Odd oil activity

notjustair

Well-known Member
This might be all in my head, but an interesting observation.

I changed the oil in the 886. I had a bucket of Rotella 15/40 sitting right there so I figured I would use it. I usually use Mobil Delvac 15/40 but I've run Rotella for years in things and really like it. I bought Delvac a few years back because it was on sale. I used it in the chore pickup and the oil leak on the front main seal stopped dripping, so I always use it in that. I've used it in the 886 because it was handy the first time I serviced it so I have continued.

So I service the tractor and do chores. It's high 30's right now, so not too bad. The tractor ran up to its usual temp but I noticed that with this oil it seems to have thinned out sooner than Delvac. The oil pressure looked about like it does when it's 90 degrees and haying. Not bad, mind you, but lower than with the Delvac. This time of year the gauge usually reads about 3/4 the way across the whole time. Tonight it started there but ended up inching a tad lower than 3/4 - like it does in the summer.

Every time I got out of the tractor I smelled oil. I kept looking for a leak but there wasn't one. I finally realized the smell was coming from the draft tube. It clearly does not like this oil! I'm betting it doesn't make it the usual 100 hours before I change it to Delvac. It's probably a series of coincidences, but I am interested to see how it plays out.
 
I've had a few engines (new and old) actually start using oil when filled with rotella. They stopped using oil when switched back to delo400.
 
Agreed I will not use rotella for lubing chains,,, a over the road truck engine oil not a HD off road oil built for 100% crank bearing loads,, I know others who use it,, me I like my equipment too much to put cheap oil in them,,, it has not broke me using good oil the last 40 plus years

But again this is my opinion and my equipment and $$ lol
cnt
 
I ran 15w-40 in my Cummins 800 cu in 400 hp Big Cam and liked it. Most guys in my loop did too. Not knocking the other stuff, just saying that Rot T worked for me and still does. I jumped on their 5w-40 full syn for my new tractors when it first came out. Didn't notice if the other brands had full syn or not. Didn't matter. I wasn't using their product.
 
Cannot condemn either Mobil or Rotella diesel grade engine oils. I think they are both very good oils, but that is my opinion and I base that opinion on what others have shared with me over the years. I cannot offer much with respect to the oil pressure readings on your guage. I can offer a comment on the odor. On my father's 2004 Dodge pickup truck with the Cummins diesel engine, and also on our 9500 Deere combine. The newer spec oils seem to have that odor you mentioned coming from the breather tube on the engines, where we can find a breather tube. I have not looked on the Cummins engine for the breather tube, but you can certainly notice the odor from that engine, too. I cannot say we have noticed anything on our tractors. The odor has come from the engine oils used in these machines and they have not been Rotella. The engine oil that has been used has been Cenex and FarmOyl.
 
Hi, I like RPMdelo the best. If it's a bit more money that doesn't matter. IMO. Ed Will Oliver BC
 
I forgot to add one time I took my Dodge with a Cummins in to the Dodge dealer who was also a Ford dealer,, I have no clue who produced the oil for the Ford power stroke but that is the oil they installed,, I noticed on my way home 100 miles one way I was running 15-20 psi lower oil pressure, that one had a manual gauge along with the factory one, both showed a drop in psi,, I got home and got out I could SMELL oil bad looked at my breather tube and oil was dripping out and made a small puddle,, I got back in the truck and drove it to my shop and dropped that oil and filter, refilled it with Case HD dsl oil and oil PSI went right back and Zero blow-by/drippage ever again, what ever oil it was crap as far as I was concerned as well
cnt
 
That seems funny . The freight line I drove for used Rotella 15-40 in all our trucks gas or diesel and LP fork lifts with no problems. The company had 30 tractors ,5 straight trucks,3 tow trucks,and 4 forklifts + company cars.
 
many years ago, I worked in a fleet truck shop. A salesman convinced the boss to change over to that oil that passed the "gold ring test". Within about 6 months we had significant increase in oil consumption. Not long after that We had to overhaul most of the engines in the fleet. The rings were carboned up. I guess that oil dosen't work in Cummins.
Tim in OR
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top