OIL Question

[GTS Bruce]

01 GTS. Bought my usual M-1 oil filter and going to use M1 5-40 turbo diesel oil this change per recommendations I have found here on the superiority of diesel oils. The question is Rotella turbo diesel 5-40 "full synthetic" is 1/2 the price and more readily avilable. Good enough to use in the Viper next time or is M1 somehow that much superior. GTS Bruce

 

[99 R/T 10]

Cue Tom.....................................

 

[DrumrBoy]

Tom's ears are a burnin' .....he'll be along in a moment or two

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

I have to thank my elves for helping with "notices."

Mobil (actually ExxonMobil) is basic in the manufacture of polyalphaolefins, so they have a competitive advantage if synthetics were only made with PAO (or as the industry calls it, a Group IV type base oil.)

Long ago, Castrol developed an oil they claimed was "synthetic" using a Group III base oil, an exceptionally highly refined oil but originally from crude oil. There was at the time, and still is, no measureable performance difference between Group III and IV that is perceptible to the engine or owner. Mobil challenged the Castrol advertising and lost. Since then (and it has been many many years) a Group III or Group IV based formulation can be marketed as "synthetic."

Shell no doubt uses Group III base oil, has every right to call it synthetic, and it will perform as they claim; a 5W40 diesel meeting the slew of API credentials. Mobil probably uses Group IV base oil, has every right to call it synthetic, and it will perform as they claim; a 5W40 diesel meeting the slew of API credentials. There are probably other reasons to be half the price. However, you won't get any more peformance from Mobil over Shell diesel oil, especially since you have a gasoline engine and are already buying a diesel oil. I recommend that you do your wallet a favor.

 

[plumcrazy]

We really need an oil,lubes and fuel forum. Would make it easier for tom....

Mods ?

 

[Red Shift]

So is Rotella 5w40 Synthetic the forum approved oil for the Viper? Any concerns with the higher 40 weight?

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

No, and I have tried to be "unbranded" with any education. If you ask the questions and remember the answers, you can make better decisions regardless of brand (give a man a fish and he eats one meal, teach him to fish and he eats many meals.) Generally any diesel oil (5W40 or 15W40) is good, as is an oil with European ACEA performance in addition to US API claims (like Mobil 0W40, which was factory fill.)

In the next few years it gets interesting because passenger car oils will have the commonly used phosphorus-containing antiwear additive level further reduced (when API SM begins next year) and eventually the "sulfated ash + phosphorus + sulfur" (SAPS) limits will restrict diesel oils, too. Everyone will need to stay tuned.

 

[Red Shift]

I got ya, that 'type' of oil is the way to go. I used Dino Rotella T in my motorcycle based on others suggestion that it is better resisting wear, can handle a wet clutch and it CHEAP!

I didn't know the car was filled with 0W40. I thought it was 10W30. If factory fill is 40 weight up top that's fine with me. I remember one member advising against my 15W50 fill as the 50 weight may not be best for the valvetrain lubrication.

 

[99 R/T 10]

No, and I have tried to be "unbranded" with any education. If you ask the questions and remember the answers, you can make better decisions regardless of brand (give a man a fish and he eats one meal, teach him to fish and he eats many meals.) Generally any diesel oil (5W40 or 15W40) is good, as is an oil with European ACEA performance in addition to US API claims (like Mobil 0W40, which was factory fill.)

In the next few years it gets interesting because passenger car oils will have the commonly used phosphorus-containing antiwear additive level further reduced (when API SM begins next year) and eventually the "sulfated ash + phosphorus + sulfur" (SAPS) limits will restrict diesel oils, too. Everyone will need to stay tuned.

So Tom, what you are saying is that it would be good to stock pile several hundred gallons of oil now? I think I will shoot to stock up 1000 Gal. of Synth. Diesel oil so as to cover everything I drive..............................

 

[Steve-Indy]

Red Shift, I believe that you'll find that the "factory fill" was changed to 0W-40 in Vipers starting with the 2005 models.

 

[Art 138]

So Tom, what you are saying is that it would be good to stock pile several hundred gallons of oil now? I think I will shoot to stock up 1000 Gal. of Synth. Diesel oil so as to cover everything I drive..............................

Then the question begs the viability of shelf life if you stock up on oil.....

 

[Steve-Indy]

Mobil says 5 years shelf life for the synthetic motor oil line(Mobil 1).

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Well, prices of drums (55 gal) should be cheaper than many many quarts.

I expect that the zinc-phosphorus additive that is being decreased will become available in the aftermarket. I plan to be around in the near future and will **** through the marketing fluff and wanna-be additives to let everyone know what will work. There will be a good, safe "modern oil + additive" combo that will produce a formulation like that used to design and develop our 90's era engines.

PS shelf life of unopened or tightly sealed oil should be at least 5 years.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Steve - Jinx!

 

[Steve-Indy]

Sorry, Tom.

On a serious note, I'm afraid of bulk....especially with respect to the potential mal-distribution of some of the additives. I CAN get Mobil 1's 0W-40 in 55 gallon drumbs, but not in the smaller "kegs" (30gal????). I really like the quarts since that is the best way for me...and, as of early Sept, it was $5.46 per quart here (prices supposedly increased Sept. 15th).

 

[bluesrt]

So Tom, what you are saying is that it would be good to stock pile several hundred gallons of oil now? I think I will shoot to stock up 1000 Gal. of Synth. Diesel oil so as to cover everything I drive..............................

dont do that-it will bite u in the ax- there is allways something or someone out there for a at this time fix- its all about the$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ my friend not the ecology