Dealer says my engine is leaking oil because it is synthetic.. BS?

[Chris-St Louis]

You are welcome...
Remember though, I am still a student on this... This topic is insanely complex to me.

 

[nolift911]

Lots of good info here - and this is interesting because I was going to post a question about this very thing. I have a 01 with 151k on it, no issues and zero leaks (yeah that is right zero leaks)

Since I am going to have this for awhile and it has turned into my DD for financial reasons I wanted to protect it for the "longer" haul. Been using Mobil high mileage dino - 10w40 summer - 30w winter. So I was going to switch to synthetic - but my question I was going to post was waht about leaking - which it sounds like - yes it will leak after 151k of dino. So that problem is solved.

So I am reading that Shell Rotella is the BEST way to go year round (especially in VA, weather wise) 15w 40w correct? (just want to be sure this is not for diesels) and this is not a synthetic correct?

As far as it is available everywhere? I could not even tell you that I have seen this oil on any shelves at any parts stores I have been too - could be wrong, could be looking in the wrong place but?

So if Shell Rotella 15w 40 is the way to go for my 2001 with 151k - where do I get it?

Thanks -

 

[bishop13]

As far as it is available everywhere? I could not even tell you that I have seen this oil on any shelves at any parts stores I have been too - could be wrong, could be looking in the wrong place but?

I think they only sell Rotella by the gallon. I've seen it at both Kragen and Autozone (not sure about Pep Boys) for about $13-14 for the jug.

 

[Chris-St Louis]

Actaully, Rotella is a diesel oil, but thats ok. For a flat tappet engine, the sheer rating is goign to help.

Shoot, I see it everywhere...Auto part stores, Truck Stops, Walmart.

As far as the best.... I like it because its Cheap, fits the bill and meets the grade. Other oils do too, but cost more, or arent avalible everywhere... Best bet is to check the spec sheet of the oil in question.

 

[Jupiter Rover]

FWIW, I got my 04 D2 with a little over 100,000 km on it and it didn't leak a drop. First oil change I switched to synthetic and within days I could smell oil getting on the exhaust manifold, leaking from the valve cover gasket.

What's your point? jw

 

[saint]

I bought a '95 d1 with 89,000 on it and went to amsoil 5w40 european formula, ran great till i lifted it, then leaks. Change seals fine. Sold that bought 01' d2 with 40,000 ran the same oil lifted it leaked change whatever seals fine. D1 was from wisconsin second was from texas? I live in wisconsin. Anyway I've always had foreign vechicles and motorcycles and have used Amsoil in all . Having grown up with this as a local product I've been happy with it. No more leaks.

 

[Dallas]

Thats why I use Total Ineo MC3 its a 5w30 with the HTHS equal to most synthetic 5w40 oils and its low saps. Meets all the newest standards like BMW LL o4 which takes timing chain wear into consideration, VW 505.01 one of the hardest standards for valve train wear. Very good write up by the way.:applause:

I used Rotella 15-40, and woudl advise just about everyone too use it. But let me at least tell you why.The HD Diels 15W-40 products have a High Temperature High Shear (HTHS) rating that is similar to the ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4 and C3 ratings. Plus, the ZDDP has been reduced making it safe for Cats and O2 sensor. Some guys think being a diesel 15W-40 oil is why the cams last longer,becuase it had hgiher ZDDP freaked when it was reduced,but the real difference is the HTHS and similar requirements.

SAE xx rates oil viscosity at 100C/212F

SAE xxW rates oil viscosity at one temperature that is well
below zero but varies depending on the rating (IE: -35)

HTHS rates oil viscosity and shear at 150C/302F

All SAE 0W-30,5W-30,10W-30,0W-40,5W-40 and 10W-40 ratings have the exact same minimum HTHS requirements. (2.9 at 150C/302F) . So a 10W-40 is NOT necessarily any thicker at 150C than a 0W-30.

An SAE 0W-30 that is also ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4 or C3 approved has a minimum HTHS requirement of 3.5 at 150C/302F

So an ACEA A3/B4 approved SAE 0W-30 is actually required to be much thicker at 150C/302F and provide far better HTHS shear protection than an SAE 10W-40 that is not ACEA A3/B4 approved is required to provide. YES, a 0W-30 can be thicker than a 10W-40!!!

SAE 15W-40 has special requirements that exceed the individual "15W" and "40". The include a minimum HTHS of 3.7 at 150C/302F.

Typical SAE 10W-40 and SAE 20W-50 products are discouraged by virtually EVERY OEM and they are not approved by any OEM for use in modern cars. So, many oil companies that make them use their cheapest base stocks in these products and the result is inferior protection when compared to other modern oil products. These 10W-40 and 20W-50 products do NOT share the ZDDP limits that the more common ILSAC approved 5W-30 and 5W-20 products have, but the absence of those strict ZDDP limits in 10W-40 and 20W-50 has not shown any real advantage in camshaft protection (or anything else).

The ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4 or C3 ratings will insure that the oil provides good protection under HTHS conditions. You can find these ratings in the Castrol Syntec 0W-30, Mobil 1 0W-40, Valvoline Synpower 5W-40 and other similar products. These products will be thin enough to allow the flow
required to flush away abrasives and will still provide the required high temperature high sheer protection. I like Rotella. It fits.

You will NOT find that approval in Mobil 1 5W-30, Mobil 1 10W-30, Mobil 1 0W-30, Castrol Syntec 5W-30, Valvoline Synpower 5W-30 or other seemingly similar products. These are NOT the correct oil products for with flat tappet lifters, like the Land Rover V8

BRAND MEANS NOTHING!!!!!!!! If you turn the bottle over and it does not say that it is ACEA A3/B3 (or A3/B4, or C3) approved, then it does NOT meet that approval!

So, using Mobil 1 is NOT the answer, using Castrol Syntec is NOT the answer, and using Valvoline Synpower is NOT the answer. Only certain products within those lines (and others) meet the requirements.

Anything that has ANY of the following approvals will NOT meet the requirements you need to protect the 1960s Tech, flat tappet lifters engine that Land Rover Used:

ACEA A1/B1, A5/B5, C1, C2 GM 6094M, 4718M ILSAC GF-4

The choice is yours. I like Rotella.

 

[adriatic04]

look for rotella in the diesel section, usually not with all the conventional engine oils. some places have it in quarts, but usually just gallons. I like it during the summer, I suppose even in the cold winters of northern ohio I can run it, but got worried it was too cold sitting outside.

 

[Alabama Rover]

So then it is safe to say that the Valvoline High Mileage I just bought is not worth a crap, and I should just go get some Rotella. If this is correct let me know

 

[BackInA88]

I just started running Rotella synthetic 5-40, switched from Mobil 1 20-50.
I have read good things about it and it runs about $20 a gallon around here.
We'll see how it does?


Steve

 

[Chris-St Louis]

So then it is safe to say that the Valvoline High Mileage I just bought is not worth a crap, and I should just go get some Rotella. If this is correct let me know

Dunno. I havent seen the spec sheet.... Take a look. If it meets ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4 or C3 and has a sheer of 3.5 then it will be ok. If not, then your engine is asking for more then that oil can provide.

 

[Papillon]

I sent the following questions to Shell about Rotella T:

What is the High Temperature High Shear (HTHS) rating and ACEA
rating of Shell Rotella T 5W-40 Synthetic motor oil? Does it pass VW 505.01
ratings?

Thank you.

Shell's Reply:

"'We do not normally give out the HTHS rating.

http://www.shellusserver.com/products/pdf/RotellaTSynthetic.pdf

We have not applied for an ACEA rating and it does not meet VW
505.01. Thank you for your interest in Shell products.

Richard Moore'"

Chris, where did you get your shear rating for Rotella nonsyntheic 15W-40?

 

[Chris-St Louis]

Its been a while. I think I got it from their website.


Interesting reply. If one didnt ask, you would think it would be jsut the greatest oil for everything! More marketing genius!

You could look at the Manufacture specs the oil meets, and see what the min sheer rating is by manufacture(mac,Cat,etc)

 

[Epsom_D2]

I'm with Chris on the choice of Rotella 15-W40. I have about 75k on my 04 and it is in for a new short block for unassociated reasons (cam bearings worn through due to other failure in the cam), but when they tore down the engine the mechanic said he had never seen an engine that was so clean. Rotella 15-40 every 3k will do that for you (any oil changed regularly may do the same, but I believe in the stuff).

I tried Royal Purple when the engine was young (only time I would switch between dino and synthetic due to seals, etc.) and I didn't like the sound of the engine (sounded like the oil was too light). I ended up changing the oil back to Rotella after 500 miles. I also experimented with Mobil 1 and Castrol Syntec and found that the engine never sounded or felt as smooth with those oils.

Just think about this from a value standpoint. I can change my oil with Rotella 3 times for what it would cost me to do one oil change with Mobil 1. I don't care what they say about it having detergents which will allow you to drive it 10k before a change, when the oil looks black it is leaving deposits behind which are doing damage and costing you money.

Just my $.02,
S-P

 

[Scott]

Maybe I missed it but what about the Rotella T 15/40 synthetic? Or do they only make the 15/40 in synthetic. I read a while back on here that the diesel oils are very high in detergents for the cleaning of the diesel motors internals. I also did some searching and could not find anything about Mobil1 15/50 and where it ranks. Walmart around here (allen tx) has mobil1 15/50 for $26 for a 5qt jug. Any thoughts on this? A while back I used Rotella 15/40 but stopped because I could not find it as easy as mobil 15/50.

 

[Chris-St Louis]

I wonder if we are talking the same oil. Mobil 15w50 is a outstanding oil. Mobil doesnt show the specs for sheer,http://www.mobil.com/Canada-English/Lubes/PDS/IOCAENPVLMOMobil_1_15W-50.asp, but the manufactures requirements are for a 3.5 sheer, and, and this is a biggie, it meets VW505.00, (VW 505.00 Oil for diesel engines without extended oil fill change interval (15000 km – 1 year), HTHS viscosity min. 3.5 mPa-s, ACEA B3 + additional VW tests),many oils cant cut it because they cant handle it. Thats the oil spec for VWs overhead cam diesels (1.9 ALH, 505.01 is the BEH engine) and it really is hard on the cam/lifters.

This oil is just fine for a Rover V8, might even say overkill!

Sorry, FOund the sheer....http://www.mobil.com/Canada-English/Lubes/PDS/iocaenpvlmomobil_1_15w-50.pdf


5.11!!!! Very good!

 

[Chris-St Louis]

http://www.imakenews.com/lng/e_article001070476.cfm?x=b2TtsCv,0,w


Relevant Article 2 out of 19 oils do not do what they say.

 

[barrios35]

Interesting thread Chris. Thanks for the sharing.

I have been using Mobil 1 5w30 Fully Synth. Looking at the specs does not seem to meet the requirements. Am I looking at this wrong? That being said I have been running it for a while now and seems like the lifter noise is louder than usual. I am a rookie at this and though that all I had to worry about was the SAE grade. Turns out there is more.

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil1_5W-30.asp#ProductDescriptionTitle

Rotella 15w40 is a good deal at Walmart 11 bucks a gallon. And I think that I will make the switch. Will it do well in the Chicago winter? Truck is garage kept.

Also have a 1994 Jeep Wrangler can I dump Rotella in it to? I use Castrol Synthetic for that one now.

 

[Chris-St Louis]

The oil you linked is a little light in Sheer Rating, so I woudl advise agsint it. For a flat tappet, look for something at least 3.5.

Is the Jeep a flat tappet engine too? I cant remember.

 

[barrios35]

The oil you linked is a little light in Sheer Rating, so I woudl advise agsint it. For a flat tappet, look for something at least 3.5.

Is the Jeep a flat tappet engine too? I cant remember.

I have know idea. How do I find out?

So the Rotella good to go in the Chicago Winter?