I understand alot of yall use Rotella Syn for the 7.3...I have a 2003 with 90,000 on it...I currently am using this oil and wondering how long between changes?...and what filters yall recommend...and a similar subject but different vehicle, I have a 2002 Jetta TDI....any oppinions about using Rotella Syn for this vehicle?... I want to thank yall in advance for all you assistance...any help is greatly appreciated!!!

 

Welcome to FTE, glad to have you aboard. I am running my first Syn 5w40 and so far I love it. Cost a bit more, but the easier quiter starts are worth it. As far as intervals, I am sticking with 5K. Most agree you can stretch it out more, but I plan on shooting for 5. A lab report would tell you more if you wanted to that.
And I don't know nutin bout no jetta.

 

Welcome to the site Greg. Several people like the synthetic, but lots still use the regular oil. I use the old fashioned 15-40 dino oil, but that's because I have to change it every 6 weeks or so at the 5k interval. Unless you're up in the panhandle I don't think the 5-40 would be a big cold weather benefit.

The synthetic won't hurt. You'll just have to decide if the extra cost is worth the benefit. An oil analysis would give you more information about change intervals, but then that's just more money.

 

5K seems to be pretty reasonable for a synthetic. I will go anywhere from 3K to 5K, depending on what kind of driving I've been doing. If I've been hard on it, I'll go 3K.

For filters, I prefer NAPA Gold, but they're made by Wix and a Wix is just fine too. Just stay away from Fram.

For the Jetta, I'd go with the syn too. That small motor is probably working harder than the motors in our trucks, so the syn's ability to withstand heat better would be good.

 

I go about 6k on the syn Rotella, and I use Motorcraft FL1995 filters. I like syns, so I like spending the extra bucks on it. Rotella is ~$10/gallon, syn Rotella is ~$16/gallon. Not that big of deal. I don't know what the TDIs require for oil -- if they're okay with 15W-40, then 5W-40 would be fine.

Dang -- almost forgot... Welcome to FTE!!

 

I've been going 7000 to 10000 on Rotella syn with regular oil analysis. I've been very happy with it. I'm using Motorcraft filters from Walmart. I think they are around $10, but don't remember for sure.

 

Go to Blackstone Laboratories.com and order a free test kit and start saving money. UOA's cannot only save you money, but you will also feel better that you are not throwing perfectly good oil down the drain. Also, Get to see what shape your engine is in, metals and insoluables report comes back to you also. Changing oil at 3k-5k on syn oil is way to early, but get the test done to prove it to yourself.

Drawing UOA's from the engine can be made easy with a fumoto valve. Also search for them on the diesel venders. It is a petcock setup.

Goodluck, I am not a green kind of guy, but, knowing that the car industry has all brainwashed us with 3k oil changes on gassers, and 5k on diesels, I refuse to do it like that anymore. I do agree that shorter intervals are inportant during break-in, after break in , they are not necessary.

I just went through the breakin issue with my o6 diesel jetta. VW was recommending I do oil changes every 10k after 10k miles. So I ran a test at Blackstone, they said that running 10k intervals on my engine is not recommended because it is not broke in yet. IOW, I am not washing the metals out. So, in this case, by not going doing the 10k oil change intervals that VW recomends, I am going to help my engine by changing every 5k until blackstone tells me to go farther. The motor just aint broke in yet at 30k.

 

Yeah, the FL1995s are ~$10 at Wal-Mart. I just spun a new one on and filled with Rotella Syn today. I have to say, I noticed immediately faster starting & smoother idle. I have been running syn, but the last time WM was out of Rotella syn (and I HAD to change it due to an upcoming trip), so I put in Delo 15W-40 dino. It's fine, but I definitely notice the difference, so I'll be buying a supply when I see it well ahead of time from now on.

 

I just noticed Rotella Syn here for the first time at a Canadian Tire store. It was 0-40. Have any of you guys heard of this weight? Maybe its specially formulated for Canadian winters...

I've been running the 15-40 Rotella but will probably change to the synthetic next change. Would running a 0 weight oil be recommended in the summer?

 

I have seen 0-30 but not 0-40. I have been using Amsoil 5-40 and it has been working fine for me. There is a big difference when starting my truck at -40* with the 5-40 syn compared to the 15-40 dino.