I always use Rotella T 15w 40 oil but Napa has the Valvoline heavy duty diesel 15w 40 oil on sale for $11.99 a gallon. The Rotella is going for something like $17.99 a gallon so I was wondering what are your opinions on the Valvoline oil before I make the switch.

 

IMHO the frequent oil change interval of 5000 miles levels the playing field for lots of oil. The diesel rated oils have more chemicals to clean and keep diesel soot in suspension so the filter can get it, which works good for our engines as well. But with it getting chilly in the northern hemisphere, some owners will be getting to a point where low temps may dictate something easier on cranking, like a synthetic version of the diesel oil.

Funny thing about oil, people tend to have very strong opinions about it. I guess if you are happy with one type, stick with it, leaves more time to worry about other things.

Main thing is to change it early and often, and all you newbies - check the oil this week, and every week from now on! If it cranks, check the oil.

 

I've used both in my work van with a oil pressure gauge, Rotella holds the oil pressure better over the life of the oil change than does the Big Blue by Valvoline.
Valvoline had higher oil pressure to start, but it dropped off after about 2500 miles, by the end of the 5,000 mile oil change at a hot idle my oil pressure gauge read almost zero.
Granted this was in a used and heavily abused Duramax with 200k on her.
Rotella had a lower oil pressure number to start, but it held steady through the life of the oil change with my hot oil pressure reading around 10psi at idle after 5,000 miles instead of right at the red mark with the Valvoline.

Use whatever your budget allows for, in all honesty in Florida, I would use a mono grade, like Rotella or Valvoline or my fav Castrol HD-30.
You will not find a better additive package than in a heavy duty mono weight oil.

 

BTW, Rotella 15W40 was on sale for $12 today at my Wal MArt, and while there I noticed they carry Rotella T1, single 30 weight, plus a 5W40 syn "Turbo Diesel Truck" Rotella.

 

Thanks for letting me know. I will definitely check it out.

 

Thats where I buy my oil, and NAPA is putting their Gold filters on sale starting the 10th for BOGO.

 

Thanks of for the heads up! I am about 400 miles from my next oil change.

 

I just made the switch from a regular 10w-30 to Rotella on the suggestion of Nathan of Platnum Motorsports in LaGrange, KY. Said it would probably help with my 'ticking' and sure enough, it did. I found Rotella at WalMart for a regular price of like $12.48/gal. I don't think I'll ever use anything else.

 

Thats what I like to hear.
I use it in everything.

 

I use 5W30 synthetic in my '03 Discovery. That's what my manual calls out for. Keep running $110-$120 per oil change every 5000km (3100 miles) even though I do it myself. Previous owner always used synthetic so I kept it going.
Needless to say.......expensive (Mobil 1).

I don't think I can switch back to regular.....can I????? Usually once you go synthetic, there is no switching back.

Any recommendations?????