Rotella T4 vs T6

[JRH02]

I don't get it. Is there some magic to Rotella Synth? Additives? The neighbor said so?

I run MobileOne in EVERYTHING except 2 cycles. Diesel or gas. From ATV/UTV to the splitter to the generators, etc and the big 'ol 410j. They love it. And me too. In fact I only buy 5w30 for all of it. Only the 40+ year old Kubuta engine gets 10w30 in the summer then to 5w30. Clean inside everything too, that I can see, from the top. But I've not had to go into anything. Only in the gearbox of the Kubota did I bite the bullet and buy 1 jug of Amsoil Hyd/Ger oil at $75 per gallon. The rest of the fill was 1.5g of leftover fresh Mobile1 of weights I don't use anymore. It went from noisy to only slightly noisy.

$20-$25 bucks a jug for Mobile1. I double the change time on everything. If the lube looks darker than before 2x I am suspect. And the Synth drain oil from gas engines is WONDERFUL bar and chain lube to thin stuff out in the winter.

My first step if something weird is to change the filter and to off. Check oil color ongoing. Filters are interesting and they can change your whole view of things. Have you ever busted open a filter and looked? Ever send oil samples for analysis? Just a few times on a few units will tell you. For a few bucks, when the analysis comes back good, wonderful or not. Do you have a place to submit a sample?

To me, all these wars on oils are crazy. Synthetic wins. The use is important like a gear box/hyd vs engine oil. But you watch it - engine, box and hydraulics it will save you bunches. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BUY $75/g engine oil.

 

[big bubba]

I don't get it. Is there some magic to Rotella Synth? Additives? The neighbor said so? Jrh02

Good point. Am considering Mobil 1 as well for T6 alternative. What 5/40 Mobil diesel rated oil catches your attention? Not into snake oil additives, want a good solid base oil more avail than T6
think there are a few choices, thx

 

[jyoutz]

T6 is full synthetic. T4 is conventional. T5 is semi synthetic.

I switched to Valvoline Blue full synthetic 5W40 in my truck & tractor and like it. I've always used Valvoline in all my other non-diesel apps & it's always been excellent. I feel like Shell kinda dumped on all us regular guys when they were only selling to fleets and we couldn't get it.

I did the same. And Valvoline is the only diesel oil endorsed by Cummins.

 

[coast40]

Oil test results, in a LONG page. I haven't built an engine yet so I can't verify the results, but I changed my gas pickups to his top oil choice. There is a lot of tech and opinion. MOTOR OIL ENGINEERING TEST DATA

 

[gstrom99]

I always add a bottle of zink additive to my diesels and older (non-roller cam) engines.

 

[Robin Veerman]

I’m not comfortable playing Mr. Chemist. If you need oil with extra ZDDP, the best procedure is to use oil that already contains the additive mixed in the proper dosage.

Too much ZDDP can do almost as much harm than not enough.

High levels of ZDDP can begin clogging the lubricant-carrying crevices in the cylinder wall, which can then cause the engine to burn oil…and because ZDDP is acidic it will shorten the oil change interval.

 

[nyone]

I recently bought three gallons, @ Amazon. I looked up Shell's rebate site, and it appears Amazon is not a "participating retailer", so not eligible.

That's why you have to read the rebate. FYI tractor supply hasn't been on there approved vendor list for a few years.

 

[blee03]

Im still having a hard time finding 5w40 T6 around here. Seems when them blue jug t6 oils started coming back in stock, they were all 15w40. And at that point, I begin to question whether the t6 in 15w40 is worth the extra money over the T4

I didn't even know they made T6 in 15w-40,
the only T6 I see around here is 5W-40.

If they made T4 in 5w-40, I'd run that in the winter instead of T6 I run now

 

[Robin Veerman]

If they made T4 in 5w-40, I'd run that in the winter instead of T6 I run now

Huh? Why wouldn’t you want synthetic oil for winter use?

 

[blee03]

If they made T4 in 5w-40, I'd run that in the winter instead of T6 I run now

Huh? Why wouldn’t you want synthetic oil for winter use?

Oil viscosity is my main concern for easier starting in the cold weather.
Synthetic is better, but good ole dino oil is just fine too. Rarely do I buy synthetic oils

 

[big bubba]

Shell Rotella T4 vs T5 vs T6 (Sep Updated)

comparemotoroils.com

 

[Tony H]

Locally after a two week search some T6 finally showed up nd it was the local Walmart.

I bought an extra gallon just in case.

IIRC it was about $24 a gallon.

Funny, I was having the other issue. My Walmart was not stocking 2.5gallon T4. I wasn't going to pay the extra$ for the 1 gallon jugs. Finally got some at Tractor Supply Corp. Tried for 2 months, whenever traveled that way.. . Walmart could not tell me when they were getting delivery. Frustrating, they had plenty of pricey T6.

 

[sd455dan]

Funny, I was having the other issue. My Walmart was not stocking 2.5gallon T4. I wasn't going to pay the extra$ for the 1 gallon jugs. Finally got some at Tractor Supply Corp. Tried for 2 months, whenever traveled that way.. . Walmart could not tell me when they were getting delivery. Frustrating, they had plenty of pricey T6.

Yeah, still no 2.5 gallon T6 5w-40 around here no 5 gallon buckets either.

 

[jyoutz]

Correct spelling is DEMORATS!

I read someplace that T6 and Valvoline is the
same as T6 and when I need oil again I will
be purchasing the Valvoline and forget the T6.

Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme vs Shell Rotella T6 | CompareMotorOils

Both of the engine oils are specially formulated for heavy-duty diesel engines. They are made from superior synthetic base stock (group IV) and advanced

comparemotoroils.com

willy

It’s not the same product, but Valvoline synthetic is very good oil, and endorsed by Cummins. It may in fact be superior to T6.

 

[5030]

No matter what lubricant I use, gearbox, crankcase or final drive, it always gets an addition of AR6100. Buy the stuff by the gallon. Don't take much either.

 

[deserteagle71]

Funny, I was having the other issue. My Walmart was not stocking 2.5gallon T4. I wasn't going to pay the extra$ for the 1 gallon jugs. Frustrating, they had plenty of pricey T6.

That's interesting. Wonder if location has something to do with it. For the past 3 years or so I've been buying T4 in gallon jugs at Walmart (still by far the cheapest place around) because when I did the math, buying T4 in 2.5 gallon jugs or even the 5 gallon pails, buying by the gallon was up to a dollar a gallon cheaper.

Haven't seen any T6 at Walmart in over a year. They get a shipment of T4 every couple months or so and within a couple days it is all gone.

 

[nyone]

I did the math, buying T4 in 2.5 gallon jugs or even the 5 gallon pails, buying by the gallon was up to a dollar a gallon cheaper

So many people dont do the math and think buying a big container means cheaper. I only generaly buy 1gal jugs just like you because I found it to be cheaper. I have bought a few 2.5gal jugs or 5gal jugs when theres a good rebate and that's all that's available localy.

 

[sd455dan]

So many people dont do the math and think buying a big container means cheaper. I only generaly buy 1gal jugs just like you because I found it to be cheaper. I have bought a few 2.5gal jugs or 5gal jugs when theres a good rebate and that's all that's available localy.

That goes without saying. Not that hard, just basic math.

I agree Walmart was selling one gallon containers of T-6 cheaper than in the 2.5 gallon size.

But right now the only containers I have seen here were the 1 gallon ones and only at Walmart.

Oreilly's, Autozone, North 40, No T6 5w-40 in any size.

Sure miss the BIG rebate deals they were doing a few years back...

 

[5030]

So do I. Those are probably goner for good.

 

[LD1]

Everytime I did the math...price per gallon exact same.

$59.99 for 2.5 gal and $23.99 for 1 gallon