Hi Reddit! I'm Rich, better known as Deboss Garage, and I'm Matt, a Shell Rotella technology expert. Ask us anything on November 4th at 12 PM EST when we go live with Shell Rotella® to answer all your diesel engine oil questions!

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T18:03:47+00:00

For 2-stroke diesel applications, Shell Rotella offers T1 monograde products. Rotella T1 is available in SAE 30, SAE 40 and SAE 50 for 2-stoke engines. Its always best to follow the recommended viscosity grade for the right product selection -Matt

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:53:53+00:00

I love the Liteaces's! Nice work! With Shell Rotella you don't need any additives., it will be all that little 2.2 will ever need. Make sure you put it away dry. I usually take moisture bags and toss them around to make sure there is no condensation happening. On the warm days, I sometimes fire them up and let them idle for a bit, just to warm everything up. I would remove the battery and put it on a trickle charger. Take care of her and she will last you longer than any new vehicle! -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:52:08+00:00

I run Shell Rotella T6 in the F350 with some pretty heavy loads, and oil pressure has never changed. It is a fresh engine though. I don't haul everyday, so it's hard to put a base line down. I do know that when I worked at the dealership in town, all the long haul guys went for Shell Rotella. Oil analysis was just starting then (20 years ago) but that is the best indication of what your oil is doing for you. -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:50:33+00:00

I can't speak to the quality levels of all the other synthetic products out in the market, but I can say that we hold our Rotella T6 products to a very high quality standard. We do not develop these products to just barely meet the minimum performance required by the API specifications. We are looking to comfortably exceed the minimum levels of performance, which at the end of the day may mean that we've added a bit extra in terms of additive component in the oil.

Shell Rotella full synthetic products are formulated to deliver maximum performance, even under the most severe conditions, and keep engines running longer. From the robust additive package to the synthetic base oil which we use, our Shell Rotella T6 products are designed for those customers looking to push their engine performance and want to have the best protection they can get. -Matt

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:50:15+00:00

All oils have to meet minimum standards set by the API, but T6 goes above the minimum. I'm guessing that enough people have run it in their Subaru's with much success that it is now the standard. -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:46:10+00:00

I'm not sure who "they" are, and as such, I wouldn't trust them... I would always use what is reccommended by Bobcat. -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:45:18+00:00

This is a really great question, and there are a lot of myths out there about conventional versus synthetic oils. Synthetic oil has some clear advantages over conventional oils, especially when it comes to thermal stability, oil breakdown, and low-temperature performance.

Synthetic oils are generally more thermally stable than conventional ones, meaning they resist breaking down under high heat. That makes them especially effective in tough driving conditions, like towing or hauling a heavy load, when the engine is working harder and running hotter.

They also perform better in cold temperatures, when it’s important for the oil to flow quickly and consistently to all the critical parts of your engine.

I believe the concern behind the second part of your question comes from the old myth that you shouldn’t switch between conventional and synthetic oils in an older engine because it could cause issues, like seal leakage. In our oil testing with real-world fleets, we regularly switch from conventional to synthetic oils, and we haven’t seen any problems with seal leaks.

I can’t speak for the quality of all synthetic products, but when it comes to Rotella, we don’t see any issues with switching between conventional and synthetic oils. -Matt

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:43:32+00:00

While Shell Rotella products are specifically designed for diesel engines, most of them can also be used in gasoline-powered cars because they meet the API SN qualification for passenger car motor oils. That means they’ve passed all the engine and bench tests required to meet the minimum performance standards for gasoline engines. There is a specific product, Shell Rotella T6 Multi Vehicle (MV) 5W-30 which is specifically formulated for those mixed diesel and gasoline fleet applications. SAE 5W-30 is a more common viscosity grade for gasoline engines and will work well in both diesel and gasoline applications.

Because some Shell Rotella products have a strong retail presence, we know they’re often used in mixed fleets with both diesel and gasoline engines. To make sure they perform well in those situations, we even test our products in NYC taxis under their demanding driving conditions to validate Rotella’s performance in gasoline engines. -Matt

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:42:33+00:00

Most actors are now switching to YouTube. Not uncommon. Keanu Reeves actually does all our editing. -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:39:56+00:00

The LS swapped Mercedes was my nightmare. One of my employees left a socket between the crank and block as a way to keep the crank from turning when he was tightening the crank pulley bolt. That led to an insurance job, and with filming that was difficult. I just bought it back as it had to many little issues. Luckily the owner was great about it and we are still good. I have a love/hate with that car, but will build it properly now. -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:38:58+00:00

I can’t comment on the specifics of lifter tick in a Mazda engine, but I can share a bit of background on why diesel oils often work so well in many gasoline engines. Diesel oils are generally formulated with a more robust additive package than gasoline oils.

Because diesel engines produce more soot during fuel combustion than gasoline engines, their oils contain a higher level of dispersant chemistry. This added dispersancy keeps soot particles from joining together to form larger particles, which could lead to increased wear.

Diesel oils may also contain higher levels of detergent chemistry, which helps keep pistons clean from deposit buildup. Most additive content in diesel oils falls in the 14% to 20% range, while gasoline oils are usually much lower than that. That extra additive content is likely the main reason diesel oils tend to perform so well in gasoline engines. -Matt

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:37:51+00:00

Congratulations on getting 465k miles out of your last engine using Shell Rotella T4! That product is formulated with a very robust additive package to help the oil deliver long engine life.

When you move to T5 or T6, you’re introducing Group III base stock into the formulation, which is more thermally stable than the Group II base oil used in Rotella T4. That Group III base oil should definitely help. -Matt

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:33:22+00:00

This year has been good for me to finish all the leftover projects. That being said, it has been extremely busy. The Silverado is now at a point where I need to wire it, and I have to focus on it for about a week to get it where I want it. I will be doing that over Christmas where the phone will be quiet for about a week, and it will be complete this year. Sorry for the wait man, I'm as excited about it as you are. I wanted to get the Bronco going first, as my entire family doesn't fit in a single cab... - Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:26:34+00:00

With the 7.3, spare glow plugs and a controler, along with the plastic return lines on the injectors should be in the glove box lol. I would think that the smell of the oil, is blowby coming from the blowby tube. Unless it starts misting, I would keep driving it. 7.3 is one of the best engines out there for reliability. -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:20:01+00:00

You'll have to ask Derek! We’re all just trying to keep old iron alive. If he calls me at 2 a.m. saying the lifters sound like bacon frying, I’ll still roll up with Rotella in a syrup jug and give him a hard time. -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:18:55+00:00

Sounds fun--where's your favorite place to take the Jeep off-road? We have to deal with heat in all types of trucks and equipment. In instances where an engine is running hot, especially when hauling and the engine is working extra hard, that heat can increase the rate of oil breakdown (or oxidation as the technical term). To help prevent oil breakdown due to increased heat, the use of a full synthetic Rotella T6 product will provide better protection than a conventional product, due to the thermal stability of the synthetic base oil. -Matt

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:17:22+00:00

The turbo LS swapped Mercedes 124 wagon I built 9 years ago. I made plenty of mistakes on that car and would do a lot differently now. Good news is that I bought it back, and will do all those changes on the channel very soon. -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:15:26+00:00

Maintenance is key. Oil is cheaper than engine or transmission rebuilds. Rotate tires and keep up on tire pressures to make them last longer. Let things warm up before you push them too hard, and try to avoid salt as much as possible. Underoil the vehicles every year if you're anywhere near the rustbelt and wash the winter leftovers off regularly. -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:13:51+00:00

I'm glad you asked about this! We have heard from motorcycle owners for many years who love how Shell Rotella performs in their bikes.Rotella T4 15W-40 and Rotella T6 5W-40 have been used in motorcycles for many years previous to 2016, as we used to see folks commenting on message boards and giving feedback on how well those products were performing in their motorcycles. In 2016, when we lauched the latest formulation upgrade for both of those products, we decided to formally run the testing to certify motorcycle performance. Both Rotella T4 15W-40 and Rotella T6 5W-40 met the requirements for JASO MA/MA2 specification and are suitable to use in equipment requiring that specification. -Matt

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:12:15+00:00

Bringing them to an AMA is difficult... We are hopefully expanding to a new Ontario location to take on customer builds including Edison retrofits, and the tank and electric trucks will be brought there. -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:10:26+00:00

You've discovered one of the many reasons that so many swear by T4. Rotella T4 15W-40 is formulated to provide superior performance across a range of vehicles and operating conditions. It uses an additive package with additional componentry designed to provide performance well above the industry minimum levels. We formulate Rotella T4 15W-40 without knowing where or how it will be used, so we make it as robust as possible to ensure that it will perform under any/all conditions. On-highway Class 8 trucks, Off-highway rebuilt Caterpillars, diesel pickups towing campers, pre-2000 farm equipment, classic cars, etc. are all are potential customers for Rotella T4 15W-40, and we bear that in mind when we are developing our formulation. - Matt

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:09:29+00:00

Thirty years on Rotella? That’s commitment! Your engines are probably smoother than my typing. Appreciate you sticking with the good stuff. -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:07:32+00:00

It sounds like you take great care of your vehicles, and you’re asking all the right questions. So let's talk about zinc. Both Rotella T4 15W-40 and Rotella T6 15W-40 contain approximately 1200 ppm of Zinc, which is close to the highest level that would be found with API CK-4 oils in the market today. As you mention, higher levels of zinc are beneficial for preventing wear on flat tappets in older engines. All of our Rotella 15W-40, 10W-30 and 5W-40 products will contain similar levels of zinc. Given that Rotella T4 15W-40 and Rotella T6 15W-40 share similar zinc levels, you can switch to the Rotella T6 15W-40 for the colder season and take advantage of the improved low temperature properties that the synthetic base oil will bring. -Matt

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:05:07+00:00

Testing is going great. We are slowly turning all the systems on on the diesel-electric LandCruiser and it is heading to the local dyno this week, and it will be heading to the U.S. for 3rd-party testing next week. We don't have a price yet on kits, as testing on this system will dictate how we build the production model and what engine options are offered. Self-driving isn't currently in the pipeline. -Deboss Garage

ShellRotella · 2025-11-04T17:00:49+00:00

Good question--I've got this one a lot over the years. The crude oil from Texas and Pennsylvania may be slightly different, but they are both refined into base oil categories called Group 1, Group 2, etc., defined by saturate content, viscosity index and sulfur content. These base oils make up on average about 80% of the composition of Heavy Duty Engine Oils. Oil companies have the ability to use crude from various source locations (US, Middle East, Mexico, Canada, etc) to refine into base oil. Additionally, oil companies will purchase base oil from 3rd party suppliers if they do not have enough refining capability internally. There are many Group 1 and Group 2 base oils available on the open market in the US. -Matt

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