Hey...I've been thinking about oils. I currently use the generic cheap diesel oils that you can get anywhere. I want to start to use a quality oil for tranny and eng. What do you think is best??
Enthusiast
Which oils do you use??
Hey...I've been thinking about oils. I currently use the generic cheap diesel oils that you can get anywhere. I want to start to use a quality oil for tranny and eng. What do you think is best??
Enthusiast
The recommended engine oils around this page are typically Shell Rotella and Chevron Delo 400 - 15w40 variety. I switched to Amsoil Synthetic some years ago but not everybody likes those for diesels.
Mark Chapman DP member #653;
1983 K2500 6.2 Suburban, 4" lift, 35" tires, ATS turbo, Banks exhaust/intake, pyrometer, tachometer;
1986 K5 6.2 Blazer, 2" lift, 33" tires, Banks intake, pyrometer, tachometer
1963 wife, one owner, average mileage for the age but in excellent shape, a keeper
1992 daughter, low mileage, pretty, limited edition, but requires some money to maintain
1995 son, sports model, very fast & peppy, time will tell on durability and maintenance costs
"Grease is good"
Enthusiast
I use Rotella T 15-40 but I do find it a tad too thick in the dead of winter. I want to try a different viscosity next winter, Canadian Tire sells a synthetic 5-40 Rotella but then is 29.99 for 4 liters. I buy the whole 20L pail of Rotella for like 44.99 so is kinda hard to justify...
I used that name because its my username on all my other forums...
1994 Chevy Sub Diesel K2500
Enthusiast
My GMC has only had Royal Purple since new. The original owner gave me all the service info when I bought it. Actually, I didn't know where to buy it, and used Rotella for 2 oil changes, and lost a solid 1 mpg during that time. Now it's RP's Long Rider (formulated for diesels) only.
Also a big believer in Power Service Diesel Kleen (gray bottle) at each fill up.
1994 GMC K2500 L65 4L80E with 230,000miles 16mpg, Kennedy Chip, FSD Cooler, Straight Piped, RoyalPurple/Longrider 40W15 oil, PowerService DieselKleen, H2 rims with 265R17's and GMC centercaps.
2005 VW Golf TDI, 72,000miles, 41mpg, all stock so far, B20 (Spinx fuel stations)
Enthusiast
I use the Amsoil 15W-40. It's good for up to 25000 miles or one year, whichever comes first.
Pete
2002 GMC with 6' Pro Comp lift, 35' tires, and Vista truck cap
Enthusiast
All intervals shortened after towing during extreme conditions - i.e. heavy loads in hot summer conditions, I'll drop and change all three well ahead of schedule.
- Mobil Delvac 15/40, 10K intervals.
- GM ATF with 20K intervals, drain and fill, spin on filter (about 8 quarts)
- Royal Purple or GM synthetics in rear diffs, 75K intervals
2011 Chevrolet Tahoe 5.3L daily driver
- Previous owner of two 1994 6.5L K3500s, '01, '02, and '05 6.6L K2500s, '04 C4500, '06 K3500 dually, '06 K3500 SRW, '09 K3500HD SRW, '05 Denali
- Total GM diesel miles to date : ~950K
Busting tires
good discussion HERE
Main rig-1978 chevy 3/4 f/t 4x4 8" lift 38 14.5 16 toyo m/t's. BUILT 350(soon to be 6.2) quad batteries. front and rear 15k winches. lockers F/R. dana60 front full float corp 14 rear. th400/np203.
donor rig. 1988 GMC K3500 140k miles, th400. IFS(read CRAP) semi float 14 rear. drove it 142 miles home at 17mpg and 1/4 quart of delo 400.
Newbie
Royal Purple
I have been using Royal Purple, first in my 93 GMC diesel, and now in my 05 Chevy Silverado Duramax. I have been happy with the results. I change oil and filter every 6,000 miles. I get plenty of oil pressure and a quiet running engine. I buy my Royal Purple from our local auto parts store - O'Reillys - in five gallon pails. It is a bit pricey, but most synthetic oil will be. It serves me well.
RKL
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