Sorry guys, I know it's been like a broken record, but now that some time gone by has anybody got comments on using newer stuff with less zinc and phosphor on older engines. I've been running amsoil (1400 ppm zink) for few years now and don't have any problems with it other than price and the way you got to get it if you want a half a.. deal on it. Plus I don't put enough miles on it a year to justify it anymore. Called Cummins and they use Valvoline Premium Blue in just about anything and it replaces all of the older stuff. Guy said it had 1200 ppm of zinc in it and was plenty for flat tappets, price at cummins was $14.50 a gallon. Then I called Delo and talked with their support guy and was told that their Delo 400le 15w40 is one of the best and they have billions of miles to prove it. Zinc was 1300 ppm, and price is $29 for 2.5gal at Walmart. I hear some guys run ether oil and put some zddp additive also, but not sure if it's even needed if both places told me their oil is fine the way it is. I was thinking I can still run amsoil bypass filter and change it once every 2 years and use fleet guard LF16035 for full flow. Also there is a fleet guard LF9028 that has full flow and bypass in one if I decide to get rid of amsoil bypass. Let the steam roll. Thank you all.

Edited September 22, 20159 yr by Dieselfuture

James, CI 4 used to be the only recommended oil for my 1st gen when I first bought it almost 20 yrs ago. Now with over 400k it's still running as good as that first day only doing batteries, brakes and one pitman arm.

Mike, I cannot trust my memory except I know you said get the CI-4 at the distributors cause no regular store sells it with the new CJ-4 that had just come out.

CJ-4 oils are actually an improvement. They have higher levels of oxidation stability, can't tolerate much higher oil temps, less prone to foaming and is designed to handle biodiesel in our fuels. I am still researching the next generation of oils for Diesel engines and so far even more improvements on the reverse compatible oils.

There is a good reason why the oil change intervals are getting long in the 3rd and 4th Gen truck... Compared to 1st and 2nd gen

I hope you guys are right. I find going to chevron downtown, a real pain. I thank you guys for the  motivation to do more reading on the subject. Bob's the oil guy had an essay out on how wrong the CJ -4 was when first out.. So hoping.... and thank all for this interesting discussion/ information, esp. the OP.

 

 

Way I understand is the CI-4's were discontinued for road use for reasons coming from EPA.

I hope you guys are right. I find going to chevron downtown, a real pain. I thank you guys for the motivation to do more reading on the subject. Bob's the oil guy had an essay out on how wrong the CJ -4 was when first out.. So hoping.... and thank all for this interesting discussion/ information, esp. the OP.

Way I understand is the CI-4's were discontinued for road use for reasons coming from EPA.

CI-4 then shortly after that was CI-4 plus these oils were developed for 500 PPM of sulfur and no biodiesel in the fuels.

CI-4 plus was made for long drain times.

CJ-4 works just as well in the lubricating aspects of oil with added benefits. You won't go wrong by switching oils.

Also Ram trucks currently recommend Rotella oils and several local Ford dealers also recommend Rotella oils(even though Ford has their own brand). I have had great results with CJ-4 Rotella T6 and going 10,000 miles before changing the oil. I may try for 15,000 miles on the next oil change after a 10,000 mile oil sample analysis.

The only thing about Rotella is the Ro-Smella... Yeah it does have a strong odor about it.

The only thing about Rotella is the Ro-Smella... Yeah it does have a strong odor about it.

I have run Rotella for 14 years and never noticed it. I have heard that a lot though.

Edited September 13, 20159 yr by dripley

The only thing about Rotella is the Ro-Smella... Yeah it does have a strong odor about it.

It does have a unique aroma although it dies down after 1500 miles.

T6 has no such smell.

Edited September 13, 20159 yr by Vais01

That smell is to attract the female Prius but since the Cummins is the dominant gene that's why you see so many Cummins trucks

Mike, I remember you suggested I go to a main Chevron oil distributing Co. and by bulk CI-4 OIL. Which the only way to get it.

My 1st gen has had CI-4 almost all it's 400 k miles and when I put in the CJ-4, only 3 times now, I notice differences that make me want to go back to the CI-4. I know it's better oil so I will be ordering a 55 gal. drum from Chevron. They deliver free at least.

What kind of difference are you talking about? Is it sound or wear from sample analyses.

There is a good reason why the oil change intervals are getting long in the 3rd and 4th Gen truck... Compared to 1st and 2nd gen

Coul it be cause they want to sell us more parts? I thought 1st and 2nd gens oil stayed cleaner longer and 3rd and 4th got dirty quick from egr crap, I know it don't mean you need to change it when it gets black but I would think if engine keeps oil clean longer, should last longer.

The difference I see when jumping into the CJ-4 oil (used it only three times now) is not as smooth running like it's struggling to get better lubrication on cold starts but, the worse thing was seeing the metal grindings and chips magnetized to the drain plug magnet. It surprised me as I have never seen that before in almost 20 years of using the CI oil. I just don't trust it till I do more reading on the subject.

The difference I see when jumping into the CJ-4 oil (used it only three times now) is not as smooth running like it's struggling to get better lubrication on cold starts but, the worse thing was seeing the metal grindings and chips magnetized to the drain plug magnet. It surprised me as I have never seen that before in almost 20 years of using the CI oil. I just don't trust it till I do more reading on the subject.

I'm with you on that one, have you tryed adding zddp to it and see if it helps. Be interesting to find out.

Can you walk into any parts stores and ask for it or do you have to order it on line?

I think generic stuff you should be able to get at any parts store like stp or lucas maybe and better stuff got to order it. Not sure I never bought any myself yet.

Edited September 14, 20159 yr by Dieselfuture

Just talked with ams oil and their 15-40 diesel and marine oil (ame) has 1400 ppm of zink, cj-4 rotella has 1200, cj-4 delo 400le has 1300 (some privet study shows 1100), valvoline premium blue has1200. I'm thinking about using premium blue cj-4 with zddp plus.

Edited September 14, 20159 yr by Dieselfuture

That smell is to attract the female Prius but since the Cummins is the dominant gene that's why you see so many Cummins trucks

Haha this is great screen shot saved.

Coul it be cause they want to sell us more parts? I thought 1st and 2nd gens oil stayed cleaner longer and 3rd and 4th got dirty quick from egr crap, I know it don't mean you need to change it when it gets black but I would think if engine keeps oil clean longer, should last longer.

If it gets black that is a good thing. It means the soot is staying suspended in the oil so when you change the oil it leaves too.

A 12 valve is pretty easy on the oil as is the early 24 valve trucks so your oil should last a good while. Whatever you do run Baldwin, Fleetguard or Donaldson filters and stay away from WIX and Fram.

I say Wix because I have seen good friends loose their new trucks because of Wix filters failing. Wix air filters are good but I would stay away from any other product they produce for a good while.

Just talked with ams oil and their 15-40 diesel and marine oil (ame) has 1400 ppm of zink, cj-4 rotella has 1200, cj-4 delo 400le has 1300 (some privet study shows 1100), valvoline premium blue has1200. I'm thinking about using premium blue cj-4 with zddp plus.

I've got some oil sample data from several oil companies. Let me find the link so all of us can see it.

Also Amsoil is a well known company but from what I see Rotella T6 is substantially better and more commonly available. I say that because I have seen several virgin oil samples of their products and they are not that great.

Edited September 14, 20159 yr by Vais01

Here you go gents. Drool away.

Below is a link that shows several virgin oil samples and what in them. Now remember these oils are in batches so they can vary. These oils were pulled off the shelf and analyzed. Rotella is also the factory fill on 6.7 Cummins engines that you buy in Ram trucks and is the oil that is referred by Ram in their 2015 Diesel Truck Supplement.

http://www.pqiamerica.com/June%202014/consolidated%20HDEO%202015.html

Talked with cat dealer they got ci-4 plus mobil delvac made for cat 13.65 a gallon. Or 58.30 for 5 gallons. Might be going this rout. He said they use it on all generators that don't have dpf. And the ones that do they use cj-4. They woldnt tell me zink level but said that it had 12tbn.