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Diesel engine oil ruining a gasoline engine

R

Roger in Iowa

Well-known Member
Reportedly hired man put diesel engine oil in a gasoline engine in a pickup and ruined the engine. Anyone heard or experienced this?
 

If the diesel oil was a high ash formula for pre 2007 Diesel engines . And the oil was used in a direct injection gas engine that requires a no ash oil .
Then yes the DI gas engine will be bunged with deposits on the valves and in the exhaust system .
So read the labels and operators manual . The design engineers are usually know more about the machine than Bubba .
 
Except of mowers, rangers, gators and 4 wheelers every thing on the farm gets 15w 40 premium blue.
 
Our Subaru recommends 0-20 synthetic, 15-40 might damage it, I'm not going to do it to find out. Modern engines with variable valve timing require lighter oil, I believe.
 
BS i have 20+ engines gas and Diesel run 15-40 Diesel oil in everyone even a 6v53 Detroit never have had a engine go bad our 2017 ram with a 6.4 gas calls for 0-40 it gets 15-40 my Goldwing gets it 172,000 + oil was not the problem
 
I use mobil delvac in everything except the van and it requires 5w30. Lawnmower tractors pickups gas and diesel been doing it for twenty five years no problem.
 
Depend on the year and complexity of the engine.

If it was a late model, gas direct injection, prolonged use would carbon the intake valves until it lost power or a chunk of carbon broke loose and caused it to drop a valve or pound the top of a piston. Still that would take a good while to happen, not instant destruction.

And variable valve timing would not work as it should, but would not be destructive.

For an older engine, it would not hurt it.
 

I find that hard to believe..... yes the older oils would foul the cat... due to excessive antiwear additives, but it would take a while to do it. But any high moly gas oil would do the same.

I have seen where diesel oil was used on some gas engines to remove the sludge build up to FIX the engine.
 
I use 15-40 in everything, BUT, the modern motor vehicles which call for 5-20, 5-30, or whatever lighter oils. I recently discovered my new pickup is direct injection [gas]. The first oil change was free at the dealer. You can believe I will be very careful with what I put in it.
 
Hard to believe. My Harley calls for 20W-50. If on the rode and need oil with no 20W-50 to be found, manual specifies to use 15W-40 diesel oil.
 
I've been using 15W-40 diesel grade oil in all diesel and gas motors I own for the last 20+ years with no known problems from it.Older motors so new ones may be different.
 
A newer gas pickup with variable valve timing could require a synthetic or blend of 0w-20 or 0w-30. In an engine like that you could take out cam bushings and damage the variable valve timing mechanism which is run by the oil with 15-40 Diesel engine oil.
 
> My Harley calls for 20W-50. If on the rode and need oil with no 20W-50 to be found, manual specifies to use 15W-40 diesel oil.

That has to do with the wet clutch. Motorcycles with wet clutches require JASO "MA"-rated oils. Automotive synthetic and semi-synthetic oils are too slippery and aren't MA rated. But many diesel oils are.
 
In a modern engine it is possible,but old engines will usually run on anything without problems.In general,when talking about, old engines,it is better to run diesel oil in the old gassers.Either way,I have a hard time believing that by using the wrong oil once,it would blow up an engine.I just don't think it's a long enough period of time to do any harm.JMHO

Rock
 
(quoted from post at 14:27:02 09/28/20) A newer gas pickup with variable valve timing could require a synthetic or blend of 0w-20 or 0w-30. In an engine like that you could take out cam bushings and damage the variable valve timing mechanism which is run by the oil with 15-40 Diesel engine oil.
Click to expand...

"you could take out cam bushings"

Male bovine excrement, pure and simple.
 
I guess the five gallons of diesel oil I used my gas truck should have blown it .I did not know this !
Dodged a bullet.
 
(quoted from post at 00:13:48 09/29/20) I guess the five gallons of diesel oil I used my gas truck should have blown it .I did not know this !
Dodged a bullet.
Click to expand...
here are as many 'stories' & 'beliefs' as there are people!
 
Yep, identical specifications, grade, etc., but different 'brand' will blow your engine....so I have been told! :(
 
(quoted from post at 10:54:12 09/28/20) Reportedly hired man put diesel engine oil in a gasoline engine in a pickup and ruined the engine. Anyone heard or experienced this?
Click to expand...

Hmm, hasn't been back since dropping this vague turd of a question.

Y'all been trolled.
 
I think a lot would depend on the gas vehicle. Some of the newer vehicles call for 0-20 motor oil and diesel motor oil is a lot thicker and wouldn't circulate right. It would then cause the motor to get hot. Diesel motor oil is also suppose to be harmful to catalytic converters in gasoline vehicles. Better to stick with the motor oil recommended by the manufacturer.
 
As I've stated before,anything prior to 1985 should be using diesel oil for the added Zinc content,all flat tappet engines require it or you will lose your cam lobes, that includes tractors,motorcycles,lawnmowers,etc.I've used diesel oil since I found out about it after losing my cam lobes and lifters wore through on the bottom of my 71 350 Chevy motor,if you don't have a roller cam and lifters you will have a problem.There are also Zinc additives you can add to the oil.Thank you EPA.
 
(quoted from post at 15:49:52 09/28/20) I use mobil delvac in everything except the van and it requires 5w30. Lawnmower tractors pickups gas and diesel been doing it for twenty five years no problem.
Click to expand...

The question was asked earlier . For those out you using diesel oil
In gas engines for the past 40 years . How many of those engines were natural gas , propane or direct injection gasoline ?
 
(quoted from post at 15:47:49 09/28/20) BS i have 20+ engines gas and Diesel run 15-40 Diesel oil in everyone even a 6v53 Detroit never have had a engine go bad our 2017 ram with a 6.4 gas calls for 0-40 it gets 15-40 my Goldwing gets it 172,000 + oil was not the problem
Click to expand...

If that 6V-53 lube oil is not low ash . Sooner or later it will quit running no problem .
 
Years ago I changed the oil in my 73 chevy pickup with Union Guardol series 3 oil. Immediately it started using oil, leaking. Upon teardown I found the oil seals were plastic. I replaced them with neoprene. I put 200,000 miles on that engine after that with no problems.
My jobber said he ran his newer pickup on Guardol with no problem. Different years different problems. I have never used diesel oil in a gas engine since but have been getting close to it recently. I think I will not do it.
 
(quoted from post at 08:09:37 09/29/20)
(quoted from post at 15:49:52 09/28/20) I use mobil delvac in everything except the van and it requires 5w30. Lawnmower tractors pickups gas and diesel been doing it for twenty five years no problem.
Click to expand...

The question was asked earlier . For those out you using diesel oil
In gas engines for the past 40 years . How many of those engines were natural gas , propane or direct injection gasoline ?
Click to expand...

That is a very good question.

Engines have evolved, too. The Hemi in my Dodge Challenger switches itself from 8 cyl to 4 when cruising at highway speed by some fancy footwork internally. I do not know what that system is called, but was warned any oil thicker than specified will foul it up expensively and quickly. I don't let anyone other than the dealer add anything to that car except for gasoline.

I wish the guy would come back and tell what the engine was.
 

There is motor oil specifically made for engines operating on natural gas or propane . To prevent fouling the engine with oil deposits .
 
The heavy oil was building up in the valve cover or covers because the drain holes are sized for a much lighter oil and the oil pan ran dry?
 
(quoted from post at 07:30:01 09/29/20) I think a lot would depend on the gas vehicle. Some of the newer vehicles call for 0-20 motor oil and diesel motor oil is a lot thicker and wouldn't circulate right. It would then cause the motor to get hot. Diesel motor oil is also suppose to be harmful to catalytic converters in gasoline vehicles. Better to stick with the motor oil recommended by the manufacturer.
Click to expand...

Lots of the new 20w oils are for mpg improvements and reduced drag with the thinner oil. As long as the bearings are wide enough to support the load, the 20w will work, and have less drag. Some are even tallking about going to 5w oils.. will be interesting to see how these engines run when they have some higher wear on them. Will there be enough fluid film strength to protect the bearings??

I still dont see damage...
 
(quoted from post at 08:23:12 09/29/20)
(quoted from post at 10:54:12 09/28/20) Reportedly hired man put diesel engine oil in a gasoline engine in a pickup and ruined the engine. Anyone heard or experienced this?
Click to expand...

Hmm, hasn't been back since dropping this vague turd of a question.

Y'all been trolled.
Click to expand...
a got it!
 
My 20 year old mobile welder with Honda gasoline engine runs happy on 15w/40 diesel spec oil
I would say there is no right or wrong answer
 

Lube oil that is too viscous will not flow properly to and into the narrow clearance bearings designed for 0W-20 weight .
 
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