rotella 10w -30

soarkrebel · Jan 11, 2003

I was surfing last night and went to shells website. i found that they make a rotella in 10w-30 for diesels. since kubota ,on some models , recommends this viscosity and my dealer gets $2.97 a qt for kubota oil i was looking for an alternative. i talked to a dealer this morning and was told they could probably get it for $35.85 a case for gallon jugs. i am no math wiz but i think that comes out to about $1.50 a qt.
just a thought for those that want a choice.

JohnMiller3 · Jan 11, 2003

<font color=blue>...that comes out to about $1.50 a qt....</font color=blue>

That's about the going price ~$1.54 /qt for diesel engine oil @ WalMart...

Confirm it is 6 gallons per case and not "4" and it's a pretty good deal, considering no one wants to stock 10w-30 diesel anything... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Surge · Jan 11, 2003

Ya, somewhat hard to find Heavy Duty Diesel 10W30 as Mr. Miller mentions... I was using Rotella 10W30 SB (Synthetic Blend) as was able to buy it at the main NAPA Store for around $7.00 per gallon, but I was the only one buying it and they sent what they had back... I wanted to stay with the 10W30 for winter startup and my dealer suggested that since I am in a little bit colder climate (Nebraska), generally than you are in Arkansas... Only 8 above this a.m... however, at times in the winter it can be -10 to -20 depending on how severe the front from Canada is... It has been somewhat mild so far this year..... I have not brought myself to try the 5W40 Rotella Synthetic yet...

Anyway, I wanted to stay with the 10W30 so went to Mystic JT-8 10W30 (Citgo Brand), it was on sale for $10.99 in 2 gallon jugs on sale at Bomgaars Farm Store Chain... Orschelin Farm Stores also has it.. not sure if Orschelin has stores that far south.. check their website...... specification numbers are pretty good, you can see a thread I started a few weeks ago called diesel specs in this Lubrication Forum section...

I captured as many as I could find in the various grades and brands... one key seems be pour point and pumpability for winter use for me.... this being said, I did find single gallons of Rotella 10W30 regular at Champion Auto Stores in Nebraska... If you have any of those, you might check... Last resort would be to go to the Rotella Website for Shell... they have a contact email for questions... you might ask for a distributor in your area that has single gallons... A case of any oil would last me a long time...

Certainly Rotella is great, you cannot go wrong... there are other good brands also with could specs such as high TBN numbers etc...

Good Luck....

saw_dust · Jan 11, 2003

The place I work at makes the stuff Shell uses for a viscosity improver(1 operating unit)...matter a fact just about everyone uses it.You would not believe how much of the stuff they make (they make other products too)....called Shellvis...and Shell sold the plant but kept the rights to the Shellvis and Exxon bought into it with them....

soarkrebel · Jan 12, 2003

surge it was not even close to that cold here!

Truth is i'm a little ignorant when it comes to oils. i mean yeah i work on planes but in aviation you adhere to the manuals.
Now my manual says sae30 ,10w-30 or 10w-40. 10w-30 has the widest temp range for use. Now what has me buffaloed is that my dealer said just use 15-40 rotella ,thats what they put in them. i was told all diesels that come through get that viscosity maybe not always rotella though.i am just trying to adhere to the kubota manual i guess.
i just wonder if kubota is aware of the lack of available oils in that (10w-30)viscosity and omit 15-40 in order to get you to buy the kubota oil . i noticed the other day at my dealer no kubota 10w-30 on the shelf where it had been. hummm
anyway i would appreciate any info which way to go.

Bird · Jan 12, 2003

I agree with your dealer; just put the 15W-40 in it and don't worry about it. I think you'll find the problem is simply that Kubota is behind in updating manuals. My 1999 manual not only called for the same viscosity ratings as yours, but also specified API ratings of CC or CD which are now obsolete ratings. I used Chevron's Delo 400, 15W-40, and CH-4 ratings, but I'm sure Shell's Rotella, and several other oils, are just as good.

BillyP · Jan 12, 2003

"sae30 ,10w-30 or 10w-40. 10w-30 has the widest temp range for use"

10w-40 has a wider temp range than 10w-30. 10w-40 is good for temps from -6 to 122f above and 10w-30 is not recomended for temps above 85. I see you live in southern Arkansas. You'd be safe using a 15w-40 since it would be good for temps down to 0. Everyone around here (southeast Oklahoma) uses 15w-40.

If you want to be safe, use a 5w-40. That will cover any temps found in the lower 48.

Billy

Surge · Jan 12, 2003

BillP & Bird are probably giving you good advice for where you are located... 15W40 is a good weight oil, the most common found in all brands and used as the number one oil for most diesel applications ie: trucks... As noted, depending on where you are, weather climate is one of the key's.... I go to 15W40 in the summer as temperatures can go over 100 Degrees... so as note earlier, Nebraska then can swing temperatures by 120 Degrees over the course of a year...in my application, using two weights may be the best course...better pumpability in the winter and then the hot weather protection in the summer. In your more stable climate where lows would generally be in I suppose the high 20's or low 30's... 15W40 all year round would be just fine... you then have the protection on the top end of the temperature scale and would not need to switch.....

As in most situations, there is no one right or best answer.. it depends on the situation....

soarkrebel · Jan 13, 2003

Thanks for the replies. i think i will go with 15w -40. i have never owned a diesel it's kind of new. i ran my grandfathers but never had to worry about keeping it up.