Shell Rotella in A White Bottle?

[Steve K (IA)]

Been to Walmart and ORielly's and don't see the familiar blue bottle of Rotella T 15-40.  I see white bottles.  Is this the same stuff? ??? Price is about right.

[Warlock]

The blue bottle is 5w40 and the white is 15w40. I have been using the blue bottle, but I'm switching to the white bottle 15w40.
David

[Steve K (IA)]

Ok, white bottle it is.  Didn't remember that the blue was 5-40.  15-40 should be alright.  Thanks.

[X Ring]

Steve, white jug Rotella T is dino oil, gray jug Rotella T5 is semi synthetic and blue jug Rotella T6 is full synthetic.

Marty

[Warlock]

Steve, white jug Rotella T is dino oil, gray jug Rotella T5 is semi synthetic and blue jug Rotella T6 is full synthetic.

Marty

The blue is listed as synthetic, but is really a dino oil. The properties are so great they can list it as a synthetic.
David

[X Ring]

From Shell's website:

Shell Rotella® T6 Full Synthetic oil features an advanced multi-functional, low-ash additive technology in a synthetic base oil designed to provide highly responsive protection that continuously adapts to your driving conditions. Use of selected low-viscosity synthetic base oils further energizes the oil’s protective capability that promotes fuel-economy performance with no compromise in durability. Shell Rotella® T6 can contribute in many ways:
• Extended-drain capable
• Energy saving – fuel-economy performance*
• Excellent engine cleanliness and wear protection
• Excellent extreme high/low-temperature protection
• Improved low-temperature flow*

 

Shell Rotella® T6 builds on our commitment to providing innovative solutions to meet the technical and operational needs of your equipment.
*Compared with Shell Rotella® T Triple Protection® SAE 15W-40 engine oil.


If it isn't, Shell is violating truth in advertising laws.

Marty

[R J]

I'll just keep using Mobil 1..........   240,000 + change miles & no engine problems is good enough for me.

[Valker]

Steve, white jug Rotella T is dino oil, gray jug Rotella T5 is semi synthetic and blue jug Rotella T6 is full synthetic.

Marty

The blue is listed as synthetic, but is really a dino oil. The properties are so great they can list it as a synthetic.
David

It is illegal for a company to say an oil is synthetic if it is from natural sources, and if there is ANY dino oil in it, it has to be listed as a 'blend'. It can not be derived from dino oil molecules. "Synthetic" does not have anything to do with the "properties" or performance, but is determined on the molecular level.

[Red Diamond]

I'll just keep using Mobil 1..........   240,000 + change miles & no engine problems is good enough for me.

Mobil 1 15-50 to be exact, A+

[X Ring]

I'll just keep using Mobil 1..........   240,000 + change miles & no engine problems is good enough for me.

Mobil 1 15-50 to be exact, A+

Same oil I use.  Tried the Rotella T6 Synthetic but didn't like it.

Marty

[Hoser]

+1 on the Mobil 15-40 hoser

[Warlock]

From Shell's website:

Shell Rotella® T6 Full Synthetic oil features an advanced multi-functional, low-ash additive technology in a synthetic base oil designed to provide highly responsive protection that continuously adapts to your driving conditions. Use of selected low-viscosity synthetic base oils further energizes the oil’s protective capability that promotes fuel-economy performance with no compromise in durability. Shell Rotella® T6 can contribute in many ways:
• Extended-drain capable
• Energy saving – fuel-economy performance*
• Excellent engine cleanliness and wear protection
• Excellent extreme high/low-temperature protection
• Improved low-temperature flow*

 

Shell Rotella® T6 builds on our commitment to providing innovative solutions to meet the technical and operational needs of your equipment.
*Compared with Shell Rotella® T Triple Protection® SAE 15W-40 engine oil.


If it isn't, Shell is violating truth in advertising laws.

Marty

From bob the oil guy
Apparently, the server for the tech specs was down, but here is what I find interesting:

The MSDS on the 5W40 shows the so-called synthetic as a Group II and Group III Base oil, while the SB 10W30 and 10W40 blends shows a blend of PAO and Group II oils.

The 5W40 is no more a synthetic than I can play guitar better than Stevie Ray Vaughn!
David

[Warlock]

Steve, white jug Rotella T is dino oil, gray jug Rotella T5 is semi synthetic and blue jug Rotella T6 is full synthetic.

Marty

The blue is listed as synthetic, but is really a dino oil. The properties are so great they can list it as a synthetic.
David

It is illegal for a company to say an oil is synthetic if it is from natural sources, and if there is ANY dino oil in it, it has to be listed as a 'blend'. It can not be derived from dino oil molecules. "Synthetic" does not have anything to do with the "properties" or performance, but is determined on the molecular level.

Group III oils have properties approaching or equaling synthetics, so long as the temperature is above about 40°. Group III based oils are often claimed to not perform as well as synthetics in a couple ways: their low temperature performance is not nearly as good, it is sometimes claimed on the basis of the "ball bearing test" that they offer lower impact resistance, and since their flash point is slightly lower it is claimed that they burn off more easily. However, most modern engines are water-cooled, so it's hard to see how the slightly better flash points of the synthetics ever come into play. I personally don't make a habit of dropping a handful of ball bearing into my oil pan, so I'm not completely clear on what the impact tests mean to me. The low temperature performance of the Group III oils can be improved enormously by blending in a relatively small amount of synthetic base stock and other additives.

[Warlock]

Steve, white jug Rotella T is dino oil, gray jug Rotella T5 is semi synthetic and blue jug Rotella T6 is full synthetic.

Marty

The blue is listed as synthetic, but is really a dino oil. The properties are so great they can list it as a synthetic.
David

It is illegal for a company to say an oil is synthetic if it is from natural sources, and if there is ANY dino oil in it, it has to be listed as a 'blend'. It can not be derived from dino oil molecules. "Synthetic" does not have anything to do with the "properties" or performance, but is determined on the molecular level.

Group III oils have properties approaching or equaling synthetics, so long as the temperature is above about 40°. Group III based oils are often claimed to not perform as well as synthetics in a couple ways: their low temperature performance is not nearly as good, it is sometimes claimed on the basis of the "ball bearing test" that they offer lower impact resistance, and since their flash point is slightly lower it is claimed that they burn off more easily. However, most modern engines are water-cooled, so it's hard to see how the slightly better flash points of the synthetics ever come into play. I personally don't make a habit of dropping a handful of ball bearing into my oil pan, so I'm not completely clear on what the impact tests mean to me. The low temperature performance of the Group III oils can be improved enormously by blending in a relatively small amount of synthetic base stock and other additives.

Shortly after Mobil lost their lawsuit, most oil companies started reformulating their synthetic oils to use Group III base stocks instead of PAOs or diester stocks as their primary component. Most of the "synthetic oil" you can buy today is actually mostly made of this highly-distilled and purified dino-juice called Group III oil. Group III base oils cost about half as much as the synthetics. By using a blend of mostly Group III oils and a smaller amount of "true" synthetics, the oil companies can produce a product that has nearly the same properties as the "true" synthetics, and nearly the same cost as the Group III oil. The much more expensive traditional synthetics are now available in their pure forms only in more expensive and harder to obtain oils. To the best of my knowledge, Delvac-1, AMSOil, Redline, and Motul 5100 are the only oils made from pure traditional synthetics.

[Valker]

That is good info, Warlock-thanks.
Looks like I'm glad I switched back to AmsOil as I like the synthetics.

[Red Diamond]

So much for the Technicals on oil.
Here is a Fact on oil.
I have found no other oil that will quite that square cut gear whine like "Mobil 1 15W-50.

[Warlock]

So much for the Technicals on oil.
Here is a Fact on oil.
I have found no other oil that will quite that square cut gear whine like "Mobil 1 15W-50.

Never have run it in my bikes, but hear it's great stuff. I was using it in my 03 Silverado and sold the truck to my son which still uses the Mobil 1.
David

[Red Diamond]

Started using Mobil 1 in '93. Used it in my truck and wifes S-10 Blazer for 10 years, been using it in 2k F-350 7.3 for 10 years. It can get a little pricey, depending on how often you change oil. I tend to change in the vehicles less often than the bike. A number of members on this board use it and a number have quit because of the price and I understand that, but I would guess that most of us think that our vehicles are a lot less sensitive to wear than our bikes, hence more oil changes. I know I will change oil more frequently on the bike than the vehicles. I just like my bike better and give it a lot more attention.

[Hef]

For you guys using Mobil 1 15-40, I was wondering, is that car oil or a motorcycle oil?

[X Ring]

Car

Marty