Thinking about switching oils

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 18, 2009 | 10:54 AM

brandon_oma#692

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 1,787

Likes: 31

From: Northern Illinois

Thinking about switching oils

Hi all

I have been usind motocraft 15-40 and was thinking about trying some synthetic oil. I saw this at the local store on sale and am consedering it. It is a synthetic blend so I am assuming that means a mix of syn and regular oil??? Is a blend good to use or should i be looking for full synthetic? thanks

Diesel Oil: Blain's Farm & Fleet® Synthetic Blend Diesel Engine Oil at Blain's Farm & Fleet

Dec 18, 2009 | 01:32 PM

Vader0121

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 111

Likes: 0

From: Louisville, KY

Seems to me that it would be worth trying now during the colder months. The viscosity being lower should help and it reads to be approved for use in the PSD. Others here would recomend Schaefer's oil (might be spelled differently) but I run Rotella syn in the winter.

Dec 18, 2009 | 03:28 PM

Izzy351

Post Fiend

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 14,541

Likes: 2

From: Dallas-Ft. Worth

That's a bit pricey. You can get syn Rotella at WM for $19/gal. That's what I'm running (going on three years now) and it's been excellent.

Dec 18, 2009 | 04:42 PM

RushN350

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 431

Likes: 0

From: Eastern Shore Md

Iv'e been reading oil "debates" for almost 6yrs, in 2004 I spent $80 for an iol change and tried the synthetic. It was horribly thin, my truck clattered when it was cold, and there was something else I didn't like but I can't remember what... I run what the engineers who built the engine recommend and have never had an issue, even pushing 300k... Now I use Castrol hypuron 15-40, It's a semi-synthetic fleet oil I use for rollingstock at work. I take advantage of their free oil sampling and send one in every other oil change, it hold up quite well. I ran one for 10k miles and the samples came back good. (not that I normally do that but I drive alot)

Dec 18, 2009 | 06:31 PM

F350-6

Post Fiend

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 26,966

Likes: 50

From: Texas

I would ask who makes the oil for them and see if there's a number you can call to ask about it. If not, at least read the rating of the oil. It should have a rating of CJ-4 or CI-4 or some such thing printed on there.

We have a HEUI system, so you need to make sure the oil has acceptable anti-foaming agents and can handle the shear.

I know it says it's rated for all the latest HD diesel engines, but all the cheap scanners also say all vehicles 94 and up. You can't always believe what you read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzy351

That's a bit pricey. You can get syn Rotella at WM for $19/gal. That's what I'm running (going on three years now) and it's been excellent.

That's $25 for a 2 gallon jug Joe.

Dec 18, 2009 | 07:33 PM

swaybar

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 436

Likes: 1

From: Mass

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzy351

That's a bit pricey. You can get syn Rotella at WM for $19/gal. That's what I'm running (going on three years now) and it's been excellent.

this is my first winter with it in and the past few days we've had single digit temps all day and nite and i must say the 15-40 syn is one of the best things i've done. i haven't had a "cold starting" problem yet and even without the block heater being plugged in

Dec 18, 2009 | 10:17 PM

dwigmore

Cross-Country

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 84

Likes: 2

Synthetic oil is nice, and if you get close to 0 in the winter, it's easier to start with the thinner oil. I use the Rotella 0-40, but temps are routinely 0 to -15 F or colder around here in the winter.