Good Deal on RTS 5-40 at Sam's

[RWEST]

Found CI-4+ RTS 5-40 at Sam's yesterday. Three - 1 gal jugs in a box for $43.35, or around $14.50 gal. It's about $16.50/gal at Wally's.

 

[Patches]

You're fortunate Sam's in your area carries Rotella synthetic at a price.I've found I can buy most oils, etc. at Wally World cheaper than I can at Sam's and I don't have to pay the membership fee. The kicker was two Xmases ago bought my SO a Hewlett- Packard didgetal(?) camera at Sam's, only to find the identical camera at Wallies for $20.00 less. I've been very selective since and found I can buy Mobil 1 at Wallies cheaper than Sam's(which I use in the truck)and my local Sam's dosen't even sell RTS

 

[RWEST]

my local Sam's dosen't even sell RTS

This is the first time I saw it at ours, too. They've pretty much always had the 15-40 stuff. I'm in there about once a month, buying office supplies and such, and I like to check out the oil aisle (the wife's always asking "don't you already HAVE enough oil?"), just in case. Worked out well this time.

+1 on Wally's often having better prices than Sam's. I'm always checking prices, so I knew the RTS was a good deal. I'm gonna' stop by again next week and see if they re-stocked. Uh-oh, what if a Wally's employee is a TBN member, reads this, and gives 'em a head's up? Maybe I'll go tonite!!

 

[Skyco]

I've been stocking up on the Shell RTS as I like it in my tractor, motorcycle and miscellaneous small engines. I'm stocking up because I don't want the CJ formula when they finally replace the RTS with that version...as they did in the 15W-40 conventional Rotella.
I had been buying the Chevron Delo for my Powerstroke 7.3 but now it appears Sams has quit selling it.

 

[JSharp]

I'm not sure why everyone wants to stick with the CI-4 or 4+ formulations vs. the newer CJ-4 oils. Better performance in every way is effectively a part of the new specification. Shell for one claims an approximately 50% decrease in wear with their newer oils.

So what's the advantage of using the old stuff?

 

[RWEST]

So what's the advantage of using the old stuff

Higher zinc/phosphorous levels.

 

[JSharp]

Higher zinc/phosphorous levels.

Yes, they are higher. My point was, that's not necessarily any advantage. If Shell and the API aren't pulling our legs, they claim lower wear with the new formulations when used with modern, non ultra-high sulfur fuels.

 

[RWEST]

Maybe 'perceived advantage' would be a better term. I dunno if the new CJ-4 stuff will be better or not, but all the scary stories I've been reading have convinced me to stock up on as much CI-4+ as I can. I'd imagine there will be enough anecdotal evidence within a year or so to let us know. I'm sure Shell/API are correct.

I'll be the only guy in town still using the 'obsolete' stuff while the other guys are running around telling everyone about how their vehicle is getting better mileage with more power, their hair is growing back, and their love life has improved, all because of CJ-4 RTS.

 

[Skyco]

From what I read many flat tappet engines are having wear problems with the new CJ rated oils. The zinc adds protection under high skuff conditions that some claim just isn't there on the new oil...
So yes wear could be down on some engines but up on others/older designs.

BTW the Shell RTS is a very good oil but it isn't a true synthetic (old school) in my book

 

[JSharp]

Maybe 'perceived advantage' would be a better term. I dunno if the new CJ-4 stuff will be better or not, but all the scary stories I've been reading have convinced me to stock up on as much CI-4+ as I can. I'd imagine there will be enough anecdotal evidence within a year or so to let us know. I'm sure Shell/API are correct.

I'll be the only guy in town still using the 'obsolete' stuff while the other guys are running around telling everyone about how their vehicle is getting better mileage with more power, their hair is growing back, and their love life has improved, all because of CJ-4 RTS.

The new Rotella may or may not be better, but I agree you can't go wrong with the older stuff. I bought a bunch of Mobil 1 M1R racing oil before it went obsolete that I still have a stash of. The ZDDP levels are through the roof on that oil.

I'm using the M1R in my newer Toyota yet I'm running the latest CJ-4 Rotella in my ancient tractor. Go figure...