Shell Rotella rating reduced

[comp]

Originally Posted by crazyman

Told ya.

SL rating

Applications:
Recommended for all 4-cycle gasoline engines used in lawn and garden tractors, riders, walk-behinds, edgers, shredders, commercial mowers, tillers, generators, and other outdoor powered equipment
Recommended for automotive gasoline engines requiring SL classification oil

I work in a Deere lawn equipment shop, and this stuff is made by Chevron.

Link to page where I found the specs.
John Deere GF-3 10W30 Turf Gard 4-Cycle Motor Oil Quart

Hmmmmmmm

[comp]

anybody know of ,side brands like this ????

[BlackCat13]

Originally Posted by rookie

Straight from the Horses mouth,

Welcome to the Shell Rotella Forum: Does Shell 5W-40 have Zinc in its additive package

I don't see anything on that thread that references Shell's specifications, just several people stating things without confirmation.

[BlackCat13]

Originally Posted by 84Dave

Comp Cams now touts their Plasma Nitride process for new flat-tappet cams. I have no personal experience, yet, with the process, but they claim good results regarding breakin and longivity. Dave

Nitriding in one form or another has been used on aircraft engine cams and other components for decades.

The additional $ 125 price for cam nitriding is worth it. Think how much it costs to replace a cam gone bad.

Let's not forget, MOST new flat tappet engines were discontinued in the late 80s, with some trucks hanging on to flat tappets into the early 90s.

1/2 bottle of EOS with each oil change seems a small price to pay.

[Cammer]

Old technology is hard to support and this trend is sure to continue! Flat tappet cams are in the minority!

Roller cams are superior to flat tappet cams.

A big percentage of OEM engines are SOHC or DOHC.

We can debate motor oils until the end of time. Simply determine the needs of your particular engine and buy one or more of the products available to meet those needs.

Many of these topics get blown out of proportion on the internet. Please do not put your engine at risk by subscribing to the latest internet fad.

I do not use diesel motor oils in gasoline fueled race engines as the additive packages are slanted profusely toward the diesel applications these oils are designed for.

There are many good race oils and additives available. Proper oil choice is not that difficult!

[rookie]

Originally Posted by BlackCat13

I don't see anything on that thread that references Shell's specifications, just several people stating things without confirmation.

If you read their post you will find it several times, hear is one...

Welcome to the Shell Rotella Forum: Rotella T for cam break in

[BlackCat13]

Originally Posted by rookie

If you read their post you will find it several times, hear is one...

Welcome to the Shell Rotella Forum: Rotella T for cam break in

I'm just stating facts here, ok. Hear me out.

I see what they say on the Shell Rotella Forum through your link.

SJ had a limit of 1000, SL was less, and SM less yet. The amounts they quote for their SM Rotella T are NOT in accordance with the industry specifications.

So what they are admitting is that their oil actually does NOT meet SM specifications even though it is labeled as SM????

Bottom line = The Shell Rotella forum is either incorrect
or they are falsely labeling their product.

WE need to get a grasp on that fact.

Modern oils might work ok for flat tappet cams that are well broken in already, but the additive levels are far below the old specs for anti scuff of flat tappet cam lobes.

Racing oils or additives are our only alternatives. And in the future nitrided cams and lifters.

[rookie]

Oh!
I don’t doubt what you are saying, I just put the link up so people could go to Rottela and ask directly, the #’s posted from early 08 are lower the auto mag last year that stated 1350 zinc and I have heard that EPA regulation are going to out law all zinc and phos. in oils.

I do not recommend any one use oil that they aren’t sure about.

Not to mention that modern day cams are far more aggressive then the cams of old and need more protection than ever.

[BlackCat13]

Best I have found so far.

quoting the website/ copy and paste
AMSOIL - JR Synthetics, Independent Dealer, Motor and Engine Oil, Lubricants,Air Filters,Oil Filters and Greases

quote

Do you run a flat tappet cam?
Protect your flat tappet camshaft lobes with products containing high levels of zinc/phosphorus (ZnDDP).
The below lubricants are recommended, they contain the proper level of zinc/phosphorus to protect against wear without the use of zinc additives.

ARO 20W-50 Synthetic Premium Protection AMO 10W-40 Synthetic Premium Protection HDD Series 3000 Synthetic 5W-30 Diesel Oil TRO 20W-50 Synthetic Racing Oil AHR SAE 60 Synthetic Racing Oil

Why should I protect my engine with AMSOIL?

Engine oils contain anti-wear additives and the most com-mon anti-wear chemistry is zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZnDDP), which contains a combination of zinc and phos-phorus. In 2005, in an effort to guarantee catalytic con-verter performance in new vehicles, the American Petro-leum Institute (API) and International Lubricants Standards Approval Committee (ILSAC) instituted API SM and IL-SAC GF-4 quality standards which reduced the maximum limit for phosphorus to 0.085% and 0.080% respectively. Both API SM and ILSAC GF-4 specifications also contain a minimum phosphorus content of .065% and .060%. Previously, API SL/ILSAC GF-3 oils were restricted to 0.10% phosphorus level, so a concern arose that oils con-taining lower levels of zinc/phosphorus could provide insuf-ficient protection in high pressure areas of flat tappets and camshaft lobes found in many older cars and high-performance engines.
quote


go to site and read more good info

so SM zinc gets 850 and phosphorous gets 800


Here's a site that quotes Amsoil Racing oils ARO and AMO at 1270 zinc and 1150 Phosphorous

SG specification

http://www.searchforparts.com/import...motorcycle.php

http://www.a1lubricants.com/moreform.html

Hope this clarifies the situation.

[BlackCat13]

Further looking on the shelves has revealed=

Rotella T in the BLUE container is rated at SL. (white is SM)

Several brands of conventional oils/grades have ratings of SL, mostly in the 20w50 weights.

I also found two in SG and one in SF, neither of which was labeled as "racing oil" but did specify for "higher mileage older cars" and older than 1988.

Here's what I found:

SM is 850 zinc and 800 phosphorous.

SL is 1000 and 1000.

SG is 1270 and 1150.

SF ??????

Buyer beware.

The 3 major oil retailers in this part of the world sell nothing labeled "racing oil" except Royal Purple Synthetic at $ 10 qt.

It is a catalytic converter thing.