TurboJet

What kind of engine Oil do You all use? I have been told to use two different kinds. Shell Rotella T and Mobil Delvac.

What would be best for my 1999 3500 CTD with 64,000 miles

Thanks,
TurboJet

TE-44

I use the shell rotella,good oil and at a fair price at wally-world

jlells01

Best HDEO 15w-40's:

Chevron Delo 400
Mobil Delvac 1300
Pennzoil Long-Life

All around $6/gallon and available at Wally-World. ;D

Dr. Evil

Jelly, where do you get your info from???

Delo and Delvac are both excellent
Pennzoil.....never heard of anyone using it...

Ruralmedic

Practically ANY current rated heavy duty diesel motor oil is going to perform well in this engine. The CTD is extremely easy on oil.

jlells01

Ruralmedic,

You're right...the Dodge/CTD setup is, at least relatively speaking, very easy on oil, and as you said, any CI-4 oil will work pretty darn good under at least half way decent change intervals.

Dr. Evil,

I've basically learned a great deal off of bobistheoilguy.com

Been a member there now for quite a while, and have learned a great deal about oils in general and how each of them compare to one another, and what makes one oil better or worse than another.

Rotella, at least in my opinion, is kinda like Fram (well, not as bad!): All over the place, great name recognition, but not much to write home about.

Basically, Rotella has a few downsides:

1. Base oil not up to level of compeititors - Up until new CI-4 spec, Rotella was primarily a group I oil, which is the least refined, least expensive, and least desirable oil. Now, they are mostly group II, which is better, but the other three I have mentioned are commonly refferred to as Group II+ oils, because they are so refined and have a high viscosity index.

2. Bad Pour Point - The pour point, or the lowest point where to oil will flow, is not that great with Rotella, coming in around -15F. Delo, Delvac, and Long-Life are all in excess of -30F, with Delo pushing -40F (-39F).

Delo and Delvac are both very good, but at the moment, I'm a big fan of Pennzoil Long-Life, which is a darn good oil:

1. Great base oil
2. Great additive package

The one main thing that seperates Pennzoil from the other 15w-40's is the addition of a good dose of molybdenum to it's additive package, which among other things, serves as a great anti-wear additive, but also has a tendency to greatly reduce oil consumption and any blow-by:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/moly.html
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/blowby.html

Dr. Evil

Thanks.....I guess, Ill spend some time reading some more opinions on oil.

HOHN

I also frequent Bob's site-- it's the oil mecca if there is one.

If I weren't running a synthetic, I would run the Delo. I ran it for one drain, and the engine seemed to like it a lot-- less clatter and lotsa smoothness.

But I am running PB extreme now (5-40). It's pretty decent, especially in the cold. I get almost instant oil pressure and cold starts are a non-issue, even unplugged.

I personally feel that the best oil for the CTD is the Redline 15w-40 diesel oil... But not a lot of us want to pay $30 a gallon!!!! I ran it for 10K miles, and the results were great-- 2psi more boost, and 1.5 more mpg. I thought that was amazing for just an oil change. But the fact is, the CTD will last a very long time on even regular Rotella, so paying FIVE TIMES more for oil probably isn't worthwhile.

It's also well-known the Redline oils have about the highest Moly levels of any oil.

For the record, the Cummins mandate against Moly is NOT against the moly levels in certain oils, but rather is against the aftermarket additives (motor-up, STP, etc). Many of those types of additives contain very high (too high) moly levels.

Redline is PERFECTLY SAFE for a CTD. Perfectly wise spending might be another issue entirely.

I will likely switch back to Redline. It's only money.


Justin

jlells01

"But the fact is, the CTD will last a very long time on even regular Rotella, so paying FIVE TIMES more for oil probably isn't worthwhile."

At least in my opinion, you're exactly right...just no reason to run an oil that cost so much more when you'll pretty much not get any improvement in wear (at least on "regular" change intervals).

Run your CTD on Delo, Delvac, Long-Life, or Rotella, for $6/gallon, don't run super-duper long change intervals, and it will last a long, long time...

Dieseldude4x4

Check this out if you haven't already.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...threadid=22591

Kimrey

Try looking at schaefferoil.com I use there 15-40w. They use moly as well, and have a great base stock. And of course theres Amsoil : If you can get the same oil all the time. There baches of oil aren't always the same. Opps I just started something! :-X

Kimrey

TurboJet

Thanks for all the info.

TurboJet

erics76

We've been using it (pennzoil long life) in our tractors (3) and forklifts (2) for a couple of years. It's approved by cummins and all the other folks that delo and rotella are approved by. Seems to be just fine.

scook6

I just wanted to put in my two cents worth here. I use Vavoline Premium Blue 15W40. It is highly recomended by Cummins, and I kinda go along with what the other fellow said about oil filters; you have a premium engine so why use cheap and quetionable products in it. Because if you spend the extra nickel for the good stuff is still much cheaper than an engine failure and the many dollars that it takes to fix it.






2002 2500 Quad Cab swb Atlantic Blue and silver

RoadDawg

I went to the local Brewbaker Dodge dealer today to get the oil in my 04 HO CTD changed and he informed me I should be changing the oil every 3000 miles. Isn't this a bunch of BS. I have 7500 miles on it w/ only about 600 miles of towing a 3 ton boat. I thought it was way within the suggested oil change schedule. My truck has the early 04 engine what does every one think about this. Also on the ticket it read they put in 15w30 bulk oil castrol do you think this meet the requirements??? thanks everyonr