15W-40 oil for 7.3L PowerStroke

[PaulnGina]

Basically, this thread is to let other 7.3L PowerStroke owners know of what I have found to be a very good engine oil. It is Tractor Supply's Traveller 15W-40. It is on sale at the moment for $39.99/5-gallon pail! Usually, it is $49.99, which is still a great deal. Considering the fact that this PowerStroke uses 14-15 quarts of oil per change, this price helps considerably on the upkeep costs related to the diesel engine. Makes for cheap preventive maintenance.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/stor...gine-oil-5-gal

I started using it several years ago after deciding to try it, then have it tested by Blackstone labs for the 1st 4 or 5 oil changes. Every one of them came back showing that it was doing fantastic in the PowerStroke. I have it tested every other change now, and all have been good.

Anyway, if you want a tried, tested, good oil that reflects a price that isn't supporting glossy ads, racing teams, etc, you might give it a try.

[SteveH]

That's a good price, since I pay that for 3 gallons of oil for my truck at Walmart, but mine calls for 15W-50 weight. Do they have it in 15W-50?

[PaulnGina]

Originally Posted by SteveH

That's a good price, since I pay that for 3 gallons of oil for my truck at Walmart, but mine calls for 15W-50 weight. Do they have it in 15W-50?

I searched their site....... nothing..... sorry!

[SteveH]

Oooops, made a mistake....went and looked and it is 15W-40. I'll give this a try the next time I need an oil change. Thanks.

[wahoonc]

That is a good deal! Thanks for the heads up. We typically buy Rotella.... in 55 gallon drums We have several heavy trucks, plus heavy equipment. My 7.3 is a sipper compared to a Cat C-15 which holds 11-12 gallons!

Aaron

[HowieE]

Any reason not to consider it for the Ford 6.0? I had always used Rotella in my GM diesels but when I put it into my 6.0 the first 1/2 mile each cold am was a limp speed if that. I have been using Valvoline Synthetic. The cured the cold weather problems but is a bit expensive.

What change interval are you using?

[handn]

Oil is oil as long as it is CJ 4 rated. If not, I would pass. Lots of bad things happen to a diesel if the oil doesn't have the right additives to neutralize the acid created and hold all the particulates in suspension.
I buy Delo at Costco. It is about $38 for three gallons.
My 2000 Powerstroke is running like new at 225k miles suing mostly Delo oil and premium oil filters like Motorcraft. If you read the fine print, not all oil filters are equal. The cheapies capture about 92% of particles and the premium ones about 98%.
I change fuel filters at 10k intervals rather than 15k as recommended in the owners manual.

[handn]

I read the link. The Tractor Supply oil is CJ-4 rated. I agree it is a good deal.

[PaulnGina]

Originally Posted by HowieE

Any reason not to consider it for the Ford 6.0? I had always used Rotella in my GM diesels but when I put it into my 6.0 the first 1/2 mile each cold am was a limp speed if that. I have been using Valvoline Synthetic. The cured the cold weather problems but is a bit expensive.

What change interval are you using?

Well, since I have a 7.3L, I felt I could comment specifically on that one. Check the requirements of the 6.0L. If the TSC oil is rated correctly, that's what I'd go by.

Although I have included a bypass oil filter on my truck (an FS-2500...not to get extended oil change intervals, but for super-duper filtering), I adhere to 5K-mile change intervals. I use Motorcraft oil and fuel filters.

[wvstreamer]

PaulnGina,
That's a great tip. I have always used Motorcraft 15-40 from Walmart but that's great news on TS. Changing brands has always made me worried but if you say it tested well, I will try it. At 170K there is still no oil consumption with 5000 mile changes on my 96 7.3. I use Motorcraft filters on oil and fuel, good additive and fresh fuel. Fuel filter changes at 10 to 12k. Don't want to rock the boat but think I will try the traveler deal. Appreciate your wisdom. I also will check on Blackstone.
Dave

[PaulnGina]

There may be other places to get your oil analysis, but I have always used Blackstone Labs. Their standard test costs $25.
Blackstone Labs

They will send you free test kits:
Blackstone Labs

[Sodbust]

A little over a year or so I read a write up in Land Line,, the main trucker paper.. They tested the new Rotella T6 and are ran a 100,000 road test. Testing the oil every 10,000 miles or so to make sure its holding up ok..

The comment they made with there testing was it tested 10 times better than Mobil 1 for engine protection and were shocked how well it did. They truly feel a trucker might be able to run 200,000 miles before the oil started to get to nasty and needed changing.

Since then I have moved over too it full time in all our farming diesel and gas engines. Walmart sells it for $27 a gallon and since I went from 100 hour oil changes to 500 hour and it drains out as clear as it was poured in.. Im impressed.. Even near worn out engines have slowed down oil burning. Its rated as a 5W 40 and the only flavor it comes in.. Cold starts in the winter the engine spins over like its a 70 degree day..

Yes it hurts a little when I have to pour in 10 gallons in a larger diesel,, but the out of pocket costs is cheaper over the 500 hours than discount store blends you can by cheaper.
Sodbust

[slowmover]

I started with T6 about seven years ago. The rule, of course, is not to run out of oil or let it deteriorate. My truck allows about 5k to 15k changes depending on conditions. I change yearly at a minimum. Rotella is at least as good as the rest (T5), and the T6 just a bit better. The engine turns over even more easily in hot South Texas than with the dino 15W40.

Baldwin or Donaldson filters only.


from the AIRphone

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by Sodbust

A little over a year or so I read a write up in Land Line,, the main trucker paper.. They tested the new Rotella T6 and are ran a 100,000 road test. Testing the oil every 10,000 miles or so to make sure its holding up ok..

The comment they made with there testing was it tested 10 times better than Mobil 1 for engine protection and were shocked how well it did. They truly feel a trucker might be able to run 200,000 miles before the oil started to get to nasty and needed changing.

Since then I have moved over too it full time in all our farming diesel and gas engines. Walmart sells it for $27 a gallon and since I went from 100 hour oil changes to 500 hour and it drains out as clear as it was poured in.. Im impressed.. Even near worn out engines have slowed down oil burning. Its rated as a 5W 40 and the only flavor it comes in.. Cold starts in the winter the engine spins over like its a 70 degree day..

Yes it hurts a little when I have to pour in 10 gallons in a larger diesel,, but the out of pocket costs is cheaper over the 500 hours than discount store blends you can by cheaper.
Sodbust

Do you have a formula that you use, or speed, to convert engine hours on farm equipment to miles driven in a road vehicle?

[tjdonahoe]

My dodge manual wants the oil changed at I believe 7500 miles even if it is synthetic, I use chevron 15-40 cj,from costco or wallmart.....and change at 4-5000 miles....

[tjdonahoe]

Steve , we used 40 miles/ hr, so 300 hours would be like 12000 miles,that is what we used on off road or close hauls,also I don't believe in these extended oil changes, I always changed oil in my cat every 10000 miles, now has 1.4 million miles,the head has never been off, rolled new bearings in at 1 million and they had very little wear.

[SteveH]

I've been changing my Cummins' oil at 5-6000 miles using Mobil Delvac because that was the only oil that met the requirement (CJ-4) of the '12 engine that Walmart had when I got it.

I used to use Rotella sysnthetic in my Duramax, and changed it at 10,000 miles, but the Ram supposedly won't tolerate that many miles on the oil, even if it is synthetic, so I use the Mobil Delvac. I get it for just under $13 a gallon, so not too bad.

I do remember the Rotella came out just as black as the Mobil, so I think Diesels are just like that.

[Wayne Clamp]

Interpreting points. I have always held to the around 5000 miles on the oil change in diesel pickups. I just got a 2015 dodge 3/4 ton diesel..Interesting point of which i am wondering. The truck actually has a visual readout in the instrument panel which actually tells when the oil change is needed. That I wounder about. But with all the technology these days it might be right, but at the rate it is changing it says it will run between 10, 000 and 12,000 when it needs to be changed. For the life of me I cant see how it knows, but who am i to say, the question then becomes do i believe that gauge or my guts.

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by Wayne Clamp

Interpreting points. I have always held to the around 5000 miles on the oil change in diesel pickups. I just got a 2015 dodge 3/4 ton diesel..Interesting point of which i am wondering. The truck actually has a visual readout in the instrument panel which actually tells when the oil change is needed. That I wounder about. But with all the technology these days it might be right, but at the rate it is changing it says it will run between 10, 000 and 12,000 when it needs to be changed. For the life of me I cant see how it knows, but who am i to say, the question then becomes do i believe that gauge or my guts.

When I first got my '12 Ram, the computer was calling for an oil change every 3,000 to 3,500 miles. I read on the truck forum that the type of DPF regeneration the truck used caused a lot of fuel to get into the oil, and the oil level actually increases, and that is how the computer knows when to change the oil, by the oil level, as well as other factors such as miles and time.

The solution to the quick oil changes on my truck was to not put the full 12 quarts of oil in at the change, but put 11 quarts in it, and now it will go 5 to 6,000 miles.

I believe the '13's and later are different.

[tjdonahoe]

The fuel is injected in the exhaust after the engine , the level goes up because of the soot from reburning the a portion of the exhaust, the cj 4 oil was developed to carry the contaminates ,just my take on this