Anyone use Rotella T6 Full Synthetic in their LS

[TomSeller]

I have been using Rotella T5 mostly because I seem to have a lot of 10W30 engines,, but am switching to Rotella T5. I have always liked Rotella diesel oil, originally Rotella Triple, then T5, now moving to T6.

 

[TSO]

I bought a bunch of it when it went on sale here...and ran it in my truck, tractor, and mower. I had previously used Mobil 1 TDT. And currently I'm trying out Ford Motorcraft PSD 10/30 in my truck and tractor.

I found that each vehicle ran "quieter" with the Mobil 1 TDT than with the RT6. I know that's hardly scientific, but it was pretty obvious. I was concerned it was a little thin for my Powerstroke. I talked to a big engine shop in Ohio that specializes in PSD rebuild, pull & race builds ... He asked what oil I was using and I told him I was trying out RT6... He volunteered his opinion on it, which was also that it was too thin.

Then, a friend of mine with a PSD in an Excursion gave RT6 a try, after he's been using Amsoil, and it caused some rough starts.

So, I'm thinking that I'll use up the rest of what I have, but then switch back to Mobil 1 TDT. I'm still waiting to get a few more miles on this change (trying out the Motorcraft PSD oil, which is actually made by Conoco Phillips to Ford/International specs) to see how the oil analysis compares with the RT6 analysis.

 

[hutchman]

Best advice I can give is hang out on Bobs The Oil guy site and read up on VOA (virgin oil analysis) and UOA (used oil analysis) and educate yourself. There is also a thread on TDIClub that beats the oil issue to death and even a thread where folks post their UOA results from various labs using various oils. If you don't have a DPF, go for an oil that has the highest TBN. If you do have a DPF, then you probably have to stick with oils that have low ash content.

M1 TDT and RT6 have been my go-to oils for 10+ yrs. now. M1 TDT formulation is a moving target ... at one point it was same as Delvac but then I guess they cost reduced it so the guys that do VOA's all the time detect these changes ... it doesn't have the zinc and TBN it used to but it's still pretty darn good.

 

[TSO]

I was thinking of giving Delvac a try too... It seems to come pretty cheap by the 5-gal bucket here. Have you run Delvac?

 

[hutchman]

... from memory (so you might want to look it up), T6 has more ZDDP and Moly than M1 TDT ... so for folks with flat tappet engines, that's what you want.

 

[TSO]

... from memory (so you might want to look it up), T6 has more ZDDP and Moly than M1 TDT ... so for folks with flat tappet engines, that's what you want.

I can confirm it runs high Moly ... My analysis showed the Molybdenum numbers were very high after running it.

 

[hutchman]

I was thinking of giving Delvac a try too... It seems to come pretty cheap by the 5-gal bucket here. Have you run Delvac?

No. I can't find Delvac 1 in 5W40 local. Only in 15W40. I used to mail order M1 ESP for the wife's TDI (a PD engine) but didn't like the UOA's because it was a 507.00 oil (low ash etc) and since her car didn't have DPF etc., I ditched the 505.01 & 507.00 oils once my warranty period was up and used M1 TDT and got good UOA's then. I always tried to use the best oil I could because the VW PD engines have a design flaw where they have a skinny cam lobes on flat tappet lifters (cam also drives the injectors) and so if all the stars align you might be able to get 200K before you start putting holes in lifters. Some folks had failures way before that but we are at 210,000 miles and I just took the cam out and retired it as preventive maintenance ... none of the lifters had holes in them but they were on their way. Chamfer totally worn off a few lobes and was razor sharp and dishing the lifters.

 

[hutchman]

... and with my new PD cam, I'll have to use Schaeffer's 9000 5w-40 for the warranty

 

[charles todd]

Wow, looks like a lot of folks use it. I was concerned about the 5W being too thin in warm weather at startup but I guess it's ok.

You cannot be too thin at startup, instant flow is what is required. This is the most crucial moment, thinner is better!

CT

 

[George2615]

I put T6 synthetic in my XR3037HC at the 50 hour service.