Hill Billy Bob
Silver Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2010
- Messages
- 151
- Location
- Western NY
- Tractor
- 2011 Kioti CK30, 2017 Kubota RTV-X1100C, 2005 Cub Cadet LT1050
Everybody has a story to tell, right?.....so hear is mine. Last winter was the coldest on record, at least in my part of the country. I never had a problem getting my CK30 to start, but I started thinking about the advantage of using a Rotella 5w/40 synthetic, as to starting and initial flow rate in extreme cold, over the Mobil Delvac 15w/40 that I have used for decades in everything from lawn mowers, to tractors, to motorcycles, to over the road trucks.
So last spring, Rotella ran a rebate offer, and Walmart a special, and I picked up a couple of jugs. With 479 hours on the clock, I made the switch. Everything works fine, no leaks, drips, or oil consumpsion issues, but there is a noticeable decrease in oil pressure when operating at sustained rpm for 2 or 3 hours straight.(as in mowing or the like) I have both oil temperature, and mechanical oil pressure gauges mounted. Delvac always provided 54 psi, at 2150 rpm's. with oil fully warmed up to 180*. It takes a good 45 minutes, on an 80* day to reach that temp. In the winter it will never come close to 180. This summer, with the Rotella synthetic, I'm only getting 50 pounds of oil pressure at the same 2150 rpm, with the oil temp at 180*. Next oil change, I'm going back to my Mobil Delvac....advertised as "the million mile motor oil", and time and time again, proven to be correct in over the road trucks.
I've never been a fan of synthetics, I guess because I never had a problem with conventional. Just can't justify the extra cost, when using a 100 hr change interval. Now if I could run twice as long between changes......but that would take me 2 years.....and I won't be leaving any oil unchanged for that long.
So last spring, Rotella ran a rebate offer, and Walmart a special, and I picked up a couple of jugs. With 479 hours on the clock, I made the switch. Everything works fine, no leaks, drips, or oil consumpsion issues, but there is a noticeable decrease in oil pressure when operating at sustained rpm for 2 or 3 hours straight.(as in mowing or the like) I have both oil temperature, and mechanical oil pressure gauges mounted. Delvac always provided 54 psi, at 2150 rpm's. with oil fully warmed up to 180*. It takes a good 45 minutes, on an 80* day to reach that temp. In the winter it will never come close to 180. This summer, with the Rotella synthetic, I'm only getting 50 pounds of oil pressure at the same 2150 rpm, with the oil temp at 180*. Next oil change, I'm going back to my Mobil Delvac....advertised as "the million mile motor oil", and time and time again, proven to be correct in over the road trucks.
I've never been a fan of synthetics, I guess because I never had a problem with conventional. Just can't justify the extra cost, when using a 100 hr change interval. Now if I could run twice as long between changes......but that would take me 2 years.....and I won't be leaving any oil unchanged for that long.