15w-40 too heavy for a 61k mile 4.5?

[Sevillian273]

Is the highly acclaimed Rotella T too heavy for a 61000 mile 4.5? I dont want to risk oil starvation at cold engine temps or excessive oil pressure and wear on the pump. Im thinking I should wait until my engine is older before I use Rotella. I wonder if there is a ZDP additive I can use with 10w-30.... Any thoughts?

[Dave S Texas]

I was using 10w-40 M1, but it's a lot hotter here which is why I was using that heavier viscosity oil. No problems. Your engine doesn't need any extra dose of ZDP. There is sufficient in motor oil. New engines need it for break-in period, but not 61k engines.

[submariner409]

Sevillian, Several oil companies make lubricants with ZDDP packages higher than starburst passenger car oils. Pennzoil, Chevron, Shell, Drydene.....maybe more, all make what is referred to as "Fleet", "Truck", "Marine", or "Long Life" oils in a variety of viscosities.....I know for a fact that Pennzoil (SOPUS/Quaker State) makes a line of fleet and diesel rated oils that are usually found at NAPA, Marine, and big rig stores. Their Long Life 10W-30 is a HD diesel package that gives me wonderful service in high-load marine gasoline engine applications......look at the pix of one of my Olds 455's in the adjoining thread about something like "safe to use synthetic...." - those puppies run thousands of hours at horrible temperatures and loads, and with both 15W-40 (summer, HOT, high RPM) and 10W-30 Long Life (year-round all-purpose) I have never had a complaint or bearing failure, and the engines run flat-tappet hydraulic RV cams and have never wiped a lobe.

Google "pennzoil long life" or "sopus oil" and surf to the product spec sheets.

Remember that Ford is running 5W-20 in their light truck and car engines........my F150 4.6L has 48,000 on it and uses not 1 drop of oil between 7,500 mile changes.

[cadillac_al]

Yes, I think 15-40 is too thick for your 60,000 mile car. I only use it in mine because it is old and loose. The high mileage oils have extra zinc and other anti wear additives. If it were mine I would use a 10-30 oil; I don't know if you even need the high mileage and a synthetic 10-30 might be fine too. When you mentioned 5-30 it kind of sent up a red flag for me but since you explained your oil pressure even the 5-30 might have been just fine. I'm amazed at how nice mine runs with 190,000 miles and it doesn't even smoke or use oil. The only time it had me worried was when the oil light flickered with the 5-30 but it was just showing it's age a little but it's all forgotten now. Yours should live a long life.