New Shell Rotella T with triple protection

[caddydaddy]

Originally Posted by 92EldoTC

a remote starter sounds like a good idea when the snow is so thick that it would be hard to open the door.

I LOVE the remote starter on my Deville! It helps when it's really cold to get the ice semi-melted off the windows. And it's good in the summer to get the car cooled down when it's really hot out.

[caddeville]

15w 40 made my 4.1 run like shit, lifters tick, sometimes tap when fully warmed. When i was running 10w 30 with lucas oil stabilizer, its ran smooth, quiet, no ticking, nothing. I'm switching back. And also, the oil passeges are thin as a pencil on these....i'm sorry engines. I'm not really feeling the sludge build up. All in all i'm pretty pissed off. I also have remote start, 2 different emobilizers, and alarm.

[92EldoTC]

Originally Posted by caddeville

15w 40 made my 4.1 run like shit, lifters tick, sometimes tap when fully warmed. When i was running 10w 30 with lucas oil stabilizer, its ran smooth, quiet, no ticking, nothing. I'm switching back. And also, the oil passeges are thin as a pencil on these....i'm sorry engines. I'm not really feeling the sludge build up. All in all i'm pretty pissed off. I also have remote start, 2 different emobilizers, and alarm.

thats why it ran bad because the 15-40 was too thick to get through those oil passages and circulate through the engine.
best weight for a 4.1 is 10-30.
I dont know much about the 4.1 but it sounds like they dont respond good to any changes if they run worse with a different weight oil.

[MachX]

I think what he is saying is that the heavier oil will sink to the bottom of the crank case, and the lighter oil will sit on top. The problem is worse when it's cold because they probably won't mix very well.

[JohnnyO]

Or try the Rotella Synthetic 5w-40, at least for winter. For a synthetic it doesn't cost much.

[aliter]

If you check out the info on the newer version of Rotella (new one says Triple Protection) you will find that it has reduced levels of ZDP which is, from what I have read and learned on this site and others, is what is so good for the Cadillac gas engine because it is "the best" anti-wear agent if you are willing to deal with potential looong term damage to catalytic converter (which I am). From what I read, in order to be certified to the new EPA standards regarding new diesel fuel (don't recall the letters at the moment), the level of ZDP is capped at a much lower level. Maybe they have made up for it in other ways with other compounds...but I still bet the "old" Rotella is the better one to use for the reasons that Cadillac people are using it in gas engines. The new Rotella started shipping in the last couple of months, but I bet you will still be able to find a store with a supply of the old formulation.

I recently contacted Amsoil with some questions to find out which of their oils has the most ZDP in it. They can't give out the numbers...but I got them to roughly rank it. I called Amsoil directly...not a dealer or a 3rd party. Their diesel oils (the synthetic equivalent of something LIKE Rotella) had much more (he said about twice as much or more) ZDP than any of their gasoline oils. I don't know how it compares to OTHER brands as far as ZDP level is concerned. Out of the Amsoil product line, the 5W40 diesel oil had the most ZDP...followed "very closely" by the full synthetic version of 15W40...then the blended 15W40. Amsoil 15W40 full synthetic diesel formulation is what I am considering using to get the benefit of all the ZDP (and other heavy duty additives) that we love about Rotella while also benefitting to whatever degree from the synthetic formulation...for me that means being able to go longer between changes. I had a baaaaaaaaad experience at an oil change place...essentially a 12 year old trying to change my oil created a big problem! So I try to limit the amount of times that I subject my car to someone else's hand since I haven't really found a mechanic I trust where I currently live. Although I would never let my oil go as long as the company says it can (up to 1 yr seems a long time!!), I'm comfortable with 6 mos. on something like Amsoil. My engine is a freshly installed remanufactured 4100, so I have put alot of thought and reaearch into this.

Everyone has opinions and I am definitely no expert...but I am definitely very curious to know how the newer Triple Protection formulation will compensate for the reduced ZDP which is (from all the threads I read) the main reason that we use Rotella in the first place...heavier anti-wear protection. Everyone should be aware that this newer formulation is definitely different than the one that people have been posting about for years...for better or worse I don't know.

[C66 Racing]

Originally Posted by aliter

If you check out the info on the newer version of Rotella (new one says Triple Protection) you will find that it has reduced levels of ZDP which is, from what I have read and learned on this site and others, is what is so good for the Cadillac gas engine because it is "the best" anti-wear agent if you are willing to deal with potential looong term damage to catalytic converter (which I am).

I agree... be very careful of what you read in advertising and do your own research.

To reduce pollution the EPA and API significantly changed the regulations applying to 2007 and later diesel engines. This includes a new ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel required to be used in 2007 and later diesel engines and a new oil spec, API CJ-4. The ULSD spec lowers the sulfur in the fuel from 500 ppm to 15 ppm. The CJ-4 standard puts limits on the oil additives including ZDDP anti-wear additives.

Due to the negative effects of sulfated ash, phosphorus (which limits ZDDP additives) and sulfur on diesel engine particulate filters, ASTM agreed to accept limititations in these areas and incorporate new additive chemistry for diesel oil category CJ-4. Sulfated ash provides lubricity and alkalinity (TBN) to counteract acid formation during combustion. While most API CI-4 Plus oils are composed of 1.5% ash, new CJ-4 diesel oils are limited to 1.0% ash, dropping TBN levels from 10 to 14 with average CI-4 Plus oils to 8 to 9 with CJ-4 oils. AMSOIL does make a new CJ-4, but they recommend sticking with CI-4 for pre-2007 diesel engines.

Bottom line is that in my opinion you really want to stay away from CJ-4 diesel oils and stick with CI-4 diesel oils. As mentioned above, AMSOIL carries several diesel oils that do not meet the more restrictive CJ-4 standard for those that prefer to use a diesel oil in their vehicles (listed in order of decreasing cost):
AMSOIL Series 3000 Synthetic 5w30 Heavy Duty Diesel Oil (this is what I use in my F350 turbo diesel)
AMSOIL Synthetic 5w40 European Motor Oil
AMSOIL SAE 15w40 Heavy Duty Diesel Oil
AMSOIL Synthetic Blend 15w40 Diesel Oil