Never change engine oil brands?!?!

[namesray]

I have been getting ready to switch over oil brands on my equipment to shell rotella t 10w 30 oil. throughout this process quite a few people have told me to never change oil brands on an engine that has a lot of miles/hours on it. "it is one of the worst things to do to an older engine." they say. What is the theory behind their opinion? (My equipment is not that old, 2007 with 1600hrs at oldest/most hours.)

 

[bp fick]

Lots of old fables strewn along life's path. Only a very few have much merit.

 

[Wolfy]

I have mixed oil and never thought twice about it. People over complicate everything.

 

[bcp]

Oil Myths:
https://www.citgo.com/ConsumerProducts/Oils/EngineOilMyths.jsp

Myth: I broke in my engine on Brand X; I can't switch brands.
Fact: First, be sure that during the break-in period you use the same high quality (API SL) oil which the manufacturer recommends; special break-in oils are not needed or recommended. Second, you can change the brand oil used any time, just continue to use the same high quality level recommended by the engine manufacturer.

Myth: You can't mix brands of motor oil.
Fact: Mixing brands is not the best practice because the additive systems in each may be different and when mixed may not function as efficiently as desired. However, no serious problems will occur if you must add a different brand of equivalent quality between oil changes. It is very important to maintain proper oil level.


Bruce

 

[Diamondpilot]

I wouldn't loose any sleep. I maintain about 75 engines and do about 100 oil changes a year. We use what's on sale and never had a single issue. Only one blown motor since 1988 and that was traced back to a bad oil pump. By the way it had less than 30,000 miles at the time of the failure.

Chris

 

[3930dave]

As long as the oil meets the engine manufacturer's spec (SAE rating, and viscosity), I sleep well at night.

Rgds, D.

 

[Clay45]

Its not the brand, its the viscosity rating you shouldn't change. Obviously temperature extremes can interfere with that rule of thumb.

 

[jaotguy]

ditto ..

the don't switch belongs in another era ... when there was detergent and non-detergent oils available ... if you put in detergent after running non-detergent for a long time, the engine loosened up and blew smoke ....

 

[murphy1244]

ditto ..

the don't switch belongs in another era ... when there was detergent and non-detergent oils available ... if you put in detergent after running non-detergent for a long time, the engine loosened up and blew smoke ....

Yea that was I'd rather fight than switch... A black eye.

 

[RalphVa]

Best thing I did on my Gravely was to switch to synthetic. Stopped its oil usage.

Converted all my engines to synthetic with no issues. I've even occasionally mixed brands with no issues, if I changed and happened to not have enough or needed some to be added.

Ralph