Real skinny on Shell Rotella T6 Synthetic 5-40

[B72011]

Hey so whats the skinny on this oil. I am reading a lot of stuff online howgood it is, how it its PROVEN to be fine in our VAG Turbos, blah blah.
Its a high quality oil no doubt.
Anyone been using it for a long time? Any issues?
Only $21.99 for 5 qts!

[AudiNFS]

Someone in the B5 A4 section I think just posted a Blackstone analysis report on the oil. They ran it for 5K miles and the report came back that they could have ran it for longer if they wanted and wear and tear was completely normal.

[Dan[FN]6262]

T6 is the fucking shit.

[papadelogan]

I run it in all my diesels, ran it in my CBR1000RR, my wife's CBR600RR, the Mazda Protege5, and yes, in the A4 2.0T. I go 5,000k in the gassers and with bypass filters run it for 10,000 in the diesels.

BTW, where are you picking up 5 quarts for $21.99?

[Mister W]

I search for Rotella, but all i found is diesel oil. Are diesel oil good for our engine?

[ianwpb]

AFAIK it comes in jugs of 4 quarts/1 gallon, but yes, you can usually find it on sale for about $20 at Autozone. I've heard walmart sells it too.

Anyone else have oil temp issues? My temp usually sits right about 200*F once it's warmed up. I noticed it went all the way up to 225*F at highway speeds.. I also noticed that it takes a lot longer to warm up to 200*F. Weird..

I search for Rotella, but all i found is diesel oil. Are diesel oil good for our engine?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...ku=#fragment-1

[baldy]

Oil temp issues with the Rotella?

I hope it doesn't cause issues because I have been using it for the past 20k after reading all the glowing reviews and analysis on Bobistheoilguy... Definately thicker, and therefore I guess it takes longer to warm up. But I don't have an oil temp gauge so I couldn't tell you. All I can say is that with the T6 I only add half a quart between oil changes (5k intervals). I use it in the Crossfire and the Touareg..

[papadelogan]

I search for Rotella, but all i found is diesel oil. Are diesel oil good for our engine?

Correct. It is technically engineered originally for diesel engines but has proven to be not only compatible but also a top oil choice for numerous gas engines. In a motorcycle the oil is not just for the engine, but the transmission as well, where it is subjected to much higher shear forces from the gears, but it still not only holds up to it, but excels at doing it's job even in that environment.

[Jay-Bee]

About to change my second batch of T6, ran it for 10k kms (~8k miles), no issues, gonna see if I can get a sample into the CAT shop at my work here.

I think it's on for under 30$ at Canadian walmarts.

[Mister W]

So the T6 should be VW 502 00, 505 00, and 505 01 approved?
Someone mentioned that it is thicker, any issue running it in cold winter in Canuckistan?

[AudiA4_20T]

So the T6 should be VW 502 00, 505 00, and 505 01 approved?
Someone mentioned that it is thicker, any issue running it in cold winter in Canuckistan?

Don't think it is but its better than most of them

[Jay-Bee]

T6 is NOT VAG approved, but bobistheoilguy and blackstone reports show it meets or exceeds all expectations, the TDI guys (and many others) love it.

This is the first extreme Alberta winter i've had to live through, and it started the few times I had to fire it up at -28*C no prob.

I did pose this question myself though and received this answer on vortex, so during winter I top off with GC 0w30 to give it some better cold start circulation.

For product markets... Mobil 1 0w40 isn't a Heavy Duty Diesel Oil focused like the Rotella T6. This is why Rotella T6, as well as Mobil Delvac 1 makes their comparisons against conventional 15w40.

Not everyone lists the same information, and your standard viscosity measurements are not tested at extreme cold conditions.

At the extreme -45°C temperatures, one of the concerns is wax crystallization--- you see this issue pop up on diesel fuels (aka gelling). Having a PAO basestock (M1 0w40 or Delvac 1 5w40) versus a group III basestock (T6) minimizes that concern. There are additives that can be used for Group III basestocks that mitigates that issue.

IMO, you might want to compare "Pour Point" (ASTM D97) Temperature is probably one of the key things to look at. M1 0w40 would probably be a better choice, as the pour point is at -54°C vs. -42° (T6).

The thread; http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...=shell+rotella

[CorneliusRox]

I run it in all my diesels, ran it in my CBR1000RR, my wife's CBR600RR, the Mazda Protege5, and yes, in the A4 2.0T. I go 5,000k in the gassers and with bypass filters run it for 10,000 in the diesels.

BTW, where are you picking up 5 quarts for $21.99?

I like your style.
I run it in my 03 CBR600rr (revs to 15.5k and at 35000+ miles), run it in my 97 Ram Diesel (pushing some HP and almost 300000miles) and love it.
That being said, I ran it for the first time this last oil change and two days ago I did a change and found a lot of it to be burned up and it was super black. So... I am not running it in my car anymore. I am trying Castrol Syn this time, but did Moble 1 before that and was pretty happy with it.

[J.Owen]

I have been running it for about 30k in my A4 and 15k in my jetta 2.5, Ran it on my Rabbit 2.5L as well. I have yet to see any sort of issue at 5k intervals.

[JEENYUS]

just wanted to say that i have just had my first oil change with Rotella T6 and compared to what i was using before (Quartz Total 9000) it is much quieter than i've ever heard my engine before and just feels smoother overall. Personal experience so far with T6 is great. I read about the 'gelling' concern, but that is more targeting the diesel fuel and not necessarily the oil.

[seal66]

If anyone wants the blackstone anylasis that I had done on my car while running T6 I can post it up. Pretty much Blackstone said I could run my oil changes to 7500 or 10000 if I wanted to with how MY car was running with the oil.

I only went to 7500. I still change out every 5k.

[Operator]

Yep, I used T6 as my oil choice to fill the engine after my rods went in.

[ericpaulyoung]

Yep, I used T6 as my oil choice to fill the engine after my rods went in.

It has high zinc, so a good choice for post break in, and everything I have read says it is very good stuff for normal all the time use too. :)

Eric

[seal66]

It has high zinc, so a good choice for post break in, and everything I have read says it is very good stuff for normal all the time use too. :)

Eric

I can prove it is good for normal use lol. I have 2-3 reports that say so ha ha

[vvenom800tt]

Just bought mine, hopefully changing the oil this weekend

[Sweir1171]

Not a big Walmart fan but they sell 5qt Mobil 1 0-40 502/505 spec for $22. Great deal

[carguy138]

Would this oil have any effects on cam follower life?

[vvenom800tt]

Would this oil have any effects on cam follower life?

I hope it does

[Obsidian]

I'm due for an oil change. I think I will give T6 a shot. I'm sure it will run smooth as butter in the AZ heat. I will report back at 5k and let you know my thoughts.

[QuattroCan]

Question, popular oil at $21.99 but would it be the oil of choice if it were priced at say $49.99?

[vvenom800tt]

Question, popular oil at $21.99 but would it be the oil of choice if it were priced at say $49.99?

Its just oil, not gold

[mightemouce]

I've used this in all my 2.7ts and friends 1.8ts with great results. One of my good friends sends his oil out almost every other oil change to blackstone and his report always comes back great using T6

[RAGING_BEAST]

Tried T6 my previous and first oil change with this car in Nov and to date have not had one issue with this car. But then again ive only owned it since March/April 2012. Its been 3k since the change so ill be changing it soon.

[QuattroCan]

Its just oil, not gold

Some of the other brands range from $40 to even $70 for a jug. I just wonder how much the low price point has an influence, or if it is simply an excellent oil regardless of the price.

[Schweini]

Some of the other brands range from $40 to even $70 for a jug. I just wonder how much the low price point has an influence, or if it is simply an excellent oil regardless of the price.

Not sure where in Canada you are, but in Ontario here it only goes on sale to $37, I usually buy it at $42 or so.

Not that cheap, not like what the Americans can get it for. But that isn't why I use it

[vvenom800tt]

Some of the other brands range from $40 to even $70 for a jug. I just wonder how much the low price point has an influence, or if it is simply an excellent oil regardless of the price.

Some brands like Motul and Redline or amsoil run closer to $10 a quart, but for us normal people (stage 2+ and under) who just drive our cars any reputable off the shelf synthetic is fine.

[CLEANA3]

Have been using it for 2 changes in my a4 and one change in the wife's a3 use it in my mk2 also . This stuff does the job

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Correct. It is technically engineered originally for diesel engines but has proven to be not only compatible but also a top oil choice for numerous gas engines. In a motorcycle the oil is not just for the engine, but the transmission as well, where it is subjected to much higher shear forces from the gears, but it still not only holds up to it, but excels at doing it's job even in that environment.

Anyone using this stuff as their manual transmission lube? I've been using it in two other 5-speed applications (M5R2 & T5), both transmissions which spec ATF as the fluid of choice. Thinking about using it in my 01A 5-speed (B6 1.8T).

[vvenom800tt]

I wouldnt use engine oil in an automatic. Maybe as a last resort in a manual. But gear oil have special properties and friction modifiers

[tehuberduber]

I've been running Rotella T6 for ~25k miles now. No issues, the price is right, and it tends to be readily available.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

I wouldnt use engine oil in an automatic. Maybe as a last resort in a manual. But gear oil have special properties and friction modifiers

I only own manual transmission vehicles (save for my Yamaha ATV), so that's my focus here. If you read about why this oil is widely used by the motorcycle community, it is because of the anti-shear properties it has. I guess the thing in question vs. a typical gear oil might be longevity.

[DarkHelmet]

FYI, I just picked up two gallons of rotella 5-40 at the autozone in Renton, WA for 5$ a gallon. I got the last two on the shelf. Price mistake? the receipt says the right description and for 1 gallon....

[Jay-Bee]

FYI, I just picked up two gallons of rotella 5-40 at the autozone in Renton, WA for 5$ a gallon. I got the last two on the shelf. Price mistake? the receipt says the right description and for 1 gallon....

There's plain Rotella T, Triple, T3, T5 and T6, sure you got the right one?

T6 = Full synth

The others are dino or blends.

[DarkHelmet]

Yes t6.

[martinofski]

Yep, you want the synthetic T6 only.

For the record, I use it in my car since I bought it. I did around 50,000kms. I don't burn any oil at all since then.
I also have read on here a guys you did more than 250,000 miles on is car, 150,000 with the Rotella T6.

My friend run it in is turbo '86 GTS and other car too, he buy it in barrel .
I also got a friend who did a doctorate in Combustion engine. Told me to use that in the 2.0T and that is what I am doing.

Change my follower only once since, last time I checked, it was ok still, just some of the coating was out in the middle. But it isn't magic, that cam follower is still a wear part.
My car has 130,000kms now, unitronic stage 1.

The only bad thing about it, I can't ask any garage to use that oil in my car and do a oil change for me. They all tell me it's some tractor oil shit lol.