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Rotella T6 Change Interval

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Old Apr 25, 2016 | 06:34 PM
  #1  
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Year: 1996 Two Door Wagoneer
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Default Rotella T6 Change Interval

I switched to Rotella T6 about a year and a half ago. But I kept the same 5000 mile change interval I used with regular oil. This last change I decided to go to owners manual interval of 7500 miles.

Question for you T6 users, what interval are you changing at?

The engine now has 257500 miles on it and remains a strong runner.

(Sorry, I could not find this on the forum search. Thought I had seen it before but could not find it.)
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Old Apr 25, 2016 | 08:05 PM
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Originally Posted by HappyTrails
I switched to Rotella T6 about a year and a half ago. But I kept the same 5000 mile change interval I used with regular oil. This last change I decided to go to owners manual interval of 7500 miles.

Question for you T6 users, what interval are you changing at?

The engine now has 257500 miles on it and remains a strong runner.

(Sorry, I could not find this on the forum search. Thought I had seen it before but could not find it.)
Just curious about how the t6 performs since I've been debating about switching over myself. I'm currently running Mobil 1 HM. Do you notice and obvious improvements with t6?
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Old Apr 25, 2016 | 08:48 PM
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I go 8-10k with it. I closely check the condition of the oil around the 8k mile mark and change it as it gets dirty.
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Old Apr 25, 2016 | 09:54 PM
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Originally Posted by jopez_89
Just curious about how the t6 performs since I've been debating about switching over myself. I'm currently running Mobil 1 HM. Do you notice and obvious improvements with t6?
I switched to it because of the superior additives that are now missing from all other oil. See the write up by Salad. Extensive, thorough, and convincing. Search Rotella and Salad Dressing, or something like that.

As for performance, it seems to make a higher oil pressure than dinosaur oil especially when hot. Often it is a bit over the 60 mark. I presume the valve is relieving it at that point. But I also know that high pressure might mean lower flow. It is the flow that lubricates, not the pressure. But also I am sure there is still plenty of flow by design of that engine.

Overall, per Salad, the benefits are invisible. Just more engine life in the long run.
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Old Apr 25, 2016 | 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by s346k
I go 8-10k with it. I closely check the condition of the oil around the 8k mile mark and change it as it gets dirty.
It looked pretty dirty today when I changed it at 7400 miles.
I have never gone 10000 on an oil change.

At 5000 I was changing oil every two months.

Thanks.
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Old Apr 25, 2016 | 11:10 PM
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I only put 5000 miles a year on my XJ, so I just change it every 6+ months. More worried about blowby, oxidation, and the filter falling apart than using up the oil. Wish I had an oil burning heater!
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Old Apr 26, 2016 | 05:39 AM
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A visual check can't really tell you much if anything about oil. Do a UOA at 7500 to get an idea of its condition and how much farther you can push it. 8-10k might be possible. If you want to push for 7500+ OCI, you're going to have to either use a special oil filter or be willing to change the oil filter every 5000 anyway because most oil filters cannot sustain extended OCI's.
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Old Apr 26, 2016 | 05:47 AM
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I change mine at around 7,000. My next oil change will be at 280,000 miles. I use the Purolator pure one 30001 filter every time.
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Old Apr 26, 2016 | 05:53 AM
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New to the jeep world, but not the car world. Just picked up a 99 with 252xxx. Does rottella t6 only come in one weight(5w40) or are there other options of t6? (5w30, 10w40)

Just curious because i would like to keep this engine going as long as possible.
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Old Apr 26, 2016 | 08:56 AM
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Originally Posted by teamarctic
New to the jeep world, but not the car world. Just picked up a 99 with 252xxx. Does rottella t6 only come in one weight(5w40) or are there other options of t6? (5w30, 10w40)

Just curious because i would like to keep this engine going as long as possible.
Just that one weight as far as I have ever seen. Usually about 20-25 bucks a gallon jug.
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Old Apr 26, 2016 | 09:11 AM
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I do 5000. I know it can go longer, but it's not a daily driver so after 5000 it's been in there a while so that is the number I use.
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Old Apr 26, 2016 | 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by HappyTrails
Just that one weight as far as I have ever seen. Usually about 20-25 bucks a gallon jug.
It also comes in 0w40, but I believe that is only common in extreme northern areas (Canada, Alaska, etc.) in winter. 5w40 is the only weight of T6 I've ever see available locally here in PA. T5 (synthetic-blend) is available in more weights (10w30, 10w40, 15w40).
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Old Apr 27, 2016 | 10:08 PM
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5k.
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Old Apr 28, 2016 | 10:55 AM
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Originally Posted by HappyTrails
I switched to it because of the superior additives that are now missing from all other oil. See the write up by Salad. Extensive, thorough, and convincing. Search Rotella and Salad Dressing, or something like that.

As for performance, it seems to make a higher oil pressure than dinosaur oil especially when hot. Often it is a bit over the 60 mark. I presume the valve is relieving it at that point. But I also know that high pressure might mean lower flow. It is the flow that lubricates, not the pressure. But also I am sure there is still plenty of flow by design of that engine.

Overall, per Salad, the benefits are invisible. Just more engine life in the long run.
I read that entire commentary by salad... probably the best 4.0L engine and oil overview I've ever come across. He has me convinced to change from M1 High Mileage to Rotella T6 Synthetic..


My concern... not sure it's really a concern, I recently had my engine sealed up and has zero leaks. Does T6 have any advantage or disadvantage over M1 High Mileage in terms of conditioning the seals?


.
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Old Apr 28, 2016 | 11:08 AM
  #15  
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Year: 1998
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All my oil would have leaked out of the engine by 7,000 miles. I guess that means I'm on the continuous quart-at-a-time oil change cycle...

Once I plug the Deepwater Horizon I'll do 5k for the first time and send a sample to Blackstone.
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