5W30 diesel rated oil

[DarkBlack]

Look at the Amsoil salesmen come out of the woodwork

 

[pmsmechanic]

At 55 years of age and having to budget maintenance of several pieces of equipment I haven't run synthetic oil in anything. I've also never experienced a lubrication related failure in anything... This includes vehicles and equipment that reached mileage and hours well beyond where most people are comfortable going. Not knocking synthetic, I'm just saying my personal experience proves I never have needed it.

Interesting thought process above. I think quite a bit differently than you on the whole question of whether to use synthetic or not. I typically put a lot of miles on a vehicle. I have over 450,500 (725,000 kms) miles on one truck and 256,000 (413,000 kms) miles on another one. Both get used regularly for work and I don't anticipate retiring either one soon. I don't always change oil on time and I like the fact that synthetic lets me stretch out my oil changes by 50%. I also noticed on my 98 Cummins a 1-1.5 mpg increase with synthetic. With the mileage increase and the 50% longer oil change intervals it would cost me money to go back to dino oils. Not to mention the easier winter starting etc, etc.

 

[Thomabear]

Interesting thought process above. I think quite a bit differently than you on the whole question of whether to use synthetic or not. I typically put a lot of miles on a vehicle. I have over 450,500 (725,000 kms) miles on one truck and 256,000 (413,000 kms) miles on another one. Both get used regularly for work and I don't anticipate retiring either one soon. I don't always change oil on time and I like the fact that synthetic lets me stretch out my oil changes by 50%. I also noticed on my 98 Cummins a 1-1.5 mpg increase with synthetic. With the mileage increase and the 50% longer oil change intervals it would cost me money to go back to dino oils. Not to mention the easier winter starting etc, etc.

Just to put some hard numbers out there we have ran several Waukesha P9390s and 7042s out past 30k hours loaded to 85 to 95% of their max rated HP. The only oil these units receive is conventional lube purchased by the drum. If you do the math this comes out to roughly 1.5 million miles before we start thinking or talking "overhaul" from a PM standpoint. Oil analysis is always stable with OCIs running about every 3k hours. Like I said these are just the numbers I experience. All of my personal equipment gets conventional oil as well and has been from the day I took ownership of each. Never have I experienced a lubrication related failure or felt the need to spend extra money for what I don't need. When I trade in vehicles or equipment it's usually because they wore out around the engine... Not the other way around.
Not trying to start a debate, just sharing my personal experiences. I fully respect the decision of anyone to use what they wish in their equipment. A good maintenance program is what's important.

 

[MikePA]

As has been said in almost every oil related thread, changing the oil, and oil filter, either according to the mfgr schedule or oil test, are far more important than the type of oil you use.

People use what they believe works best for them in their situation and post about it. Sad that people sharing their personal practices brings out the insults and posts questioning motives, particularly since TBNers are smart enough to recognize veiled sales attempts.

 

[hutchman]

I've been facing this problem, too. I've found that the 5w30 507 spec-rated oil at the VW dealership is about the same price as any other synthetic out there. So, I've about decided to buy it for my JD 1025 and my Isuzu diesel generator as well. Can't seem to find any 5w30 for the JD; had been using T6 in my 4010 before we bought the VW TDI. In future, I'll just buy more Castrol at VW for all 3 engines. (The Castrol and Mobil 1 ESP are just low ash (for Exhaust System Protection) diesel oils that should be downward usable in any other diesel engine.)

Pisses me off that I cannot buy Mobil 1 5w30 ESP anywhere. Online, it's quite a bit more expensive than the Castrol. I retired from Exxon and was glad to start using Mobil 1 after the merger because I knew from working in the lube oil industry that it was the best. However, there have never been any engine failures in VW TDI engines due to lubrication issues. When I was working for Exxon, Castrol (in USA anyway) bought all its oil from Exxon. Now, they're owned by some British oil firm.

Ralph

I use Mobil 1 5W40 Turbo Diesel Truck in my VW TDI's, both PD (BRM) and ALH. I used 506.01 and 507 during warranty period ... the BRM has 210,000 miles on it now.

 

[The Fred]

I use Mobil 1 5W40 Turbo Diesel Truck in my VW TDI's, both PD (BRM) and ALH. I used 506.01 and 507 during warranty period ... the BRM has 210,000 miles on it now.

BRM must be on it's second camshaft and followers no? Good engine but design flaw with the camshaft lift, funny how BEW engines never need cams but BRMs do. They use a more aggressive cam which by the way are interchangeable.

I personally would never use 504/507 oil in anything BUT a DPF equipped vehicle. 504/507 is specifically designed NOT to pollute the DPF, this tells me something important has been left out in the "business" end of the oil.

I use 502/505 for all my needs except DPF engines.

Regards, Fred

 

[hutchman]

BRM must be on it's second camshaft and followers no? Good engine but design flaw with the camshaft lift, funny how BEW engines never need cams but BRMs do. They use a more aggressive cam which by the way are interchangeable.

I personally would never use 504/507 oil in anything BUT a DPF equipped vehicle. 504/507 is specifically designed NOT to pollute the DPF, this tells me something important has been left out in the "business" end of the oil.

I use 502/505 for all my needs except DPF engines.

Regards, Fred

Nope ... she's on original everything and still going strong. Early on I put a Diesel Geek bypass oil filter on both TDI's that use Amsoil's big Ea90 filter ... adds another quart of oil to the system. I'm aware of the BRM cam issues and the 100+ page thread (actually I think there are several) on it over at TDIClub. My BRM even has Rocketchip Stage 1 tune. My ALH has the RC 3+ tune.

The 507 is low ash for DPF like you said. UOA came back with low TBN and a bunch of other stuff that was really low ... was real dissapointed in it ... no way could you do an extended OCI with it. I ran mostly 506.01 (very good UOA's) while it was available and after warranty ran T6 in ALH and M1 TDT in PD which both get good UOA's. I don't really run extended OCI in the BRM though just to be cautious of the potential cam/bearing issue others have had. I wouldn't be afraid to pick up another 2006 BRM (and correcting the issues they have) ... timing belt changes etc. are easier than ALH and I like the way they handle/ride better too plus they have more room.

Update - here's what I use:
AMSOIL Ea® By-Pass Oil Filter

 

[The Fred]

If I were you I would pull the valve cover and check the cam/lifters. I have yet to see one hit 200K without serious wear and a flywheel change. It's an easy job.
ALH is bulletproof and will run on any oil. I reularly see them with over 300K no problems but intake clogging and T-belt/water pump change.

Regards, Fred

 

[hutchman]

If I were you I would pull the valve cover and check the cam/lifters. I have yet to see one hit 200K without serious wear and a flywheel change. It's an easy job.
ALH is bulletproof and will run on any oil. I reularly see them with over 300K no problems but intake clogging and T-belt/water pump change.

Regards, Fred

I've had it off before looking around with flashlight and mirror ... hard to see much with the rockers in the way. Haven't done it in a while. I don't have a garage so I don't like doing this kind of stuff in the driveway. Hopefully I'm building a new house with garage and pole barn this year and then should be setup to do more stuff.

My ALH has a new cam and lifters. I plan to just replace the BRM cam and lifters too just for preventive maintenance once I get a place to do it.

 

[hutchman]

... intake clogging ...

... yea, I got rid of that problem a loooong time ago. After cleaning it twice I said NO MORE! That one has 175K miles on it (a 2002)