Oil question

[rascal]

I am trying to determine what oil I should use. I live in DFW, TX so it gets pretty warm here. No real cold weather concerns here.

This last weekend I saw some Lucas Oil MAGNUM 15-40 for pre 2007 diesel engines. The truck stop wanted $25 per gallon but I found it online for $15.99 per gallon. I also saw a good deal @ Wally World for Roltella full syn 5-40 ($20 per gallon). They also had Motorcraft oil filters for 7.3 for $9...bonus!

I also thought about using the Lucas Oil HD Oil Stabilizer. When I was @ the International dealer today to pick up my Rotella HD ELC they were telling me a lot of the guys driving rigs use the Lucas HD Oil Stabilizer.

I noticed the 7.3 manual does not even mention 5-40 oil, rather 15-40 mainly.

Thoughts? What is everyone else running?

Thanks,
Rascal

[Schnot]

I've put on 500k with just rotella every 5k miles. Also around 500k on another of our truck with using the stabilizer and didn't really notice a difference.

Although in my 91 Toyota with the four banger the stabilizer quieted the motor down a lot.


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[rufushusky]

Originally Posted by rascal

I am trying to determine what oil I should use. I live in DFW, TX so it gets pretty warm here. No real cold weather concerns here.

This last weekend I saw some Lucas Oil MAGNUM 15-40 for pre 2007 diesel engines. The truck stop wanted $25 per gallon but I found it online for $15.99 per gallon. I also saw a good deal @ Wally World for Roltella full syn 5-40 ($20 per gallon). They also had Motorcraft oil filters for 7.3 for $9...bonus!

I also thought about using the Lucas Oil HD Oil Stabilizer. When I was @ the International dealer today to pick up my Rotella HD ELC they were telling me a lot of the guys driving rigs use the Lucas HD Oil Stabilizer.

I noticed the 7.3 manual does not even mention 5-40 oil, rather 15-40 mainly.

Thoughts? What is everyone else running?

Thanks,
Rascal

Lucas oil stabilizer is really nothing more than very heavy (Cst of over 120, 40 weight oil is 12-16) base stocks with nothing else in it. Unless your burning a lot of oil, it is a waste. The reason your 7.3 manual doesn't mention 5w40s is cause they were not a big factor in the diesel oil world until a few years ago. Your gotta remember your 7.3 manual is over 10 years old now, lots has changed.

Personally, I don't like anything Lucas... Forrest Lucas is a marketing genius and former trucker...not a chemist. For oil I stick to the major brands (Delo, Delvac, Rotella etc).

[RedneckYankee]

Tractor Supply has Rottella T6 on sale for $19.99 and Pep Boys will price match. No other parts house will. Running 5/40 in my 6.0 and it's much quieter and happier. I would assume a 7.3 would like it too.

[rascal]

Originally Posted by rufushusky

Lucas oil stabilizer is really nothing more than very heavy (Cst of over 120, 40 weight oil is 12-16) base stocks with nothing else in it. Unless your burning a lot of oil, it is a waste. The reason your 7.3 manual doesn't mention 5w40s is cause they were not a big factor in the diesel oil world until a few years ago. Your gotta remember your 7.3 manual is over 10 years old now, lots has changed.

Personally, I don't like anything Lucas... Forrest Lucas is a marketing genius and former trucker...not a chemist. For oil I stick to the major brands (Delo, Delvac, Rotella etc).

Ok, so what oil do you run? Just curious?

My truck is not burning any oil from what I can tell; I just want to give her the best.
I am leaning towards the Rotella T6 5-40.

[rufushusky]

Originally Posted by rascal

Ok, so what oil do you run? Just curious?

My truck is not burning any oil from what I can tell; I just want to give her the best.
I am leaning towards the Rotella T6 5-40.

T6 is a great oil for the money, my local TSC had it for 17 bucks a gallon... too bad I won't need an oil change for another 6000 miles or so.

Personally, I run whatever name brand 15w40 is on sale when I change my oil for most of the year. Currently I have Delo 15w-40 in mine. For no empirical reason at all I seem to like Delvac and Delo the most but Rotella, Valvoline etc all make a good oil. In the winter I will run a diesel rated 10w-30. Last year I ran Rotella T5, I might run that or JD Plus 50 10w-30 depending on which is cheaper.

[rascal]

Originally Posted by rufushusky

T6 is a great oil for the money, my local TSC had it for 17 bucks a gallon... too bad I won't need an oil change for another 6000 miles or so.

Personally, I run whatever name brand 15w40 is on sale when I change my oil for most of the year. Currently I have Delo 15w-40 in mine. For no empirical reason at all I seem to like Delvac and Delo the most but Rotella, Valvoline etc all make a good oil. In the winter I will run a diesel rated 10w-30. Last year I ran Rotella T5, I might run that or JD Plus 50 10w-30 depending on which is cheaper.

For the life of me I cannot find just regular DELO 400 anywhere anymore. It is all the Low Emissions cr@p! Does TSC carry the regular DELO 400?

[rufushusky]

Originally Posted by rascal

For the life of me I cannot find just regular DELO 400 anywhere anymore. It is all the Low Emissions cr@p! Does TSC carry the regular DELO 400?

No, I think they only have the 400 LE. Which is what I am running. Most, if not all, of the big brands have gone to the CJ-4 (aka low emissions compliant) motor oil formulation now. Even JD is CJ-4 compliant at this point.

I know back in 2006-2007 when they first came out there was a lot of push back due to the drop in calcium and zinc in the oil and the drop in TBN (most CI-4+ oils had TBNs of 11-13, CJ-4 is 8-11). But they have increased the use of boron, molly and magnesium to make up for it, the primary source of an acid environment in a diesel crankcase (blow by from combustion dropped when fuel when from 500 ppm of sulfur to 15 ppm) the need for higher TBN numbers dropped as well and the newer oil handle soot very well.

In my situation, I know I am dumping serviceable oil out of my truck, I am no where near depleting the add pack or the level of TBN so I don't see the need to avoid CJ-4 oils. If I was running higher sulfur fuel or was running REALLY REALLY long OCIs then maybe but for me OTC motor works just fine.

Of I am off my soap box!

[hyrometal]

I have heard very good things about Delo, however I have yet to try it out because my first oil change has no come (new to me truck). Let me know what you decide on and what you think. Check out bobistheoilguy.com it has a lot (I mean A LOT) of info about oil

[2000_f350]

I use the Motorcraft stuff from Walmart. I hear its good oil.