Oil Brand for Oil Changes??

[sibe]

IMO, if you ever question how an can or will work,,, just after an oil change or during use, draw a sample and send it to a lab for analysis,, It will tell you any odd wear items and oil life and many other tidbits..

Then you will know....

I am a stinker on oils, I have used private label oils after research or inside info of who makes it and the spec.. Never had an issue..

I also buy normally an overkill oil or some say boutique oils..mainly when I am pushing my RV maybe a bit harder than the norm.. Large hlls, towing, hot weather, need to run longer or max distance on a change,,..

Since I had a bad cooling failure on a uphill in a construction one lane ... that I had to limp it 1.5 miles to a pull off.. towing a bit heavy, 85 degree day., sunday 5 pm traffic after a nascar event... LOL
There was zero coolant left, oil was crackling in pan.. exhaust was glowing when i got hood open with help of a trucker who had had some big arse gloves...
Moral of story is no engine damage,,, I let it cool 6 hours, fixed hose.. dumped oil that was still warm and did not thicken much... refilled oil/ coolant, finished the ride home.. I had more hoses, water pump, TC cover leak.. to fix as after effects.,,,
Motor was fine, I used a 15W40 diesel specific full syn..with a few ounces of lucas just becasue.. I did send oil out and it came back just about toast..functioning but done,, I did oil analysis after incident and nothing out of place...

we can debate for days..if wanted but use oil that meets or exceeds specs, approved to engine spec and change it properly/timely based upon use

[fagnaml]

Let me the Refinery Operations Manager opine. All major oil companies manufacture engine oils to meet API (American Petroleum Institute) that develops engine oil specifications in partnership with vehicle and engine manufacturers. The current gasoline engine oil is "SP" while the current diesel engine is "CK-4". This is the link to the API Motor Oil Guide --> https://www.api.org/-/media/Files/Ce...ide%201020.pdf

Each engine oil manufacturer will use additives to meet the API specifications. Since the additives used are from different suppliers, there is a chance that additives may not be compatible if different brands of engine oil are used at the same time in an engine (e.g. avoid mixing Shell Rotella and Chevron Delo heavy duty engine oils). Switching brands at each oil change is OK (use Shell, then use Chevron, then Walmart, etc.).

Regarding Walmart and Costco branded engine oils, they meet current API specs (SP gasoline / CK-4 diesel) and are equally as good as Shell, Castrol, Pennzoil, etc. engine oils. The price for Walmart and Costco engine oils is lower than for Shell, Mobil, Chevron, etc. as Walmart and Costco accept a very slim profit margin for their branded oils versus the profit margins desired by the major oil companies.

In a nutshell, using any brand of API certified engine oil in your coach or personal vehicle is very acceptable -- go for the lowest price. Don't mix brands used in your engine due to possible incompatibility of additives. OK to change brands at each oil change.

Hope this info is useful !

[CountryFit]

Thank you Mike, for the good info!

[FlyingW]

Originally Posted by fagnaml

Let me the Refinery Operations Manager opine. All major oil companies manufacture engine oils to meet API (American Petroleum Institute) that develops engine oil specifications in partnership with vehicle and engine manufacturers. The current gasoline engine oil is "SP" while the current diesel engine is "CK-4". This is the link to the API Motor Oil Guide --> https://www.api.org/-/media/Files/Ce...ide%201020.pdf

Each engine oil manufacturer will use additives to meet the API specifications. Since the additives used are from different suppliers, there is a chance that additives may not be compatible if different brands of engine oil are used at the same time in an engine (e.g. avoid mixing Shell Rotella and Chevron Delo heavy duty engine oils). Switching brands at each oil change is OK (use Shell, then use Chevron, then Walmart, etc.).

Regarding Walmart and Costco branded engine oils, they meet current API specs (SP gasoline / CK-4 diesel) and are equally as good as Shell, Castrol, Pennzoil, etc. engine oils. The price for Walmart and Costco engine oils is lower than for Shell, Mobil, Chevron, etc. as Walmart and Costco accept a very slim profit margin for their branded oils versus the profit margins desired by the major oil companies.

In a nutshell, using any brand of API certified engine oil in your coach or personal vehicle is very acceptable -- go for the lowest price. Don't mix brands used in your engine due to possible incompatibility of additives. OK to change brands at each oil change.

Hope this info is useful !

Excellent response, thank you!