Rotella oil thread

Merc4ever

Merc4ever

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http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2059009

These guys seem to know their OIL and it sounds like the Rotella is as good as Merc.

I know, I know "not another oil thread!"

I have run all types of oil in several different Mercruisers over the past 30 years and they never seemed to mind as long as it was clean. It sure would be nice to buy cheap, easy to get, Rotella from Walmart and know it's just like the Merc brand.

What's everyone's thought?
 
Don S

Don S

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Messages
62,321
Re: Rotella oil thread

If you don't want to use what the manufacturer suggests, then here are a few links to other oil threads to help assist you in choosing your oil.

They all come down to the same thing, people posting something like
"I use ___(Fill in the blank)___ and it works great"

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=451752

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=445976

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=436377

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=300620

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=426361

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=423766

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=357663

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=319916
 
Howard Sterndrive

Howard Sterndrive

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4,603
Re: Rotella oil thread

Rotella is a Shell label for an entire series of oil made over the years of different grades, different additive packages and different qualities of base oil worldwide.

Rotella S is low end, it has a very low TBN and is sometimes used as a break in oil.
Rotella T is a higher end conventional diesel engine oil.
 
B

Brewman61

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Jun 10, 2010
Messages
996
Re: Rotella oil thread

I stick with Merc oil (and filters), knowing that it's not the cheapest option out there, but I do know it meets the specs they set for their own engines and outdrives.
I only change this stuff out one time a year, at seasons end, and the amount of possible savings for me would buy me less than 5 gallons of marina gas. Plus the Merc dealer is only a 10 minute drive away, and will have all my stuff ready and waiting for me if I call them that I'm coming. Fleet Farm or any "Mart" isn't gonna do that. Plus I hate standing in long casheir lines, making exra trips to multiple locations, all of which I'd have to do since there is no less expensive place around here that has all the stuff I need- I'd have to go to one place for oils, other for filters, and still likely have to get something at the Merc dealer anyway. I don't think I spend $100 on all this stuff once a year, so not convinced in my case the savings would be worth the effort. YMMV.
 
Howard Sterndrive

Howard Sterndrive

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Re: Rotella oil thread

Brewman61 said:
Plus the Merc dealer is only a 10 minute drive away, and will have all my stuff ready and waiting for me if I call them that I'm coming.
Click to expand...
neat. If I had that sort of dealer service, that close by, I would go with all OEM stuff too.
If i don't go in with the part number, i get a blank stare. They don't stock oil filters.... have to order them, and they don't take orders over the phone - you pay first.

I phoned Friday to see if they had riser gaskets. I read the Merc part number to the idiot 3 times. After 5 minutes, she says "is that a good number?"

I was actually glad they can't figure out how to work their parts system - I haven't spent any money there since approx 2005 when I took a float switch back (the same day purchased) that had infinite ohms in all positions and was told "no warranty on electronic parts"
same idiot answered the phone Friday, so I suspect nothing much has changed.

I haven't seen a customer vehicle in their parking lot in about 2 years....probably been by 10 or 20 times.
 
QC

QC

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Messages
22,783
Re: Rotella oil thread

Ya know, I am totally digging Olive Oil these days. Maybe a little vinegar, maybe some garlic, for dipping bread in. Maybe straight. And straight works well on pasta. I saw Tommy Lasorda on a commercial pouring it all over his spaghetti. I figured "good enough for Tommy, and look at how hefty he is. And Italian. He must know his pasta." So that's what I do now. Olive oil all over any pasta, almost any sauce. Works flippin' great and I have never had an engine failure. Not one!!!!
 
Oshkosh1

Oshkosh1

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Jun 8, 2009
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Re: Rotella oil thread

It's oil...as long as it's clean and the right grade it's good.

I send my oil from my vehicles (cars/boats/sleds/Airplane) to a lab in Ohio for testing. I've used everything form SuperTech 5w30 to M1 in cars/trucks and Aeroshell 100W + in a Cessna. According to the lab reports, they've ALL passed the different tests with flying colors.

For $25 it's a good snapshot of your oil and how your engine is wearing internally according to the metallurgy/signs of fuel, water, anti freeze in your sample.

I use Rotella T and it works great.(I'm the first:confused:):D
 
P

pevaguy

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Nov 28, 2010
Messages
84
Re: Rotella oil thread

Don S said:
If you don't want to use what the manufacturer suggests, then here are a few links to other oil threads to help assist you in choosing your oil.

They all come down to the same thing, people posting something like
"I use ___(Fill in the blank)___ and it works great"

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=451752

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=445976

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=436377

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=300620

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=426361

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=423766

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=357663

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=319916
Click to expand...

I hope everyone knows that Mercruiser and all the other mfgs. don't have oil wells or refinery's. They put the order out for bid listing their specs and take the low bid to package it with their name on it. The same with filters. Just use good quality clean oil. I personally stay away from the orange oil filters.
 
oldjeep

oldjeep

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Re: Rotella oil thread

Brewman61 said:
I stick with Merc oil (and filters), knowing that it's not the cheapest option out there, but I do know it meets the specs they set for their own engines and outdrives.
I only change this stuff out one time a year, at seasons end, and the amount of possible savings for me would buy me less than 5 gallons of marina gas. Plus the Merc dealer is only a 10 minute drive away, and will have all my stuff ready and waiting for me if I call them that I'm coming. Fleet Farm or any "Mart" isn't gonna do that. Plus I hate standing in long casheir lines, making exra trips to multiple locations, all of which I'd have to do since there is no less expensive place around here that has all the stuff I need- I'd have to go to one place for oils, other for filters, and still likely have to get something at the Merc dealer anyway. I don't think I spend $100 on all this stuff once a year, so not convinced in my case the savings would be worth the effort. YMMV.
Click to expand...

Dunno, the merc fluids and filters are plenty easy to find at Fleet Farm, a lot cheaper than the marine store and I don't have to wait for the parts bozo to try to figure out in the catalog which of the 3 filters fits a 3.0L so he can grab it from the back room.
 
oldjeep

oldjeep

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Re: Rotella oil thread

pevaguy said:
I hope everyone knows that Mercruiser and all the other mfgs. don't have oil wells or refinery's. They put the order out for bid listing their specs and take the low bid to package it with their name on it. The same with filters. Just use good quality clean oil. I personally stay away from the orange oil filters.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but how many other brands of 25W40 do you actually see around? They sell the quicksilver/merc stuff at most of the local auto parts stores and Fleet Farm, so its not like you have to look to hard to find it.
 
QC

QC

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Mar 22, 2005
Messages
22,783
Re: Rotella oil thread

oldjeep said:
how many other brands of 25W40 do you actually see around?
Click to expand...
You think that might just be a little marketing program?

Sorry to everyone for posting on an oil thread. Twice. That unique "weight" has always been extra special fishy . . . ;)
 
Merc4ever

Merc4ever

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Messages
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Re: Rotella oil thread

oldjeep said:
Maybe, but how many other brands of 25W40 do you actually see around? They sell the quicksilver/merc stuff at most of the local auto parts stores and Fleet Farm, so its not like you have to look to hard to find it.
Click to expand...

I can't find anything from Mercury in my area, not at auto stores or anywhere. closest one is a couple hours drive away. That's the main reason I look for something else. The closest thing I've seen is Walmarts 20w-50 my Mercury manual says I can use it as a second choice if nothing else is available.
 
B

Brewman61

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Joined
Jun 10, 2010
Messages
996
Re: Rotella oil thread

oldjeep said:
Dunno, the merc fluids and filters are plenty easy to find at Fleet Farm, a lot cheaper than the marine store and I don't have to wait for the parts bozo to try to figure out in the catalog which of the 3 filters fits a 3.0L so he can grab it from the back room.
Click to expand...

The closeset FF to me has the engine oil, is out of the outdrive lube half the time I look (and they're almost the same cost on this as Merc is), and they don't carry one my filters. Not sure they're that much cheaper. The Merc store I use has very capable counter help, I simply call them, tell them what I want, and it's waiting for me on arrival. Most of what I need is on the shelf anyway, one filter they need to go to the back room. No big deal. Takes them all of a minute to run back and grab the part.
I cross check my part numbers to make sure, pay and off I go.
Going to two places eats up much of the small savings in time and extra gas, in my case FF is to the east, and Merc is to the west, and at almost $4/gallon, using an extra gallon or two of gas eats up the savings.
Like I said, YMMV.
 
F

fishrdan

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Jan 25, 2008
Messages
6,989
Re: Rotella oil thread

QC said:
You think that might just be a little marketing program?

Sorry to everyone for posting on an oil thread. Twice. That unique "weight" has always been extra special fishy . . . ;)
Click to expand...

Now, what fun would it be to have 15W40 or 20W50 Quicksilver/Merc oil... :rolleyes: :D

Can't make any money is everyone else is making "your" oil...
 
Merc4ever

Merc4ever

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
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Messages
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Re: Rotella oil thread

fishrdan said:
Now, what fun would it be to have 15W40 or 20W50 Quicksilver/Merc oil... :rolleyes: :D

Can't make any money is everyone else is making "your" oil...
Click to expand...

I love my Mercury's but I can't trust their opinion on oil. My 2001 Mercury 6.2 MPI owners manual specifically recommends no Synthetic oil. Now a few years later, the same engine, they recommend you run Synthetic? So to those that say follow manufacturers recommendations, what the hell?
 
QC

QC

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Re: Rotella oil thread

Go with the latest recommendation. They learned something?
 
W

wca_tim

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Re: Rotella oil thread

The bottom line is that ANY high quality oil is NOT going to be the life limiting factor for all but one in a million marine engines. What's more important is checking it regularly, changing it, winterizing properly and all the other important maintenance that impacts engine life... Just Sayin...

btw, my dodge ram with 220,000 miles on the original engine is sitting in the driveway with 15-40 rotella T in it and I've run the same in boat engines a number of times before...
 
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