Pickup & Passenger Vehicle Diesel Engine Oil FAQs
Your resource for frequently asked questions related to diesel motor oil for diesel pickup trucks & other passenger vehicles that are answered by Shell’s technical team.
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I've looked online and can't seem to find what the zinc levels are in the Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 Full Synthetic Engine Oil; any info will be appreciated.
- Zinc is an important component in Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) which forms a sacrificial anti-wear film in an engine to help protect internal components such as a camshaft. Most Shell Rotella engine oils, including T6 5W-40 Full Synthetic Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oil, contain approximately 1200 ppm of zinc which will benefit older and high-performance engines.
- Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 Full Synthetic Heavy Duty Engine Oil with Triple Protection Plus™ technology delivers all the protection you've come to expect from Shell Rotella and then some as it not only meets but exceeds API CK-4 performance standards. Through the use of Shell's most advanced technology, Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 Full Synthetic Heavy Duty Engine Oil offers enhanced fuel economy performance1, protection in extreme operating temperatures and outstanding shear stability.
- To purchase Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 Full Synthetic Heavy Duty Engine Oil, visit https://rotella.shell.com/en_us/buyonline.html.
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How much of engine oil is made up of additives and how do they help an engine?
- Shell Rotella engine oils are designed to meet or exceed the standard requirements as set forth by the API CK-4 engine oil specification and using a high-quality additive package is essential. The additive package represents approximately 20 percent of a gallon of oil with the balance being high-quality base oil. Additive packages play a crucial role in helping to keep an engine clean and protected from varnish and sludge, as well as provide wear protection and protection from heat and acids.
- Additives are necessary in diesel engine oils to realize fuel economy savings, prevent deposits and maintain proper flow and viscosity in hot and cold temperatures. This is important with the increased use of 10W-30, 5W-40, 5W-30 viscosity grades, and even 0W-40 in extreme cold.
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My owner's manual says that in temperatures above 0° F to use 10W-30 oil, but I do not see that Shell Rotella offers a full synthetic in that grade. I only see 5W-40 oil. Could I use the 5W-40 in hotter temperatures?
Shell Rotella® T6 Full Synthetic 5W-40 diesel engine oil offers protection in extreme operating temperatures and resists breakdown caused by heat to provide continuous protection throughout the service interval. Given that the viscosity grade reflects the range of temperatures most appropriate for a particular oil, a 5W-40 will provide both better flow at cold temperatures and increased protection at higher temperatures than a 10W-30.
Shell Rotella® T6 Full Synthetic 5W-40 also provides excellent protection against harmful engine wear and sludge and resists viscosity loss through shear stability to help maintain optimal pressure in your heavy duty diesel engine. Additionally, Shell Rotella® T6 Full Synthetic 5W-40 offers enhanced fuel economy capability of up to 1.5%2 that can save money in fuel consumption, without compromising engine protection or durability.
Any Shell Rotella Full Synthetic or Synthetic Blend engine oil has gone through a chemically engineered process. Synthetic oil molecules are more uniform in shape with fewer impurities and better properties than conventional oil molecules. In general, synthetic oil has better extreme high temperature and low temperature performance.
Therefore, we would also recommend Shell Rotella® T5 10W-30 synthetic blend diesel engine oil which combines synthetic base oils and advanced additives to deliver excellent protection, even at low temperatures where the enhanced cold-flow properties help protect your engine. The oil contains Triple Protection Plus™ technology which uses synthetic base oils plus advanced additive technology to provide protection against wear, deposits and oil breakdown. Synthetic blend motor oil uses a mixture of synthetic and conventional base oils for added resistance to oxidation (compared to conventional oil) and provide excellent low-temperature properties.
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I want to use Shell Rotella engine oil in my lawn mower, what do you recommend?
Lawn mowers, generators, snow blowers and other equipment with a four-stroke engine can use 10W-30 engine oil in a variety of temperatures including hot summer conditions. If your lawn mower is a four-stroke engine, consider Shell Rotella® T5 10W-30 synthetic blend which offers excellent protection, even at low temperatures where its enhanced cold-flow properties help protect your engine. As always, remember to check the oil level regularly to ensure best results!
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Are lower viscosity oils really better for my engine?
There are many benefits of using a synthetic low viscosity oil include strong engine protection and a cleaner engine which will keep it operating efficiently. They also keep your engine cool and lubricated properly which will contribute to longer engine life.
Pickup truck manufacturers are moving to lower viscosity oils to obtain better fuel economy and help reduce greenhouse gases (compared to SAE 15W-40 engine oils). Lower viscosity oils pump more easily and help to reduce engine friction, which can improve fuel economy. In fact, high quality, low viscosity oils can provide between a one and three percent increase in fuel economy. Even the smallest increases in fuel economy can result in significant reductions in fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
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Can Shell Rotella oils help to reduce the amount of ash in a diesel particulate filter (DPF)?
Ash that is left as deposits on DPFs is produced when small amounts of engine oil are burned during combustion, this is called oil consumption and is a normal occurrence when non-combustible, inorganic material is carried through the exhaust. High quality engine oil like Shell Rotella® can help reduce oil consumption therefore reducing ash and improving DPF servicing intervals.
Oil consumption that leads to higher ash can be caused by excessive ring and/or cylinder wear. All Shell Rotella® engine oils are formulated to provide excellent piston cleanliness, helping to minimize or keep the piston rings and piston lands free from deposits, which in turn helps control oil consumption. For ultimate protection, choose Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 that provides 75% better piston cleanliness vs. industry standard3.
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I was told that there was research and testing done that Shell Rotella T6 was proven to be the best oil for a motorcycle wet clutch system. Is there any truth to this?
Yes, Shell Rotella® T6 5W-40 Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oil and Shell Rotella T6 15W-40 Full Synthetic Heavy Duty Engine Oil meet the JASO DH-2, MA, and MA2 specification which is applicable for motorcycles with a wet clutch system. As always, please be sure to check your OEM and warranty requirements.
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With winter coming, what should drivers and fleets be aware of when checking their coolant for cold weather driving?
For Extended Life Coolants (ELC), or Organic Acid Technology (OAT) coolants like Shell Rotella ELC and Shell Rotella ELC Nitrite Free, maintenance is very easy, and fall is the perfect time to check the coolant before cold weather arrives. The first thing is to perform a visual inspection of the coolant level and appearance. The coolant should be clear with no cloudiness, floating debris or oil visible. The freeze point should be checked with a refractometer, which is more accurate than a Hydrometer, or the “floating balls”.
The recommended freeze point is -34°F, which corresponds to approximately a 50/50 mixture of water and coolant. If the coolant is in good condition, but the level is low, you can top off with premixed 50/50 coolant of the same type/brand. For especially cold climates like the Midwest or New England area, it may be necessary to go with a 55/45, or even 60/40 mixture of ethylene glycol/water. It may be necessary to top off with concentrated coolant to get the freeze point right.
Traditional inorganic additive technology (IAT) or fully formulated coolants require more work. The additives in these types of coolants deplete over time and need to be replenished regularly with supplemental coolant additives (SCAs). If you are using these types of coolants, we recommend that you switch to an ELC such as Shell Rotella ELC and Shell Rotella ELC Nitrite Free which are designed to go 600,000 to 1,000,000 on-highway miles and even beyond with proper monitoring.
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How should diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) be handled to avoid reducing its shelf life in a shop or by drivers?
The shelf-life of DEF is largely dependent on storage temperature. When stored under optimal conditions (between 12°F and 86°F) DEF has a shelf life of one to two years. Higher temperatures will not affect the quality of the DEF but will shorten its shelf-life. However, the quality of DEF is not affected if the fluid freezes.
DEF should not be stored in direct sunlight in a shop or in a truck. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and high temperatures will cause DEF to degrade, reducing the shelf life. The ideal storage is in a cool, dry ventilated place.
DEF should be stored by batch dates and FIFO (first in first out) system should be used to maintain optimum life of DEF. Drivers purchasing DEF in containers should look for the API Certification Mark when making their choices on products. You should also look at the expiration date on the bottle if present and be sure to use it before this date as the product has a limited shelf life.
In a shop, regular maintenance and testing of DEF should be conducted. Personnel should be familiar with the use of a refractometer which is designed to measure the concentration of water-soluble fluids for purity of DEF. A commitment to meeting the ISO 22241 standard which specifies the quality characteristics of DEF is important to follow.
1 Compared to SAE 15W-40 heavy duty engine oils.
2 Compared to SAE 15W-40 heavy duty engine oils.
3 Compared to CK-4 minimum levels