Just got my 7.3 diesel not too long ago, and I was just wondering what would be the best oil and weight I should use??? Thanks for the help guys.

 

Well, it calls for 15w 40 diesel rated oil. There are MANY opinions on the best stuff, and it seems some trucks run better with different oils than others. I am a big fan of Shell Rotella T. You can get it at WalMart. There are a lot of guys running 5w 40 full synthetics, especially those who live in colder climates. It makes it a little easier to start on cold starts, but you shouldn't have to worry about that these days unless Conroe is in the southern hemisphere.

 

Not sure if you are north or south in the states, but 15-40 diesel rated is what you want.

If you are in the frozen tundra of the north, 5-40 synthetic is great in the winter for easy starts.

I am in MT, I run rotella 15-40 april till october, then go rotella 5-40 syn for the winters, the -20 temps........

 

A lot of us here run Rotella 5w40 year round.. your engine will love it and you can extend the length of time between oil changes to make up for the extra cost for the synthetic.. (it is better for your turbo too..)

 

Clint, are you using any oil analysis when you extend your intervals with the synthetic?

 

Welcome to FTE and congrats on your truck. I ran Rotella synthetic(5W40) for most of my trucks miles 142,000 but a 15-40 change here and there. Like the guys said, colder climates 5W-40 synthetic and warmer 15-40.

 

Ok thanks guys, I'm in Texas so we don't really have to worry about it getting to cold here.

 

It gets cold enough here where I romped on 15W-40. Been running syn Rotella for years now and will never switch. It's better in the heat *AND* cold. Handles the heat better so it lasts longer -- syn isn't just for cold start-ups....

 

I agree Joe.. My 99 will romp on 15w40 after setting in my garage overnite.. Switched to Rotella 5w40 syn... no more romps ever..

 

Since new I've been running Delo 15-40 which I get in bulk at Costco. I also add Lucas to the mix @ 20% of volume. I've got 310k miles and compression tests last week were all at 400psi except one cylinder which was at 390. These we hard driven hi rpm long desert miles.

 

Delo is what I romped on.... LOL

And you might want to reconsider the Lucas stuff. Check out BobIsTheOilGuy.com for info on additives. Just a suggestion....

 

I run delo as well..its a synthetic based 15/40 oil and I love it..like said above..some trucks like it..some dont..where I'm from it gets very cold..my truck and the 2000 IH role back with a T444E starts in 30 bellow and they don't even know what a romp is..we never plug them in unless its bellow 0...in the summer after a hard run..I can pull the stick and the oil doesn't run off the stick like some oils I've seen... on my truck with stock filtering oil test say I'm good to go for 12000 miles but I stick with 8000...we run the role back to 12000 every time..that truck has well over 700k miles on it..

you don't want additives in your oil..the HPOP will make that lucas fill with air bubbles..
check this out
What about Additives?

 

Appreciate the info, a very interesting link, makes me think twice about the additive. It also makes me wonder why so many million plus mile truckers use it then, and I've talked to alot of them over the years. I have'nt gone synthetic and not sure it would be recommended with 310k miles.??

 

Very interesting site, glad I quit using Lucas a while ago.

Gary- I switched to synthetic with 250K miles on my engine, was thinking the same thing you did. Is it worth the cost for an engine with that many miles? Or I looked at it as trying to baby the engine and get all I can out of it. I switched during the winter, and I'll never go back. In the cold, it starts up so much better, no romps, just purrs. Definitely worth the cost for my old motor.

 

we use lucas in my IH trator trailer as well but not the T444E...the HPOP on our trucks is the problem.. our injectors inject with High PSI oil..not high PSI fuel like most diesels do..we all know what air does to our injectors...