Bowhunter
Gold Member
This has undoubtedly been asked in the past but I could not find it. I have several partial containers of Delvac 1300 dino oil and Rotella synthetic. Is it ok to mix an dino oil and a synthetic, or is it a no-no?
Mixing oils?
- Thread starter Bowhunter
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tsterkel
Bronze Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( This has undoubtedly been asked in the past but I could not find it. I have several partial containers of Delvac 1300 dino oil and Rotella synthetic. Is it ok to mix an dino oil and a synthetic, or is it a no-no? )</font>
Interestingly, the same question was raised in an issue of Mechanics Illustrated in the early '60s. Despite the fact that there were no "consumer" synthetics available then, the answer holds.
1. Mixing oils does no harm to the oil.
2. As long as the lowest grade oil in the mix does not violate manufacturer's requirements, there will be no harm to the engine.
Be mindful that you will not get the full benefit from the higher grade oil.
cheers!
Interestingly, the same question was raised in an issue of Mechanics Illustrated in the early '60s. Despite the fact that there were no "consumer" synthetics available then, the answer holds.
1. Mixing oils does no harm to the oil.
2. As long as the lowest grade oil in the mix does not violate manufacturer's requirements, there will be no harm to the engine.
Be mindful that you will not get the full benefit from the higher grade oil.
cheers!
EastTexFrank
Veteran Member
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- East Texas, USA
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- Kubota Grand L4740, B2400 and F2680
Last year, when I was changing the oil and filter on my tractor, I didn't have enough Rotella or Rotella synthetic on hand to complete the job. It was pouring of rain and I didn't want to go to the store so I just mixed the two together. I got to thinking and worrying about it so I emailed Shell Rotella and asked for their advice. Their reply was that as a company, they don't recommend mixing the dino and synthetic oils together but that they wouldn't recommend or suggest that I drain the engine and refill. I took that to mean that there wan't anything wrong with mixing the two types of oil and that they didn't "recommend" it as a CYA policy in case something else happened that could possibly be blamed on the oil. So, to set your mind at rest, it won't do any harm to mix them together in order to get rid of all the partial containers although it's probably best to keep to a single make and type.
frank_f15
Super Member, Rest in Peace
Bowhunter: i really can't give you an informed answer, but i would think in a pinch it would be ok, but i would not make a habit of it.
Thanks everyone. The partial containers are now gone and I have planned to go back to just using one type of oil. I tried the Rotella Synthetic for a while and didn't see any advantage over the Delvac, so I'll be switching everything back to the Delvac dino. If anything happens from mixing the oils in my Powerstroke in the next 5000 miles, I'll let you know.
