[CvilleBill]

The oil threads on every automotive forum I have ever been on are some funny shit! It's like people think oil is some kind of Voodoo! I think practically all modern oils are pretty good nowadays. I am also of the opinion that Shell Rotella T6 is a superior diesel synthetic oil that has the added benefit of being pretty cheap. I have used it in engines that had sludge build-up with amazing results.

[335dsleeper]

Originally Posted by Pierre Louis

Yeah, hilarious. Shell is a very reputable company. It makes LL04 oil for the 335d and it is a certainty that its better for our cars. Counting the number of oil analyses that show 10-12,000 mile intervals are fine, lets not let facts get in the way of opinion.

Cheers.

PL

What facts? You state it's not for our cars. Why? Because BMW said so? They also say not to run fuel additive, or tunes, or DPF deletes, or anything other than BMW parts/ fluids. They even say you have to run their transmission fluid, which is inferior to the ZF fluid ZF uses, you know, the people that make the transmission. ZF also recommends 40k my change intervals, yet BMW says "lifetime". BMW doesn't recommend fluids so your car has the ultimate protection or lasts forever. It all comes down to $$$. If you've been around BMW's for a minute, you'd know that when BMW first introduced extended oil intervals in the mid 90's 7 series, that had 80k cars with failed engines... lots of them. LL04 is not to keep you running forever, it's to save BMW money until 100k and the CPO cars are out of warranty.

LL04 is for long life and DPF friendly. It allows for long oil change intervals. Do you now why BMW requires LL04 in their cars? To save money!

When does BMW recommend an oil change on the 335d? 10-13k...

Look, you run what you want too, but paying premium for LL04 oil that will never see 10-13k doesn't seem logical. I change my oil 5-6k max... because its cheap insurance and I put a lot of miles on my cars.

The FACT is BMW uses LL04 long life to ensure they only pay for 7-10 oil changes before the warranty is out. It's not this incredible oil that superior to everything else on the market...

It's like the S62/S54 oil debate. For years BMW said you must run 10w60 BMW spec'd oil. All of a sudden 5w30 can be used...

Oh yea, there are a bunch of extended internal analysis in other makes. Check these out. There are lots more but frankly, I'm over it.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...-T6-27k-on-GTI

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=398516

http://rennlist.com/forums/964-forum...otella-t6.html

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=2738949

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...I-ZERO-add-oil

[335dsleeper]

Originally Posted by CvilleBill

The oil threads on every automotive forum I have ever been on are some funny shit! It's like people think oil is some kind of Voodoo! I think practically all modern oils are pretty good nowadays. I am also of the opinion that Shell Rotella T6 is a superior diesel synthetic oil that has the added benefit of being pretty cheap. I have used it in engines that had sludge build-up with amazing results.

Yup and it's been proven fine with 10-15k intervals in engines with OIL fired injectors which is FAR harder on oil than our little M57.

[BB_cuda]

This was just a simple heads up thread to help those of us that use this oil.

I saw Oreilly Auto has same price as Walmart for the 4 qt jug, $21.xx. I get the OEM filter from Husker for $10.xx. So nice to do a change for $52.xx +tax.

[335dsleeper]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

This was just a simple heads up thread to help those of us that use this oil.

I saw Oreilly Auto has same price as Walmart for the 4 qt jug, $21.xx. I get the OEM filter from Husker for $10.xx. So nice to do a change for $52.xx +tax.

Advanced in OH had it for 19.99 last week.

[Pierre Louis]

Rotella T6: API CJ-4, CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, CH-4, SM, SL, SH; ACEA E9; Caterpillar ECF-3, ECF-2; Cummins CES 20081; DDC 93K218; Ford WSS M2C171-E; JASO DH-2, MA; Mack EO-O Premium Plus; MB Approval 228.31; Volvo VDS-4

Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 has the following builder approvals:
BMW Longlife 04
MB-Approval 229.31
MB-Approval 229.51
Volkswagen (Gasoline/Diesel) 504 00/507 00
Porsche C30
Chrysler MS-11106
Peugeot/Citroën Automobiles B71 2290/B71 2297
Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 meets or exceeds the requirements of:
ACEA C2, C3
API (Meets Engine Test Requirements) SM/SN
JASO DL-1
According to ExxonMobil, Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 is of the following quality level:
API CF
Volkswagen (Gasoline)* 502 00/503 00/503 01
Volkswagen (Diesel)* 505 00/505 01/506 00/506 01

MB sheet 228.31 approved oils
for commercial trucks with diesel engines with diesel particulate filters. Approval requires running the full suite of API CJ-4 tests, plus passing two additional engine tests developed by Mercedes Benz; MB OM611 and OM441LA.

MB sheet 229.31 approved oils; LA "low ash" Oils
Mercedes pioneered this new spec for passenger cars with diesel engines with exhaust particulate filters, e.g. W211 E200 CDI, E220 CDI. The spec was introduced 7/2003. They are called LA "low ash" or "low SAPS" oils, low on sulfated ash, phosphorus and sulphur to limit exhaust particulate filter pollution. In 2004 the ACEA introduced the new C3 spec (mid SAPS, normal viscosity) based on it. Change intervals extend to 15,000 km.

MB sheet 229.51 approved oils; low ash long life
Mercedes pioneered this new spec for passenger cars with diesel engines with exhaust particulate filters, and gasoline engines, and longer service life than the 229.31 oils. The spec was introduced in 2005. Change intervals increased to 20,000 kilometers. Based on ACEA A3 B4 and C3.

PL

[Pierre Louis]

For those who really want to dive into specs: http://www.noln.net/sites/default/fi...il%20guide.pdf

Personally, I like to cross-shop specs that seem more in tune with the cars I have experience with (diesels) MB, BMW, VW.

MB 229.31, BMW LL04, and VW 507.00 are examples. If an oil meets all of these, I'm interested. I also like the GM specs 6094M etc. as they are for high revving performance engines like Corvette etc.

I like better fuel economy, and consider a proper spec 5W30 full synthetic oil just fine for engine protection, as most wear occurs on start-up when the lower viscosity oils are better and more slippery to reach all of the required engine parts. Longer drain intervals mean the oil is more robust to me as in the original Mobil 1 5W20 that came to market in the 1970's.

But I've also had a great Porsche mechanic swear by diesel-spec mineral oil s.a. 15W40 in my 1988 Carrera 3.2 and believed him as I tried it on several other engines.

PL

[rulonger]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

This was just a simple heads up thread to help those of us that use this oil.

I saw Oreilly Auto has same price as Walmart for the 4 qt jug, $21.xx. I get the OEM filter from Husker for $10.xx. So nice to do a change for $52.xx +tax.

I picked up four gallons at O'Reillys at their price of $21.99 / gallon. I have just sent in the rebate form. Thanks for the heads up on the rebate.

[335dsleeper]

Tractor supply has it for 19.99

[Mik325tds]

Has anyone tried sending in the casepack of 3x 1 gallon for the Shell rebate? Walmart sells it for $54.99.
The rebate only lists the 1 gallon jugs. I wonder if they'd reject the casepack.

[WreckerX5d]

Amazon has a subscription of the 1 gallon oil for $16/ea. Comes to $35 shipped every so many months of your choice.

[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by Mik325tds

Has anyone tried sending in the casepack of 3x 1 gallon for the Shell rebate? Walmart sells it for $54.99.
The rebate only lists the 1 gallon jugs. I wonder if they'd reject the casepack.

I would stick to the specifics of the rebate's words. My Walmart comparisons have shown on a per quart basis that the large container didn't offer too much discount. I haven't run the math lately though.

[Jet Wrench]

I have run Rotella dinosaur and synthetic for years in my Duramax's and now my 2011 335d. Great protection for not a lot of cash. I also use it in my 02 320d and 99 slk200 (gasser). No need to spend top dollar for oil that may not be as good

[GreekboyD]

Rotella T6 5L jug on sale here in Canada at CT for $40.79 and another $5 off that after the rebate.

[Mik325tds]

Originally Posted by Wrecker335d

Amazon has a subscription of the 1 gallon oil for $16/ea. Comes to $35 shipped every so many months of your choice.

Thanks Wrecker335d. Unfortunately, that subscription is only available to prime members. But good tip otherwise.

[WreckerX5d]

Originally Posted by Mik325tds

Thanks Wrecker335d. Unfortunately, that subscription is only available to prime members. But good tip otherwise.

If you have access to your student email then prime is free for 6 months.

[Mik325tds]

Originally Posted by Wrecker335d

If you have access to your student email then prime is free for 6 months.

HA! That account has probably died of old age ...
Napa has it for $19.99/g (July special).

[tryingtobebest]

Ok, i have a question to all "Old" guys (would really like to hear TDi feedback on this, because im really following him in many cases) or anyone really using Rotella!!!

I switched to T6 since I got my car, but didn't drive it once last winter, this winter im planning on using it, NOW, we can have temps as low as -30/-35 degrees C (-22/-33F) i got a good deal on Rotella T6 0w40, but this oil seems to be not as "approved" as regular 5w40, so, it pretty much have less "stuff" on the sticker! Please let me know what you guys think of it and running it in straight piped D in the winter???

[lnxguy]

Personally I'd just run the 5w40 (Winter and summer) and be done with it hardly any difference between the two. My last two TDI's ran T6 5w40 for most of their lives (610,000kms and 418,000kms respectively).. That's over 1,000,000kms on T6 with no issues.. All the proof I need to use it in the D come the first oil change.