq while I'm at it! Did you move some 400 miles south recently?
@jarrett -- I've heard about having to drive into town to pick something up, but this would have me driving out of town to pick something up! I should probably do it and pick up some good bbq while I'm at it! Did you move some 400 miles south recently?
Man, I've moved two times in the last two years. Williston ND - Richmond TX - Aransas Pass TX (corpus area)
Gotta chase that black gold.
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