So the 98k mile disco 2 with full records I purchased had been serviced the entire year from one of your standard oil shops (forget the name, I'm going to run and check).

Anyway, they gave him a 5w20 synthetic blend (vavoline MAXlife, what an oxymoron) told the owner that's what you want.

I noticed such a light weight oil wasn't in the manual, but just stumbled on a RAVE PDF which had more info. Looks like my oil is good for -30 to -10 C, and the poor previous owner ran it at least through one Utah summer 100F+....I wonder how much camshaft and bearing wear I'm going to have to deal with thanks to those professional idiots.

Anyway, I have some 15w40 Delo 400 and generic ACE hardware 15w40 left over from when I had a eurospec 1979 635csi project. It ain't rosella, but the weight is the same. Would I be safe running it in the disco? I hear mixed stuff about diesel detergents not playing nicely with CATs. Thoughts? I'd rather go through the 3 gallons I have, as nothing else I own can take it.

 

You'll be fine. Just change it early and often. Maybe get a case of Baldwin B2 from a truck shop, like I did. That way, you can drain that diesel detergent oil out of there yourself at first 1000, then 2000, then 3000 miles and use up that oil. Good Luck!

 

The Delo is as good an oil (if not better) than the Shell Rotella. I've used it for years on my old diesel Mercedes and now in my discovery. I run a gallon of the synthetic version and top it off with regular (usually 2 more qts)

 

many vehicles spec 5w20 to get their mpg numbers up a tiny fraction to raise standards for govt rules. Who cares if kills engine sooner?

 

The other thing to remember is the oil filter, always use an extra large filter like the Mobil1-301 or a K&N 3001 for better filtering.
Has the 60 and 90K service been done, might want to look at my major service list posted at the top of this section and especially pay attention to the front drive shaft, they can fail, and they do a lot, and take out your tranny at the same time.

 

I was using rotella t 15w40, but it was knocking just as much as it did before. I switched to max life simply because of this. https://valvoline.promo.eprize.com/e...rogram&locale=
Still knocks, but MAYBE I'll be able to take advantage if my engine holds out another 14 months. I did one myself, and the second I just had the valvoline shop do. But I asked for 10w40 (I live in north tx). My garage got full so I don't have room to do myself anymore. $50 and it was done in 15 mins. Guys were good and knowledgable.

 

I'd have left 10w40 maxlife in there.

The drain plug was also torqued unbearably tight. It took my 20V dewalt impact driver a good 20 seconds of knocking on it (needed earplugs) to finally break it loose.

There is no gasket on this plug (not sure if it is stock), so I'm thinking of getting a gasketed plug next change.

I had to get the filter at Walmart as everything is closed for the holiday, the best filter they had was a bosche. It was significantly bigger than the one that was on the truck, and at $11 wasn't that much more than the cheapest fram that Wally World carried (about $5.95).

So we will see how it goes.