Shell Rotella 15 40
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: DeKalb, Ill.
Shell Rotella 15 40
I've been throwing around the idea of changing to this Shell motor oil. I know the 15 weight may get a bit goopy in the winter months, but I don't drive mine too much in the cold (salty roads etc.). I've been turned on to this particular oil because of the the zinc additive it still has. I am aware of the argument- "all oils have zinc", however the Shell oil is one of the few that lists it as an ingredient. I don't want this to turn into a zinc additive argument, I don't care what anyone has to say about that. I've done the MSDS research and I am convinced by my findings. I just want input on using such an oil in a gasoline engine.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 780
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From: East Texas
I use it in my 77. The engine was rebuilt ~3 years ago and after the rebuild I had the same concerns. Other good oils would be Chevron Delo and Mobil Delvac, along with the Motorcraft Super Duty oil. All are dual rated for use in gasoline engines.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Detroit
Fine in gas motors...
I've been throwing around the idea of changing to this Shell motor oil. I know the 15 weight may get a bit goopy in the winter months, but I don't drive mine too much in the cold (salty roads etc.). I've been turned on to this particular oil because of the the zinc additive it still has. I am aware of the argument- "all oils have zinc", however the Shell oil is one of the few that lists it as an ingredient. I don't want this to turn into a zinc additive argument, I don't care what anyone has to say about that. I've done the MSDS research and I am convinced by my findings. I just want input on using such an oil in a gasoline engine.
The car still has fairly low miles on it, about 120k, but I have run it almost exclusively on Rotella (and BMW brand filters which are usually MANN German cartridges). No problems, and in talking to a few good BMW mechanics, Rotella is kind of a standard for 15W40 applications in these cars. I kind of discovered it by accident--there are virtually no "car" 15W40 oils available.
I'd have no problem running it in any other gas vehicle if the weight is right for your application.
George
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Running Springs CA
15W is rated for cold cranking down to +4F. Below that I would recommend the 5W-40 synthetic version of Rotella T, still a bargain compared to other synthetics. I have used Chevron Delo 400 15W-40 here in the mountains where it typically gets down into the 20's with no starting problems.
I have also owned an older BMW and used Delo 15W-40 almost exclusively for over 100,000 miles. The engine looked new inside when I opened up the valve cover to replace the gasket.
Jim
I have also owned an older BMW and used Delo 15W-40 almost exclusively for over 100,000 miles. The engine looked new inside when I opened up the valve cover to replace the gasket.
Jim
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,621
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From: Sweetwater Texas
My 1980 300 I6 with over 300,000 miles loved rotella, if I filled it with penzoil 20-50 once and it burned almost 2 quarts in 150 miles, but with rotella it would only burn a quart in 200 miles.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Detroit
Last I looked, it was maybe $20 for a gallon of syn Rotella T, but this is gonna depend on where you shop. Plus oil prices seem to have gone nuts lately. I haven't switched to syn in my BMW because I have a couple seeping gaskets that I need to take care of...so I put in dino 10W40 when I store it over the winter, back to Rotella 15W40 in the springtime.
George
George
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: East Tennessee
People can say what they want about Rotella. I was urged to use it in my 750cc Honda Shadow (cruiser bike, 7500RPM redline or something). 45 horsepower, nothing special.
4,000 miles/4 oil changes later with 15W-40 Rotella, it was consuming oil and smoking on start up. Never again will I trust that stuff. Chevron Delo for me next time, and my tractor.
I just think it is overrated. May do fine in big rig engines that require gallons and gallons of it that never pass 2000RPM, but I personally don't like it anymore.
4,000 miles/4 oil changes later with 15W-40 Rotella, it was consuming oil and smoking on start up. Never again will I trust that stuff. Chevron Delo for me next time, and my tractor.
I just think it is overrated. May do fine in big rig engines that require gallons and gallons of it that never pass 2000RPM, but I personally don't like it anymore.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Detroit
And as I said, Rotella was a popular oil among BMW mechanics who I trusted to be "in the know"; BMW specced 15W40 as the recommended oil for a lot of years.It's hard for me to imagine that Rotella caused the problems that the one poster was having. (Oil that is designed for running through diesel turbochargers, under high heat and pressure, has to be pretty tough stuff.)
Honda's motors are generally pretty easy on oil and very unlikely to have premature wear type problems. I don't know motorcycles, but was that an air cooled engine? Was it known to be tough on oil? Did they maybe have a production run that had some bad parts (piston rings, etc) in them?
If it's the right weight for your application, no worries. The syn is probably better yet.
George
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 774
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From: East Tennessee
Like I said, to each their own. I was a little hard on the bike. It was a V-twin cruiser, not a rice rocket. So, it wasn't stressed. The bike was warmed before driven hard, and wasn't driven hard ALL the time. Didn't see red line all that much, but that the same time, I did take it to red line occasionally.
The bike had... maybe 8,000 miles on it when I had it. By 12,000 it was starting to consume. 15,000 smoke on start up, pretty noticeable. 18,000 miles, I sold it.
It's in my Ford 8N. No oil consumption. I don't know what to think about it. The synthetic may be fine, but I'm not a fan of the 15W-30 based on my one odd experience and I just can't help it.
The bike had... maybe 8,000 miles on it when I had it. By 12,000 it was starting to consume. 15,000 smoke on start up, pretty noticeable. 18,000 miles, I sold it.
It's in my Ford 8N. No oil consumption. I don't know what to think about it. The synthetic may be fine, but I'm not a fan of the 15W-30 based on my one odd experience and I just can't help it.
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