Rotella Syn or Mobil 1?

[TampaDieselFX4]

Currently using 5-40 rotella syn. Easily obtained from a wal-mart or TSCo. etc. So far I'm real happy with it. Easy starts, $17/gal, and truck runs quiet and MPG's are good. Wondering if there is any reason I should pay $23/gal for Mobil 1 5-40 Turbo Diesel oil?? Is that stuff supposed to be MUCH better?

 

[Crumm]

I run Mobil Delvac 1 5w-40 and wonder if there is any difference between it and the "Turbo Diesel Oil" or if it is just a marketing campaign. If you have been running rotella I would stick with rotella as it is a good oil and it is best to not switch around.

 

[tonkadoctor]

Rotella 5w-40 synthetic is for the turbo diesels. I run the stuff too and love it. Availability at wally world and TSC and the fact that I have run Rotella for over 20 years with no problems is why I use it.

I even let Wally world change it for me...... Just grab 4 jugs and an oil filter and tell them you want an oil change and this is what you are putting in it. All they charge is $16 for the labor then. IIRC it's about $99 for the oil, a good filter and the labor when done.

I get a kick out of Walmarts mochanics, they get paid by the clock hour, not book hour, and they'll flat tell you they don't care how long a job takes them, usually have 3 working on my truck for an hour, 1 under it checking fluids etc, 1 on top checking fluids etc..... And 1 in the bed trying to figure out how the 5th wheel & goosneck combo work... have always done a good job for me and pointed out potential problems before they became a problem.

 

[JimmyDee]

Rotella is a petroleum based hydro cracked oil and Delvac 1 is a true synthetic PAO oil. I spend the extra money on the Delvac. The hydro cracked oil is called synthetic because of a court case and a judge declared it to be so. It is a good oil and much better than a regular dyno oil but its not a PAO like Delvac, Royal Purple or Amsoil.
Jim

 

[pete37922]

Amsoil all the way !!!

 

[Beachbumcook]

Rotella is a petroleum based hydro cracked oil and Delvac 1 is a true synthetic PAO oil. I spend the extra money on the Delvac. The hydro cracked oil is called synthetic because of a court case and a judge declared it to be so. It is a good oil and much better than a regular dyno oil but its not a PAO like Delvac, Royal Purple or Amsoil.
Jim

True... but the court case ruled in Castrol's favor because of the following:

1) Even if a dino oil is used... as long as the proces gets the oil to that of a synthetic spec, then it does not matter.

2) There are specific specs in how a synthetic oil should perform and purity... and if hydrocracking can get it there... then it can be rulled 100% synthetic oil.

3) Rotella-Syn 5W-40 starts out as a dino crude oil and the Mobil 5W-40 starts out like a test-tube baby... but they most end up the same way and perform the same way... that is why the court rejected Mobil's arguments in the case you reference.