Rotella oil???

Author Topic: Rotella oil???  (Read 4983 times)

Offline Glennster

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Rotella oil???
« on: December 23, 2009 - 11:39:05 PM »
I've been told that ''  THE  ''  oil to run in these older style motors is Rotella 15-45........
I've got a Honda VTX, it's an 1800cc V Twin. The VTX web site was littered with arguments and discussions about '' what oil is best ''...
I'm not trying to get something like that started, I'm just wondering if Rotella is worth using......




Offline bb71challenger

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2009 - 11:43:55 PM »
Rotella was traditionally a diesel engine oil from what I remember. It always had a high percentage of zinc but not anymore. Your best bet is to get something like Penn oil, you know, the green oil. It has what our hungry muscle engines are craving.
1971 Challenger (OO==== ====OO) getting close!
1970 Challenger (OO########OO) long ways off
*Brett*

Offline moper

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2009 - 09:10:13 AM »
The deisel oils will have the most zink allowable by law. But the laws changed 2 years ago. If the API seal has "SL" or "SM" for a rating, it does not have much zink in it. That is true for gasoline and deisel oils. The best alternative for an engine that needs it is to run a quality race oil (they are labeled "not for street use") or an additive to boost the zddp in std oil. If the cam you run is bigger than about 230° @ .050 you might be better runnig good oil. If you have flat tappet cam with more than 250° @ .050 you need to do something to address the situation.

Offline Migmaster

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #3 on: December 24, 2009 - 09:55:26 AM »
My uncle is in the "distressed" inventory business (and he builds race engines) for a major automotive distributor. He regularly buys inventories of stores that go out of business and recently purchased a large lot of oil that was old stock but has the zinc content we need. See the post link below for more info on the high zinc oils... If anyone is in the south he travels to some of the shows and could bring some at a very good price (or ship it) if you wanted more than a few cases.
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=61928.msg636606#msg636606

Offline Strawdawg

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #4 on: December 24, 2009 - 10:21:44 AM »
Far as I know Rotella without the sunburst symbol in 15-40 still has the high zinc.  The lighter weight oils were the ones that changed (the ones that were spec'd for cars with cats on them.

I used Rotella in some of my cars, and Valvoline Racing in others.  There are lotsa of oils out there with the high zinc content if you do a little looking.  Most of the magic in oils is in the advertisements, not in the bottle.

Offline matt63

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #5 on: December 24, 2009 - 10:52:09 AM »
Try and get the Shell data sheets and look for something with 1200 ppm zinc and phosphorous.  Mobil has these data sheets and IIRC they have a 5W40 Turbo Diesel Truck Oil and 15W50 with high z and p levels. 
Matt in Edmonton

'68 Valiant
'73 Cuda 340 4 speed (408) SOLD

Offline bordin34

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #6 on: December 24, 2009 - 10:59:57 AM »
I e-mailed Shell in August asking about ZDDP levels and this is the response I got.
"Shell Rotella T Multigrade Oil SAE 15W-40 contains approximately 1200
ppm zinc.  Shell Rotella T Synthetic Oil SAE 5W-40 is formulated with
about 1300 ppm zinc." That means they probably have 1100 and 1200ppm phosphorus respectively.

1973 Charger SE Brougham Black 400 auto
1974 Charger SE Brougham Blue 318 auto-SOLD

Offline IMNCARN82

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #7 on: December 24, 2009 - 08:55:40 PM »
I use it.   ::)
'73 340 5 speed,RMS,BAER,... "Supercuda" (O[   ]||||[   ]O)  
'69 Dodge Charger 383,Auto                  (OiiiiiiiiiiIiiiiiiiiiiO)
13' Challenger R/T BlacktoP  6spd. (OO________OO)
71' Demon
75' Duster
87' Conquest TSI
56' Plaza
Boulder CO
Robert    "cuda bob"

Offline ted

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #8 on: December 25, 2009 - 12:25:36 PM »
too bad brad penn is almost impossible to find.
74 cuda, 70 challenger r/t

Offline ted

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2009 - 08:01:57 PM »
all i know is that nobody within a 50 miles radius  of albany NY sells it
74 cuda, 70 challenger r/t

Offline bb71challenger

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #10 on: December 26, 2009 - 10:31:47 PM »
I can get it, Brad Penn is sold 300 miles away in Albuquerque. Good reason to take a road trip I guess lol.
1971 Challenger (OO==== ====OO) getting close!
1970 Challenger (OO########OO) long ways off
*Brett*

Offline Moparal

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #11 on: December 26, 2009 - 10:43:37 PM »
I just use valvoline VR1 racing oil.  Most all the dirt track and 1/8 mile guys use it around here

Offline wally426ci

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2009 - 08:10:56 AM »
Just run what you want and ADD Zinc to it. It makes for a $8 more expensive oil change but thats what i do.
{OOI====I====IOO}
      '71 Challenger
      [O[]=====[]O]
      '68 D100

Offline torredcuda

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2009 - 08:48:38 AM »
There are now plenty of additives that have the zinc we need.I have been using the Comp Cams additive I bought when I changed out my wiped hyd cam to a new solid non-roller and so far  :2thumbs:

http://www.compcams.com/Base/pdf/FlatTappetCamTechBulletin.pdf
Jeff
72 Barracuda 340/4spd  Torred
70 roadrunner 383/auto  In-Violet
70 Duster 360/auto drag car  (Petty Blue soon)
04 Ram 2500 5.7 Hemi

Offline rallye73

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Re: Rotella oil???
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2009 - 11:10:01 PM »
I think that Lucas sells a zinc pack to add to your oil.
John Moorman
1971 Challenger R/T 383 4 speed (waiting it's turn)
1973 Challenger Rallye 340 4 speed (undergoing full resto)
2003 Dodge SRT-4 Stage 3 turbo daily driver-been as fast as 11.97et
1995 Dodge Neon Sport Coupe DOHC 5 speed Nitro-yellow-green (one of 527 built)