Shell Rotella T5 15w40 synthetic blend year round use

[Phatboy 565]

I currently because it is summer use shell Rotella T1 SAE 30w in my Onan 520,, i was wondering what you guys think about Shell Rotella T5, SAE 15W-40 for year round use ? It is a synthetic blend oil and i really like the 30W oil,, and being its 15-40 its thicker,, and a blend so im guessing ( novice guess ) it could be good for year round use,,, so guys let me know your thoughts,,oh and of course with my napa gold extra capasity tall oil filter part # 1516....

Edited April 22, 2016 by Phatboy

[cleat 7,028]

I run shell Rotella 15W40 in my diesel tractor year round.

Never thought of running it in my Horses.

[clip 185]

Use what's recommended by the manufacturer for your intended use and temperature range for best results. In a pinch, substitute something close.

[tbarnhart 240]

I assume you're talking about the onan. The Rotella should be a good oil for that, but I don't see it as being a lot better than the rotella 30wt, unless you have a lot of cold weather. It would be ok as a year-round fill. I run 15w40 diesel oil in my Tecumseh. Some say that oil consumption could go up with the multi-grade, but you'd probably have to just try it and observe it carefully to know. I've thought about going to a straight weight next time and see if makes any difference. It doesn't use a lot of the 15w40, but I do have to add a bit between changes.Most of these HD diesel oils are also rated for gas engines as well, and are good oils in controlling wear and combustion contamination.

[Phatboy 565]

Yea guys its the T5 version of the 15W-40 a synthetic blend, and not that is is better than the 30W but i live in Pennsylvania so the multi grade i was thinking in the heavier weight " Might" work well as a year round oil.. In my kohlers i ran straight 30W year round ,, but in my Onan im thinking the synthetic blend might handle the heat maybe slightly better in the rear cylinder , and also the 40W in multi grade might help also just pondering ,,,i have spoke to the original owner on exactly what oils he ran,, in summer he ran "Toro brand straight  30W and in winter he ran 10W-30... So that being said i was thinking the engine is used to a multi grade already so why not just beef up the viscosity a little bit , and run year round,, and he also ran the "Toro" 10W-30 in the hydro,, he sent me a pic of what oil the dealer used ,, as he is a older fella and the dealer did all his maintanance twice a year,,, so hydro oil is definatly being changed to 1 of 2 oils i habent decided which yet,, and im leaning towards this T5 rotella in engine year round,,

Edited April 23, 2016 by Phatboy

[Phatboy 565]

Previously used oil by the original owner ,, it is what the dealer used in hydro and during winter months..

Edited April 23, 2016 by Phatboy

[Kurt-NEPA 755]

I'm thinking along the same lines.  I use Shell Rotella 15W-40 in my Ford Tractors and it has worked perfectly for years.  My 520H's call for 30 wt oil and I like to run full synthetic in them, But I can't find synthetic 30 wt anywhere these days.  This year I put in Mobil 1 10W-30 but I'm a little nervous for summer use.

 

What do you guys run in your Onans?

[Phatboy 565]

36 minutes ago, Kurt-NEPA said:

I'm thinking along the same lines.  I use Shell Rotella 15W-40 in my Ford Tractors and it has worked perfectly for years.  My 520H's call for 30 wt oil and I like to run full synthetic in them, But I can't find synthetic 30 wt anywhere these days.  This year I put in Mobil 1 10W-30 but I'm a little nervous for summer use.

 

What do you guys run in your Onans?

Yea i think the 10W-30 might be a little thin for a Onan esp where you live in georgia,,,i woild go with the 15W-40 T5 Rotella esp down where you are in your climate 

[ACman 7,630]

Check out Amsoil,Royal Purple, and maybe Brad Penn ( which was Kendall I believe, best conventional oil IMO ) lots of racers and engine builders use these in straight wt .

[953 nut 57,886]

   Lubricant technology had come a long way since the Owner's Manual for my  was written, in fact synthetics didn't exist and multi-viscosity oil was new to the market. I have been using 5W40 in my 1055 snow pusher and 10W30 in all the rest for years and have had no oil consumption problems. The fact that in 1962 the Owner's Manual for my 953 said to use 10W Non-detergent oil in the winter and 30 in the summer doesn't mean that I should reject today's technology.   

[Rob R 970]

I use the multi weight Rotella in all my tractors..... no issues.... none.....!

[Phatboy 565]

Yup done deal thats what m gonna do Rotalla T5 synthetic blend 15W-40 is the winner i just changed my oil wit rotella T1 SAE30 about a month ago so august i will do it all hydro with JD Hyguard and Napa 1410 filter ,, and engine with the T5 and Napa 1516 filter...thanks for all the replys !!

[cranman51 39]

15-40 diesel oil has anti-wear additives that will really mess up modern car catalytic converters, but I use it in all my small engines and all my gasoline equipment made before the cats. Back in the pre-catalytic converter days it was common to put the same oil into diesels and cars...not so now. If you don't have a cat...diesel oil is the way to go.

[DougC 2,642]

I have used 30w Valvoline in the summer and 10w30 Valvoline in the winter in my 95 520H since I bought it used with 25 hours on it almost 20 years ago and have had no problems or oil consumption issues with the Onan  which now has 1,050 hours. 

[Phatboy 565]

34 minutes ago, DougC said:

I have used 30w Valvoline in the summer and 10w30 Valvoline in the winter in my 95 520H since I bought it used with 25 hours on it almost 20 years ago and have had no problems or oil consumption issues with the Onan  which now has 1,050 hours. 

Yea Doug my thing about thos was being able to use the Rotella T5 15W-40 year round instead of the 2 different oils and because of the 40 weight it should be good enough for summer also,, thos way i dont need to carry 2 different oils..

[Tankman 3,520]

I use 30W year round, no problems with my 520-8 Onan.

I do know synthetic is best. If not, why does UPS only use Mobil 1 synthetic gear lube?

UPS perhaps uses non-synthetic in their engines due to the frequent oil changes.

Synthetic oil molecules are exact same diameters, roll. Non-synthetic molecules are not, less "rolling" protection. 

Always Mobil 1 synthetic gear lube in my gear boxes. How often is gear lube changed? Not often. Spend a little extra.

Edited April 24, 2016 by Tankman