Rotella oil
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
I have been using Mobil 1, 15-50 with 1200 hp and 1300 zink for 10K miles. Before that Mobil 1, 5-40 with 1100/1100 for 20K, before that I was using Rotella diesel oil for 20K. On hot days my oil pressure stays up at 30 PSI and cold 40 degree days it's at 40 PSI.
the last 5 years I have found Mobil 1on sale with filter for $30 from Autozone or Advanced and change it in September before winter storage.
the last 5 years I have found Mobil 1on sale with filter for $30 from Autozone or Advanced and change it in September before winter storage.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 140
From: Western New York
I use the Rotella T4 in the John Deere tractors on the farm. They are diesels and require it. I use Mobil 1 15w50 in my C3 (1972) that I've had since August of 1974. I've had no oil problems and no worries, either. Leave the Rotella to the tractors. Good luck.
Duane
Duane
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 205
From: Lewes Delaware
See my post (#11) on this recent oil thread:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...vette-oil.html
Fran
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...vette-oil.html
Fran
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,446
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Forget Rotella Diesel Oil for gas engines.
Mobil 1 15W-50 is a great synthetic for older flat tappet cammed engines with the correct ZDDP Zinc, as stated above. I used 15W-50 Mobil 1 for YEARS in my 78 L-82 before the roller cam rebuild in 2014. I now use Mobil 1/Castrol Edge 0W-40 European Formula only since it is a roller cam.
Mobil 1 15W-50 is a great synthetic for older flat tappet cammed engines with the correct ZDDP Zinc, as stated above. I used 15W-50 Mobil 1 for YEARS in my 78 L-82 before the roller cam rebuild in 2014. I now use Mobil 1/Castrol Edge 0W-40 European Formula only since it is a roller cam.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
In my opinion, the Rotella story was an American panic situation. Years ago the public was barely informed about the Gvmnt removing Zinc. Some oil companies fought that mandate as long as they could. Rumor was, no more Zinc on the shelf. What are us old car owners suppose to do? Cams were being wiped-out left & right.
But wait ! Rumor has it that Rotella tractor oil still has Zinc. And yes. It is available in most stores. So off to the stores we went and grabbed tractor oil for our flat tappet cams. What a era that was.
I still have a concave hyd lifter on my shelf with a pin-hole in the bottom as a reminder.
Thanks again EPA. (not)
I rank the Zinc episode right up there with the "Crushing of the Gas Guzzlers" as the worse the Gvnmt has done to the automotive industry..
But wait ! Rumor has it that Rotella tractor oil still has Zinc. And yes. It is available in most stores. So off to the stores we went and grabbed tractor oil for our flat tappet cams. What a era that was.
I still have a concave hyd lifter on my shelf with a pin-hole in the bottom as a reminder.
Thanks again EPA. (not)
I rank the Zinc episode right up there with the "Crushing of the Gas Guzzlers" as the worse the Gvnmt has done to the automotive industry..
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Jul 13, 2020 at 09:16 AM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,446
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Do yourself and engine a big favor. Use a synthetic ZDDP appropriate gas oil and call it a day.
You can use just about any oil, and I mean any oil, and the engine will run just fine....But for a couple dollars more, you get some insurance.
You can use just about any oil, and I mean any oil, and the engine will run just fine....But for a couple dollars more, you get some insurance.
Last edited by jb78L-82; Jul 13, 2020 at 04:10 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 1,714
From: Summerville SC
Back in the day I had a fleet of trucks AND cars. Used Rotella in them all with over 200k miles in them all with no issues. My theory today is why spend all that money on synthetic oil when good practice tells me to change the oil once a year anyway. On top of that schedule I have prevented lots of breakdowns over the years by just laying down under an engine while changing the oil and just looking.....UP. Count me as a Rotella fan 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,446
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Don't get me wrong, I think Shell products are top notch including Rotella oils!
I feel the same way about synthetics with an 01 Grand Prix with 225,000 miles on the motor (drive the car at 80 MPH all day long, has never used an oz of oil between 5,000 miles oil changes), Chrysler 3.5 V6 with 175,000 miles on it (zero oil added between oil changes), 97 Kohler lawn tractor motor (probs 3000 hours on motor, zero oil ever added between seasons), Generator Briggs motor (no oil ever added between oil changes), Tecumseh Snowblower 2001 (zero oil ever added between changes) on and on, etc...All mobil 1 synthetic. Hard to believe in any other non synthetic oil with that kind of track record with synthetics....All these engines were on synthetic oil from day one new or very shortly after breakin period
BTW-I almost always use a synthetic NOT recommended factory conventional weight oil....Mostly 0W-30, 15W-50, OW-40 European Formula......Never the factory recommended grade....go figure....
I feel the same way about synthetics with an 01 Grand Prix with 225,000 miles on the motor (drive the car at 80 MPH all day long, has never used an oz of oil between 5,000 miles oil changes), Chrysler 3.5 V6 with 175,000 miles on it (zero oil added between oil changes), 97 Kohler lawn tractor motor (probs 3000 hours on motor, zero oil ever added between seasons), Generator Briggs motor (no oil ever added between oil changes), Tecumseh Snowblower 2001 (zero oil ever added between changes) on and on, etc...All mobil 1 synthetic. Hard to believe in any other non synthetic oil with that kind of track record with synthetics....All these engines were on synthetic oil from day one new or very shortly after breakin period
BTW-I almost always use a synthetic NOT recommended factory conventional weight oil....Mostly 0W-30, 15W-50, OW-40 European Formula......Never the factory recommended grade....go figure....
Last edited by jb78L-82; Jul 14, 2020 at 07:58 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 788
Likes: 100
From: Indianapolis IN
It has less zinc than in the past, and diesel engine oils use a higher amount of detergents,( than gas engine oils), which do remove it's zinc from the surface you are trying to protect.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 881
Likes: 113
FWIW, T3 has been discontinued & supplanted/superseded by T4
Yes T4 Zn & P had been reduced, but then it went back up when it shed its SN rating
Current Rotella T4 15W-40 has over 1000 ppm both Zn & P.
Zn = 1034 ppm
P = 1130 ppm
https://pqia.org/shell-rotella-t4-sa...el-engine-oil/
Valve spring specs for MY1970 (some of the highest-output of all C3) at page 137
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...t-Corvette.pdf
Across all serial production OE 1970 C3 motors,
ALL have relatively weak seat pressures; including the hi-po solid lifter motors: nominal = 80 pounds
JMO, for all C3 with OE-SPEC valvetrain ( and has already been broken-in ),
me thinks current Rotella T4 15W-40 offers more than adequate Anti-Wear Zn & P.
JMO YMMV
Yes T4 Zn & P had been reduced, but then it went back up when it shed its SN rating
Current Rotella T4 15W-40 has over 1000 ppm both Zn & P.
Zn = 1034 ppm
P = 1130 ppm
https://pqia.org/shell-rotella-t4-sa...el-engine-oil/
Valve spring specs for MY1970 (some of the highest-output of all C3) at page 137
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...t-Corvette.pdf
Across all serial production OE 1970 C3 motors,
ALL have relatively weak seat pressures; including the hi-po solid lifter motors: nominal = 80 pounds
JMO, for all C3 with OE-SPEC valvetrain ( and has already been broken-in ),
me thinks current Rotella T4 15W-40 offers more than adequate Anti-Wear Zn & P.
JMO YMMV
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
When Mobil one came out, I tried it in my 1 ton dually. When I stopped, I could hear it boiling in the pan. I went back to Dino.
Now I use synthetic in my newer stuff, it's designed around it, but I still like Dino in the old cars. "If it ain't broken.........."
Now I use synthetic in my newer stuff, it's designed around it, but I still like Dino in the old cars. "If it ain't broken.........."
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,446
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Correct O Mundo ^^^^^^^^Again Resdoggie!
There is zero possibility that a SBC Gen 1 V8 boiled a synthetic and when using conventional oil was perfectly fine. I smell another mythical wive's tale here.................
There is zero possibility that a SBC Gen 1 V8 boiled a synthetic and when using conventional oil was perfectly fine. I smell another mythical wive's tale here.................
