Rotella-T, use conventional or synthetic?

[JDgreen227]

Numerous members here advised me to stop doing oil and filter changes in my Deere 4210 at 50-hour intervals, as I had been practicing since it was new. Right now I am coming up on the 100-hour mark since my last change, and am planning to begin using Rotella T 15-40, either conventional or synthetic.

Would anyone say it's safe to extend my oil and filter change interval to the 200-hour mark if I use the Rotella-T 15-40 synthetic oil insead of conventional Rotella-T? It would take me about two years to reach the 200 hour change interval, inclusive of the wintertime use my tractor gets.

Using synthetic to extend the change interval to 200 hours would only save me the cost of one new oil filter, as synthetic is nearly 2X the cost of conventional oil. I just wonder if synthetic and one filter would provide the same, or better protection, than conventional oil and two filters over 200 hours. Thanks for any input.

 

[WilliamBos]

Numerous members here advised me to stop doing oil and filter changes in my Deere 4210 at 50-hour intervals, as I had been practicing since it was new. Right now I am coming up on the 100-hour mark since my last change, and am planning to begin using Rotella T 15-40, either conventional or synthetic.

Would anyone say it's safe to extend my oil and filter change interval to the 200-hour mark if I use the Rotella-T 5-40 synthetic oil insead of conventional Rotella-T? It would take me about two years to reach the 200 hour change interval, inclusive of the wintertime use my tractor gets.

Using synthetic to extend the change interval to 200 hours would only save me the cost of one new oil filter, as synthetic is nearly 2X the cost of conventional oil. I just wonder if synthetic and one filter would provide the same, or better protection, than conventional oil and two filters over 200 hours. Thanks for any input.

I run T6 5w40 during the cold months, change it out in the spring. Had 80 hours in it last winter.

Does yours have EGR?? If it does, that is really something to think, soot build up. Also, condensation and sludge can be a factor too, especially if you do not use it a lot.

 

[bp fick]

The T-6 is not a fancy, dancy synthetic made out of the highest class available, for those you'll have to pay double. But what a bang for the buck!!

I like the flow rate of the T-6, which aids in cold starts, I believe. I like the product and use it in lawn tractors, roto-tillers and the like.

All that said, I don't expect Rotella to be Mobil I at half the price. There's a reason it is priced the way it is. I like it's affordability and availability. But 100 hours would be my change point on it. FWIW.

 

[Dargo]

I only use Rotella in my older 'leakers' that also use some oil. As far as I know, Rotella is about the cheapest diesel rated oil you can buy. There is a reason for that. It is not your top shelf oil but should be fine for short oil runs. I'd not consider going for any sort of extended drain interval with Rotella. You are at the wrong end of the oil quality spectrum for that.

There are several very high quality diesel rated oils you can use if you want to do that. JD even has their own if I recall correctly. As expensive as diesel engines are, I'm personally not one who goes for longer drain intervals. I use higher quality oils in most of my diesel equipment just to give me that little piece of mind that I should be okay when I'm really working the machine hard for hours on end. I've never had an oil related failure either. So, either that idea works or I'm just lucky.

 

[mjonesnh]

Running dino 10w-30 Rotella in my New Holland TC34 right now as I bought 6 gallons at Advance auto parts last year for $10/gallon. When this is used up I may change to the Rotella T5 10w-30 synthetic blend, $16/gallon at local Walmart. Same price as dino Rotella at local parts houses unless it is on sale. Walmart does not carry dino 10w-30 in my area.

 

[Beltzington]

Rotella Synthetic T6 is 5-40 not 15-40, the lower winter rating will improve cold starts and slightly improve mpg. Any modern synthetic oil is far superior to dino juice in any category and can easily meet the 200-hours you are asking about, the real question is your oil filter up to the task. I believe Deere recommends API Service Classification CI-4, API Service, Classification CH-4, or ACEA Specification E3 be changed out at 200-hour intervals. Rotella T6 is rated as CJ-4 which exceeds all these ratings and provides for reduced emissions to protect the newer Tier 4 diesel engines. I don't believe any manufacturer is going to recommend a maintenance interval that is going to generate expensive warranty claims. That being said, if a $50 oil change every 50-hours is going to help you sleep better at night it is worth every penny, otherwise, buy a good filter and don't sweat it.

I run Rotella in all my vehicles including my gas burners. I used to use Mobile 1 but changed after way too much research. You can do your own research but you will find Rotella T6 is as good as it gets, Shell has been making oil for a long time and have billions of real-world fleet miles to back their claims. I use T6 in my JD3720, a Baldwin oil filter and change once a year (<100-hours) not because I need too but because it gives me something to do. I run all my cars to 5,000 miles before a change with the same combo. Best wishes in your search for the truth.

 

[brucew44guns]

Some folks perhaps are not much aware of the big gains in quality of most or at least many commercial motor oils. It was only a few years ago, that Cat recommended 10,000 mile oil changes on over the road trucks. I just retired from a national carrier, that used 30,000 miles as the target for oil changes, and used Rotella conventional. Trucks went 500,000 miles without one hiccup, they sold them and got new ones, but the engines never used oil or broke down.
Unless a person lives in Siberia, where synthetic oil helps start an ice berg of an engine, I would recommend to the occasional user of a tractor, (IE:--short use intervals, varied use, light duty use, likening the use to an around town car)---I like the idea of shorter drain intervals and normal conventional oil. Figure this, an over the road truck goes approximnately 50 miles an hour average, when stops and hills and towns are figured in. In 100 hours, the truck probably has only gone 5,000 miles. No trucking company on earth changes oil every 5K.
I just got a new 6330 John Deere, loaded cab tractor and loader. It's got 20 hours on it now. When I get it broke in, I plan to use Delo 400 Synthetic, and change it every spring. I will have some very cold winter time use in Kansas. There is 100 degree summer temps too. I suspect I might use the tractor 100 hours a year. But if the tractor worked hard every day, running many hours on end, I would let it go 200 hours and not worry. But if I used it 25 hours a year, I'd probably use the conventional Delo and still change it every spring.
I think some guys worry too much about condensation and sludge. Condensation burns out of oil pretty fast when it gets good and hot. It's not like a hose is dripping in the motor all day long. The oil can hold sludge and soot too, not all that much of it in 100 hours anyhow. That's my take, and my tractor cost a bundle, but I will not be changing oil every week due to worrying about sludge and condensation, or the oil failing. The Major companies have good products to do the job.

 

[WilliamBos]

Rotella Synthetic T6 is 5-40 not 15-40, the lower winter rating will improve cold starts and slightly improve mpg. Any modern synthetic oil is far superior to dino juice in any category and can easily meet the 200-hours you are asking about, the real question is your oil filter up to the task. I believe Deere recommends API Service Classification CI-4, API Service, Classification CH-4, or ACEA Specification E3 be changed out at 200-hour intervals. Rotella T6 is rated as CJ-4 which exceeds all these ratings and provides for reduced emissions to protect the newer Tier 4 diesel engines. I don't believe any manufacturer is going to recommend a maintenance interval that is going to generate expensive warranty claims. That being said, if a $50 oil change every 50-hours is going to help you sleep better at night it is worth every penny, otherwise, buy a good filter and don't sweat it.

I run Rotella in all my vehicles including my gas burners. I used to use Mobile 1 but changed after way too much research. You can do your own research but you will find Rotella T6 is as good as it gets, Shell has been making oil for a long time and have billions of real-world fleet miles to back their claims. I use T6 in my JD3720, a Baldwin oil filter and change once a year (<100-hours) not because I need too but because it gives me something to do. I run all my cars to 5,000 miles before a change with the same combo. Best wishes in your search for the truth.

What gassers you running it in?? I have an 04 GMC 5.3L, was considering it, but some say no because of the 40W aspect of it.

 

[dodge man]

If I were going to go 2 years, I'd probably run a top grade oil, such as Amsoil. I started running Amsoil in my tractor, but I still change mine at 100 hours, but it takes me a little over a year. I'd say a tractor running Amsoil would be good for over 200 hours, but I'm not sure I'd want to go long as 2 years.

 

[Beltzington]

What gassers you running it in?? I have an 04 GMC 5.3L, was considering it, but some say no because of the 40W aspect of it.

95 Kawasaki GPZ 1100 - 20,000
97 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 - 233,000
99 Nissan Pathfinder V6 - 278,000
06 Nissan Xterra V6 - 87,000
06 Chevy 2500HD - Ok it's a diesel

We live in Georgia and all these vehicle manufacturers approve of 10w-40 for our temp range, would have to change if it was colder.

To be honest I only started using Rotella about 8-years ago but have been using synthetic oil in all these vehicles since I have owned them. I am a big fan if that wasn't obvious.