Went to the local Tractor Supply today and found the oil I have been looking for. They have 2 brands in stock at a reasonable price.(cheaper than Rotella) First is Mystik (properly spelled) 15/40 semi synthetic with grade CI-4. Second is TS brand called Traveller and it is dino oil,cheap stuff but 15/40 CI-4 graded.

The Mystik is manufactured by the Citgo Co., the Traveller is probably by the same but it doesn't say.


Your probably asking yourself why would someone want to buy old technology oil? Because our trucks are old tech.

Bearkiller mentioned a while back that the old CI grade has more of the "goodies" in it for our old style engines. That was not the first time I heard it and wanted to get the CI but didn't feel like mail ordering oil. Well, now we won't have to. Hopefully they stock it for years to come, but I think I'll have to create a temporary shortage at my local TS.
I used to believe that when an oil upgrading is made it is as good as the old stuff, but improved. We now know that to be untrue and be the same predicament as the new ULSD. Yes I do run the Power Service and Wal Mart 2 stroke TCW 3. I also like to run different oils like Royal Purple in the gearbox and Amsoil in stuff too.The new Rotella is not what it was as is all the CJ-4 oil out there now. They have done away with ingredients that helped the old engines live super long lives. I am not trying to start a debate over oils, etc, I am trying to tell first genners there is a more appropriate oil out there(I believe) for their engines.

 

Rotella still has 1200ppm ZDDP in the CJ rated diesel oil, down only slightly from the previous CI versions. It also has better anti-wear characteristics as proven in testing.

The API SM spec for cars OTOH, may be valid for flat tappet valvetrains. Fear of the new oil ratings as far as the HDEO oil goes is just another Internet myth.

 

You will have to simplify some of the jargon, I don't know exactly what your saying, you are an oil expert so it seems and I am not. i would like to hear your opinions though.

 

As good or almost as good ---
If it's less than Rotella that's good enough for me....
Save $0.50 whenever you can ........

 

ZDDP: zinc dithiophospate. That's the anti-wear agent most people refer to as just zinc. And no, I'm not an oil expert. I just try to find the facts behind the hype when I see stuff posted in Interent forums like this.

The API specs are set by the American Petroleum institute, CI, CJ, etc. There's many of them, but they generally progess to better oils though time, to support better engine technology as required by the vehicle manufacturers. The 1st Gen Cummins oil spec was probably CF or something like that, IIRC.

The zinc fear myth was started by the SM spec for cars. The jury's still out on what validity there was to that, but most muscle car owners or people running flat tappet cams are running diesel HDEOs (Heavy Duty Engine Oil) now to keep the ZDDP levels up for their cams. There have been some failures in high performance valvetrains attributed to SM oils, but we're talking about high lift heavy spring applications, not normal stock engines. But there is obviously some truth to the issue in the case of SM oils.

The zinc fear myth has little or no bearing on the HDEO ratings (CI-CJ). I would run the CJ oils with no worries.

 

STP red and blue both have high concentration of ZDDP, but if you can't find it or CI-4 oil, go to a GM dealership and get a pint of EOS (Engine Oil Supplment). It's loaded with the stuff. It's need for flat tapped cams to reduce friction. Newer engine that have roller cams don't need it and it eventually damages the catalytic converter.

 

I am assuming you are referring to the color of the bottles, right ??

I have never seen STP in anything except Blue plastic 15-oz bottles anywhere around here.

How does the Red differ from the Blue ??


Back in the old-timey days, we had oil racks that we set out front of our filling station each day and had to pack them back inside each night.

STP was in a Blue quart metal can that used the old push-in spouts; we would set it on a coke crate behind the stove for about an hour before we used it, else it would come out of the can in one big cran-berry sauce clump.

A few years later, it came in ring-pull 16-oz metal cans, still Blue, and maybe about half as thick-bodied, meaning it would pour about like real thick molasses.



We also had a dedicated WYNNs rack, with about five different WYNNs products; best I remember, WYNNs had an equivalent product to STP, along with several other remedies.

At that time, there was a WYNNs truck that serviced the WYNNs rack exclusively, and it was not available through any other than a WYNNs dealer.







As to the genuine CI-4 rated 15W-40 oils, John Deere, Conoco, Phillips 66, Kendall, among others still offer it, along with numerous "store brands".


I find it at most Walmarts in one and two gallon blue plastic jugs, Super Tech Universal 15W-40 for Fleet and Farm.



I may be straining at gnats about the politically correct changes that are constantly pushed upon us, but as long as I can buy CI-4 oil, I will not buy the newer watered-down versions.

 

Red is for 4 cylinder cars. I don't know which has more ZDDP, but it's mentioned on the label.