Oil Again! Oh No!

[So Cal Mark]

Well it seems there is a new classification for diesel oil that took effect in Dec 2016. ZDDP ( the zinc we know and love for camshaft lubrication) has been drastically reduced. I've been trying to get specs from Shell on how this has affected Rotella T but haven't had much luck so far. Rotella T does have the new classification so it looks like it's time to find another oil to use in the TC engine. Most of the smaller boutique oil companies offer a hot rod oil for vintage cars, but the price is about double what the Rotella was selling for. For instance, Driven offers their HR oil for engines with flat tappet cams, but it sells for about $9.50 per quart

[AriK]

So does that classification make it a CK-4?

[kilrwail]

Brad Penn is a little over $8 per litre (Canadian). It's used by all of us air-cooled Porsche guys, as well as lots of vintage North American cars. Another feature, besides the high zinc and phosphorus levels, is that it's green - so a leak is easy to identify. I've been using it in my Spider for years with no issues.

[RRoller123]

I may stock up on a few gallons of Rotella, while we can, since I drive so few miles that it ends up being one oil change a year. Could stock quite a few years at reasonable cost that way. It won't go bad in the sealed container, stored indoors.

Or maybe just go to Mobil1 or another "standard" oil plus one of the many zinc additives that the various auto parts stores (and Mark here on the forum) offer.

[klweimer]

You can get VR1 Valvolene on Amazon Prime for $35/6 quarts.

[So Cal Mark]

Rotella T now has CK-4 classification and Shell is not offering much information as to the additive levels. Valvoline racing oil does seem like a decent alternative that has a competitive price. Most oil companies don't recommend racing oil for street cars though. Racing oil is designed to be changed frequently so it has a different anti-corrosion additive package than oil for street cars

[RRoller123]

I assume that it would have to be marked CK-4 on the container? So there should be plenty of existing stock still on the shelves, given how few diesels there are out there. How long ago did this change occur, do you know?

[VAspider]

Some alternatives,

http://pqiadata.org/ValvolineBlue15W40.html
http://pqiadata.org/MobilDelvac15W40.html

Rotella for a comparison,

http://pqiadata.org/ShellRotellaT15W40.html

Frank

[TX82FIAT]

May be less expensive to buy a 20W50 off the shelf at Walmart like Castrol GTX and add the zinc as some folks have suggested. The really good stuff can be expensive. Motul can cost twice as much!

[baltobernie]

May be less expensive to buy a 20W50 off the shelf at Walmart like Castrol GTX and add the zinc as some folks have suggested.

Aftermarket additives "subtract" from the other properties refiners blend into their oils. For every ounce of additive, you're subtracting an ounce of lubrication/detergent/corrosion protection due to volume loss. If you're changing oil once or twice a year, $9/quart for 4½ quarts per change is the least-expensive maintenance item most of us regularly undertake. Compare this to the 6-7-8 quarts of full synthetic in our daily drivers

I'm using the Hemmings blend at $54/six-pack, delivered to my door.

[kilrwail]

All cheap options compared to 11 litres/quarts in an oil-cooled/air-cooled 911!

[So Cal Mark]

I was able to buy cases of Rotella today that are still rated CJ-4 rather than the new CK-4 reduced zinc oil.

[RRoller123]

Same here, WalMart has it, bought a few gallons.