Author Topic: Shell Rotella T5-a proven high quality oil (Rotella T6, and German Castrol also) (Read 35716 times)

Ambystom01 · « **on:** March 24, 2011, 03:25:23 pm »

I got the used oil analysis back on my used engine oil. I was using Shell Rotella T5. If you look around on this forum, for whatever reason, this oil seems to be a bit controversial. It's generally found in the diesel oil section of your local Canadian Tire. Users on NASIOC and BITOG have reported it's a good oil for Subaru engines but it remains a hot topic. Hopefully these results will put that to rest. Nothing extraordinary stands out and the additives are still going strong after 8000 km.

k_LX · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2011, 03:47:52 pm »

Thanks for posting up the analysis report. This is the oil I ran for the winter and it seems to be holding up just fine, but I only have about 3000km on the oil since October.

Zaider · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2011, 04:26:22 pm »

Agreed. Thanks for posting up the results Amby!

Klautt · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2011, 09:12:29 pm »

I also tried it this year. Have experienced no problems with starting, burning or otherwise, and will be using it again for this springs oil change.

Ambystom01 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2011, 09:52:55 pm »

I've been using it for about the last year and haven't noticed any consumption or other issues. It's a great oil for the price.

bejamin · « **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2011, 11:11:47 pm »

This is what i'll be using for my next oil change. I think i've seen it at Autovalue.

silent · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2011, 12:08:51 am »

Were there any notes regarding the lower than expected flashpoint?

mudferret · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2011, 08:29:48 am »

Quote from: Ambystom01 on March 24, 2011, 09:52:55 pm

I've been using it for about the last year and haven't noticed any consumption or other issues. It's a great oil for the price.

So zero oil added throughout the 8k km interval? I'm running Petro Can synthetic right now and may stretch out my interval. I may give T5 a shot next time around. Thanks for posting up your results, ain't science cool?

LilDrunkenSmurf · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2011, 08:36:12 am »

I'm running the T6..? 5w40.

Ambystom01 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2011, 09:55:38 am »

Yes, no oil added during the course of using it. When I changed it, seemingly the same came out as went back in.
They're sending an actual paper copy so maybe that will so maybe that will have more details on the flashpoint. I presume that since he didn't explicitly mention it in the above report, it's not surprising. I am wondering if maybe the fact my sample sat in my garage for a month could be skewing the results slightly. When I do another oil change, I'll repeat the testing.

Edit: Some other analyzes of Shell Rotella, in this case, their 5w-40.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1937230
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2078804
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1963411

xrayvsn · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2011, 09:57:43 am »

You don't think that 0.8% fuel dilution wouldn't drop the flashpoint?

Ambystom01 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2011, 10:09:37 am »

It should, I'm also wondering if the type of fuel is having an effect, ie. Husky 94 rather than a traditional 91 or 93 without ethanol.

silent · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2011, 11:47:33 am »

Quote from: xrayvsn on March 25, 2011, 09:57:43 am

You don't think that 0.8% fuel dilution wouldn't drop the flashpoint?

Initially I thought that as well, but the fuel dilution is within expected ranges so I would have assumed the flashpoint to be there as well. I have a feeling some of the trace of moisture may be due to the sample sitting in your garage for the month -- unless you sealed it with some sort of wrap, I doubt the container is air-tight.

Ambystom01 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2011, 12:32:46 pm »

No it was just a standard small ziploc container. I think they're used for pudding and the like. Based on the other results I posted, it looks like Rotella may have a lower flashpoint. I also ran it for quite a while and the additives are close to being used up. I'll likely change it again come mid-April or so and I'll send another sample in to see if there's any correlation between flashpoint and the amount of additives remaining.

JDMMAN · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2011, 10:40:19 pm »

Good thing you chose the 0w40, that's the full synthetic T5, the other grades aren't. This was first hand from Shell's boffins.

Ambystom01 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2011, 10:48:08 pm »

So far it's the only weight of T5 I've seen. The T6 is 5w-40 and it's also full synthetic.

LilDrunkenSmurf · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2011, 11:00:14 pm »

Quote from: Ambystom01 on March 27, 2011, 10:48:08 pm

So far it's the only weight of T5 I've seen. The T6 is 5w-40 and it's also full synthetic.

Yup. That's what I ended up buying.

Suby-Doo · « **Reply #17 on:** March 29, 2011, 12:25:41 am »

Thanks for the post!
I have already decided to try Rotella on my next oil change and this makes the decision even easier.
I drive a 2009 STI, Would you guys recommend the T5 0w40 or T6 5w-40?

pearl boxer · « **Reply #18 on:** March 29, 2011, 08:38:45 am »

Quote from: Suby-Doo on March 29, 2011, 12:25:41 am

Thanks for the post!
I have already decided to try Rotella on my next oil change and this makes the decision even easier.
I drive a 2009 STI, Would you guys recommend the T5 0w40 or T6 5w-40?

Hit up the 5W-40. We're heading into Spring(eventually) so running a 0w oil isnt really necessary.

Ambystom01 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 29, 2011, 09:34:13 am »

If you can find the 5w-40, go for it. Either one should be fine though, but PB makes a good point.

jvd · « **Reply #20 on:** March 29, 2011, 05:05:35 pm »

I run the T6 5-40.

It can be had in the 5L jugs so only one container required per change.

How dark did your oil look after 8k?

Ambystom01 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 29, 2011, 05:22:00 pm »

It looked like used oil should look, so black. Even when it was cold though it still poured very well.

LilDrunkenSmurf · « **Reply #22 on:** March 29, 2011, 06:45:23 pm »

Just like to mention that this is the first oil I haven't had to top up after 1000k (T6)

Suby-Doo · « **Reply #23 on:** March 29, 2011, 11:41:25 pm »

Quote from: jvd on March 29, 2011, 05:05:35 pm

I run the T6 5-40.

It can be had in the 5L jugs so only one container required per change.

How dark did your oil look after 8k?

where in calgary can I pick up a jug of T6?

Ambystom01 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:17:54 am »

Canadian Tire.