Great link, thanks!!!

 

Great post of API registered oils for CJ4 specs....

With so many "officially certified"... not sure why anyone would use a non API certified/registered oil in their expensive diesel motors... but they do...

 

I didnt see any 5w or 0w oil on that list. When its -50 or colder the 5w or greater sure is nice. Espically when winter is 8 months out of the year. Maybe I missed it but the last time I check my manual CI4 or CH4 was what it called for.

Everyone pretty much swears by syn due to the cold up here. If it was only for a month or so that would be a different story.

 

I don't get all this chatter about Rotella...I guess it's ok, but IMO any product you can get at a big box store has to be just another oil. Look at the truck stops, the trucker's mags, do some research to see what the big guys are using. Cross refernce the Cat, Cumapart, and Navistar specs with Ford's PSD specs and find the product that meets Ford's and the majority of the others' specs. Why? Those are the products that will be most available because they're used by more people in the diesel using industry. Maybe even get your oil there.

Another suggestion: find an owner operator who takes good care of his equipment and pick his brain a bit. There are brands of oil the average guy never hears about because these companies don't waste their money on advertising, but put it in their products, R&D, and customer service.

To name a few: Central Petroleum Company (Cen-Pe-Co), Schaeffer Manufacturing Company (Schaeffer Oil), and Texas Refinery Corproation (TRC). (I have seen some Schaeffer ads.) I have used the products of one of these for years, but have never seen much commercial advertisement from them (I have seen some Schaeffer ads). The products are not cheap, but reliable and I never worry if I happen to need to go over the O.C. interval by a thousand miles before I can do it. I can get free analysis anytime I want to send in a sample. I don't run a diesel now, but when I did, I bought my oil from a part-time Owner Operator/farmer out of his drum.

Just remember, the oil HAS to be engineered for diesel engines and carry the API mark for the recommendations of your engine...and the recommendations have changed rapidly over the past few years, so much so, that I haven't even tried to keep up with them. What I do know is that your diesel engine oil must be able to neutralize sulfuric acid and a gasoline engine oil will not do that well. That's why you want an oil with a high TBN (total base number) like 14 or 15. The chemical base neutralizes the acids formed in the crankcase and keeps all that junk suspended until drain time.

Back to the cross-referencing theme: I was able to cross reference a Massey spec. for transmission/hydraulic fluid and found the John Deere "303" transmission/hydraulic fluid satisfied the same mil. spec., but Massey would never tell you that. Then I found the "JD 303" recommended fluid from one of the three companies mentioned above and that it surpassed the JD 303 specs. The bonus was it was a lower price than the Massey labeled product. So a little work paid off.

Added kicker was that the Massey trans ran a bunch cooler on the better fluid when plowing and discing...so much so that you could feel the temperature difference. You guys that ever ran a smaller tractor know what I mean...like, where is that transmission located, exactly? Yep, right between your legs!

 

For those living were it is a Warm & Sunny -40F and need 0W or 5W oil, here is the CI-4 list

http://eolcs.api.org/FindBrandByServ...eCategory=CI-4

Try and stay warm

 

YUP, I agree Jeff,....it's amazing how some people can be deceived so easily!

 

Good post, Dallbright. I printed it out, for future reference. Thank You.

Ed

 

Good to see Rotella T 5W-40 meets the CH4-CI4 standard. Thats what listed for my truck in my manual. But I have to ask what is the CJ4 Standard.

PS Thanks for the list. Now I have other choices to chose from. Just have to use up the 12 gallons that I bought before I run out.

 

mlb4966,

Here is a link to API explaining the differences in each oil rating category.

www.apicj-4.org/EngineOilGuide2006.pdf

Currently none of the oil manufactures have an API "certified" CJ-4 synthetic oil. I am guessing that it is just a matter of production roll out based on what oil sells the most being released first.

Hope this helps

 

CJ4 is the new diesel motor oil spec that was launched on 10/16/06. It is a big jump forward in diesel oil technology and will work for the new mandated 2008 trucks and is backwards compatiable.

It is only available at this time as a 15W-40 oil... so maybe too thick for you in Alaska. I would stick with Rotella-Syn 5W-40 until they, or the other brands release a synth. version of the new CJ4 API spec.

You local Walmart can order the Rotella for you as it is an "approved item" for them... just someone is too lazy to order and stock on the shelves.

 

Actually, I have seen CJ4 rated Rotella in 10w/30 at both my local Wally World and TSC. I always used Rotella 15w/40 in my 7.3. I've used it in the current 6.0 a couple of times. However, my truck seems to like the Delo 15w/40 better than the Rotella. I am going to use the CJ4 rated Rotella 10w/30 in my next oil change and go back to 15w/40 in the spring.

 

Wow... yes I knew about the 10W-30... but had not seen it yet.

10W-30 will make for easier starts and will give you the CJ4 protection you desire. Let us know how it performs.

 

I'm only about 3K into the current OCI, but if I have the extra time this weekend, I'm going to go ahead and change the oil. It's going to get cooler here in Ohio. Been near 70 all this week. But it's gonna take a nose dive tomorrow with lows down in the 20's next week. One thing you can say about the Cincinnati area: "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes....it will change."

 

Thanks for the info. I'll keep an eye for the CJ series in SYN. Right now I have 2 cases (12 gallons) of 5W-40 SYN to use up so by the time that is gone I should have better choices.

 

Found someone that is making an API registered CJ4 spec'd oil in the 5W-40 synthetic weight that some of us have been looking for. As of today, CJ4 oil was only available as a 15W-40 weight!!!

Citgo makes an oil called Citgo - Citgaurd "syndurance" Synthetic 5W-40. Be careful becuase there is a synthetic blend 5W-40 available too... so make sure you get the 100% synthetic version!!!

The PDF file/link below has the info about the oil and there is a toll-free number to call to find dealers in your area. I was given two names and only one can order it for me in gallon jugs.

http://www.docs.citgo.com/msds_pi/465116.pdf

http://www.forester.net/mw_news_031006_citgo.html

The price I was quoted was $21.00/gallon and they have to get back to me on Monday about ordering it. This formulation is a PAO "true synthetic" like Mobil 1 oils are... which is slightly different than the Group III synthetics that Rotella markets. Both meet API certifications for CJ4... but this is the first oil I have seen in synthetic 5W-40 weight that is also CJ4 spec'd!!!!! I already use Rotella-Syn and buy it at Walmart for roughly $18.00/gallon.. the the few extra dollars is no big deal to me and I get CJ4 spec'd oil!!!

Before anyone adds tho this thread about Chavez and his comments at the UN about President Bush (which I find horrible)... I have no problem buying the weight and type of oil from Citgo since I have no other choice at this time... if Mobil, Chevron or Rotella would launch their synthetic version of CJ4 oil.... then I would buy it first... but until then... I will place my order for 5 gallons next week