CommanderXJ

I was at wally world a few days ago and noticed that they started carrying a new line of shell rotella that I haven't seen before.

It was encased in a silver jug and sold at the 10w30 weight and apparently it's synthetic blend. It's about 16 bucks per gallon and I was thinking about picking it up but held off on it until I could hear some comments.

I am running shell rotella regular diesel oil at the 10w30 weight and it's worked out fine for me so far. But since it's getting hot here in the summer I was thinking of either upping it to 15w40 or trying out the new synthetic blend from the rotella line.

What do you guys think, any of you tried it yet? If so, how does it differ, and is it worth it over the regular stuff.

Also quick note, I know this has been asked a bunch before but how does your jeep fare if you use the 15w40 weight? My cherokee is relatively young (mileage wise it's got almost 120k) I am just wondering if running a heavier weight oil would be smart at this stage or would it put unnecessary load on the engine?

mwdouglas

unfortunately i work for wally world in the tire lube department and i have cust. who has used it and said that they like it better than the reg rotella

A_Jeepr

think about it, it all comes from the same well, and the syn stuff, is just plastic....you choose, hell a engine will run on transmission oil if you had to.

ken72

What the benefits in running a heavier oil? I run 10w 40 and it works pretty good.

mwdouglas

ive got 200+ miles on mine i run a 30 weight if i run a 10/30 or 40 it tends to knock a little at running temp but runs quiet

4jeepers

I have been using Rotella 15-40 for years in my personal vehicles and my Freightliner for years and have had no problems. It's rated API as most other oils are.

djb383

Not sure there are any benefits to heavier oil but definitely some negatives...........thicker runs hotter, robs horsepower and takes longer to get from the pan up to the valves at start-up, etc., etc.

http://www.supramania.com/aehaas/

Russian

the synthetic portion of it can loosen up engine gunk that was sealing old, brittle gaskets and can create new leaks. i had the unfortunate opportunity of owning a camry that had 170k when i bought it. i used castrol gtx high mileage in my next oil change and after that it went through a quart every 2 weeks...

cheepxj

but since its thicker it wont drain off the top end when you shut down the engine so you wont have a dry start. i was taught that by ase tech at my school. he always ran 10w40 or 50 in all of his cars and trucks. i use 20w40 in my s10 and its got over 200k and when my cherokee needs an oil change thats what im puttin in it.

CommanderXJ

Any more opinions?

N20jeep

do it, and dont forget to make a video...

djb383

Doesn't take long for the oil myths to get started. Would imagine some ase techs have perpetuated some of the myths. Don't automotive engineers know that thicker stays up on top better so why would virtually all automotive manufacturers recommend thinner motor oils over the years, not thicker.

RENIXBEAST

I run rotella 15-40 and mine runs awesome on it. Stops all my little ticks and starts up fine, no dry start at all.

A_Jeepr

5 qts Amalie 10w-30, and a bottle of Lucas oil stabilizer FWT, it works.

whowey

There is more in play for the US manufacturers than just what actually works better.

The stupid CAFE standards bring their ugly heads in what OEM manufacturers use in their engines. One of the reasons Euro manufacturers still use xx-w40's and xx-w50's, no CAFE standards to deal with. (Also one of the MAJOR reasons that Ford has SUVs coming out with 5w-20 in them, but with short OCI's)