The other day I was told that the smell from Rotella Oil, ro-smella, is cause from the oil breaking down sulfur deposits in the motor. I had never heard this before. I had to go away from Rotella because the smell was so bad it was almost unbearable. Curious as to know what you guys know. Thanks.

 

I have used Rotell for about 7 years. I use to buy it over the counter, Tractor supply, Walmart, etc. My pnefue works for a local truck center and I have been having him pick me up some in bulk because of his discount price. If I have him get it out of there bulk drum I have the smell. If I purchase it over the counter in gallon or 2-1/2 gallon jugs I have "NO" smell. I think that they put some kind of smell reduction agent in the over the counter stuff is the only thing I can come up with. I have done this several times and this falls true every time. Bulk has smell, over the counter no smell. Between him and I we have over 600,000 miles on 3 trucks with out any problems. How do you or your service shop buy it, bulk of in jugs? Hope this helps

 

Well thats interesting. I have only ever bought it over the counter, same places walmart, tractor supply places alike. No matter which place, Stinks.

 

I would not think there would be any sulfur in the oil since it would create an acid in oil pan. Most oils use to have, to combat that very thing, a alkiline to neutralize the sulfur, called a Total Base number. TBN. Sulfur in oil will eat the bearings out if it gets out of hand.

My previous truck was really bad about the smell. The 06 does not have that problem. The only time I smell it is when I shut it down and get out and walk around the front of the truck.

 

I only have the smell when the oil is ready to be changed, or I run the truck really hard. I'm coming up on my 5k change, and I smell it every time I shut it down.

 

My 06 had the smell the few weeks after an oil change. I bought my 3gal jugs over the counter at Auto Zone.

 

MadHat says it smells when it's time to change, and mine smells from the first start up on the new oil. Then as time rolls on it goes away. I can hardly smell anything related to the oil after a couple thousand miles get on the oil. That's weird.
Everyone seems to have a different condition. Wonder if it's more environmental related than engine condition? Maybe some are in hotter or cooler or damper or dryer air, or driving different maybe? I never noticed the over the counter NOT smelling and sometimes reeally strongly too. Haven't had a chance to try bulk but sure would like the discount. LoL

 

That's funny you mention that. I used Rotella a bunch of times 1 gal jugs and never noticed the smell. Had my oil changed last winter at BigO, got Rosmella, bulk I presume and the truck stunk so bad I stopped twice in the fist couple hundred miles looking for a oil leak!

 

Thats exactly the way my 2000 3500 was. The 2000 Dodge Cummins vented the crankcase on the front of the engine into that spit toon so to speak. The smell would be picked up by the A/C system when the HVAC was set to bring the outside air into the truck. Really bad. It was necessary to use the A/C on the recirculate setting to keep the Smella out of the cab.

I do not know how an 03 is vented, but it sounds like its vented similar to the
2000 I had.

 

I switched to Mobil Delvac 15-40. No smell and built-in pour spout on the gallon jug.

 

A lot of oil when new will have a smell this has been talked about on here and other web sites. It is not to be worried about. This was brought up back in 03 that I cam remember and it might go back before that.

 

I agree from what research that I have done that it does not have a negitive effect on the motor, just the annoying smell. However I do think that it is very interesting how there is such a large variable into when the smell occurs, and how differant in potency there is. I mean I get the smell horrible when driving, idling, for first 1,000 miles, with over the counter 1 gallon jugs. Others come when due for a oil change. Some when only in bulk. So to say that it is caused from new oil, I don't believe is correct (however I am no oil scientist). As cdennb said, I wonder if could be enviroment, (weather, altitude) related? I switched to Valvonline Premium Blue, no smell so far at about 500 miles. I am going to try and get in contact with Rotella and see if they produce us an answer.