Congrats on the new truck. My only concern is the 5W-40 Rotella. Your truck is supposed to have a oil with a API CJ-4 rating and I am pretty sure that Shell has not released a API CJ-4 5W-40 as of yet, should be soon though. I know Rotella 15W-40 CJ-4 is available. Could this be what they put in?

I am not saying that Rotella 5W-40 with a API rating of CI-4 PLUS will hurt the engine, but severe service oil changes (5K OCI) are recommended and expect more frequent regens.

 

i am pretty certain your right powerstrokehd. the rotella 5w-40 is the synthetic, and unless something changed very recently, it is not cj-4 and shouldn't be used in any of the newer diesels. the 15w-40 is cj-4 and safe to use. i would definetly question the dealer on that one. this is directly off of shell's website:

"What will the differences be and the advantage in switching to the new API CJ-4 oil? In pre-2007 engines, API CJ-4 oil will provide the latest in protection, including improved wear protection, high-temperature oxidation control, and soot handling, which will enhance engine durability and cleanliness of the engine."

cj-4 is required by all of the new gen diesel manufacturers. 2007 and up.

 

Thanks guys - I'm familiar w/ the 7.3 world so the 6.4 is all new to me. Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do. I can't wait till the weekend so I can get a good look around the engine compartment & underneath. Previous owner was apparently an all 'dealer service' guy - doesn't look like he did any maint on his own as far as I can tell.

I imagine the dealer put in the 5W40 cause that's what they use everywhere. I didn't ask specifically for a 5W40 but that's what its filled with according to the sticker on the window. Previous oil changes (X2) were all @ the dealer so my guess is its been Rotella since the 1st change. They were changing on the severe duty schedule. (about 3.5K btw changes)

I'll switch to 15W40 - maybe as early as May after I put a few K miles on it. Hate to just dump the 5W40 since its fresh.

DG

 

The oil effects the emissions controls (the regen on the DPF)...I would get the 5w-40 out and put the correct oil in ASAP before another issue forms. The fewer variables the better when you have a truck with a history of probelms...

 

Maybe the wrong oil was the source of some of the orignal owners disatisfaction with the truck.

 

Either the best or worst decision you'll ever make. Wish you well and time will tell.

 

You may be right.
Using CJ-4 oil is extremely important to the function of the DPF. Most of the ash found clogging the DPF comes from using the wrong oil, and not the fuel.

I would immediatly change the oil and I would bet that once the DPF burns off all of the ash from the oil, most of the prior issues will be history.

 

Leave it to a Ford dealership to start you on the wrong path "Grasshopper" by using the wrong oil.Maybe it was by design so they could get more warranty work from the people with 6.4s.
If true, maybe you should contact Ford direct. Just a suppose and not pointing fingers, but if a dealership will do something like put in the wrong oil, [either it's on purpose or even worse, they don't know any better], then what other "bad" things could they doing to peoples rides. Glad I don't use your dealer! Hope it's just a mistake that they will correct for you. You should get the "bad oil out, and the good oil in". IMHO
Good luck and enjoy the new truck.

 

Could it be they were trying to solve his (orig owner) long start condition @ cold by filling w/ 5W40?

Its that symptom that has been there since day one - truck would not start when cold unless cranked a long time. They replaced batteries & a starter trying to solve this issue.
After reading the owner's manual and looking around here I think I'll change the oil on Sat if not sooner. Till I read up on it last night I didn't think it was a big deal. After hearing the comments from you guys and the reading I've done I think a oil change is due in quick order + a shorter interval prior to the next change just to get things back in line.

I don't let this particular dealer do ANY OF MY SERVICE at all. They do not sell that many diesel trucks and have left me w/ a bad taste in my mouth over several other service issues in the past.

The dealer provided me with all the service docs (OASIS & Reg Service) and every last one of them says 5W40. I'm going to send a sample off for an oil analysis to confirm it is 5W40 - I wonder if someone just forgot to put the '1' in front. 5W40 isn't cheap and I can't see them giving 'free' synthetic oil changes away like that.

Previous owner had 1 yr worth of free oil change - just had to pay the disposal fee of 7.50/change.

DG

 

Change your oil right now, don't wait.
It's not about change intervals, it's about the low ash content of the CJ-4. Studies have shown that low ash oil is superior in every way to regular, CI-4 oil. Higher ash oils will soon be a thing of the past.
You can find Delo "Low Emissions" CJ-4 15W-40 oil at Wal-Mart.
The ash found in the other oils can have a long lasting, negative effect on the DPF. Oil ash can not be burned off like fuel soot. It remains at the bottom of the DPF..
Not good.
In fact, I might even try to hit up your dealer for a new DPF because they used the wrong oil. Do a little research, you'll get all of the ammunition you need right off of the internet.

 

Hmmm... The DPF question gives me a little pause that I'll need to think about. Got a few more days on my 7 day no questions ask return. My question is: Is this a big enough deal to say: Nope I changed my mind you can have it back.

I honestly don't know enough about the DPF yet to answer this one on my own.

The dealer may or may not want to pay to imediately replace it. I got a lot out of them already and I'm not sure how much more I can get.

I do know a guy who works for Corning (they mfg the DPF core) here locally. Not sure if the plant here makes just gas burner Cat cores or, Diesel DPFs too - good question to ask.

I think I'll offer to take him to lunch on Friday to see what I can learn about DPFs. Either way if he doesn't know he'll probably know who to go to within Corning.

DG

 

I personally think you're on the right track in having the oil analyzed. If the dealership did in fact put the wrong oil in, it probably means they have been using the wrong oil all along. In that case, you certainly have something to take to Ford. (Not the dealer). You should be able to get just about anything within reason that you want in that case. You still got a great deal on the truck. Worst case scenario, they end up replacing the engine and DPF. [And maybe that isn't a bad thing]. Maybe try getting in touch with Navistar about possible damage to the engine using non low ash oil over the current engine age and miles. Get everything in writing if possible and notate who, what, and when on all phone contacts.

 

There isn't going to be any engine damage because of the oil. Let's clear that up.
The use of low ash oil is strictly to cohabitate with a DPF, that's all. Oil ash pluggggggs up the DPF, and it can regenerate and clean itself out with some driving.
Drive the truck, if it runs good, by all means keep it. You got a terrific deal, and maybe you now know why those morons at the dealership couldn't solve the last guys problems..
If that's the problem, then you stole the truck.

 

Ash or no ash, it doens't make a rat's ash.

 

Gee whiz George, I'm glad you cleared that up for us.