I'm having difficulty finding Shell Rotella T oil in the gallon containers in WalMart. The best buy is a case of six gallon containers. Next best buy are the loose gallons. I had to buy a case of quart bottles.

But they have a whole rack full of the expensive Shell Rotella synthetic - which I refuse to buy.

Can you please note in your local WalMart if this is some kind of corporate strategy, or if its just my local store?

I may have to find another supply of good old dino......



Ken300D

Interesting that you noted this. I was in Walmart 2 hours ago with the same results. I could only find a few scattered quarts of Rotella. There was tons of the synthetic which is great stuff but very expensive. There were no gallons of the white Rotella.

They did have Mobil 1 synthetic in 5 quart containers for 17.?? which I thought to be a good price but no 15w40 options.

Perhaps, they're having difficulty supplying it right now as multiple states are suffering.

Don

__________________
DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

I heard something about them changing the formula on Rotella, I'm not sure if this is true, but it might be the cause of the drought.

__________________
1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

If you throw a fit they will sell you 4 quarts for the gal. price. I do it every time.

__________________
dan

My local store (huge place) probably had 40 gallons of the Rotella synthetic in gallon jugs.

I'd like to organize an electronic complaint campaign for those that feel like it might help. I suppose it can't hurt, and maybe they'll have more information or send a gift certificate or something.

http://www.walmart.com/cservice/cu_commentsstore.gsp?cu_heading=15

Here is what I sent, entered into the "comment" section.

--------------------
Your automotive department is great, it usually has the best selection of motor oils in town. However, lately I have been having a problem finding one-gallon containers of Shell Rotella T 15W-40 motor oil. Your prices are usually the best available, but if you don't keep this on the shelf, I can't buy it from you! I noticed the store had about 40 one-gallon containers of the much more expensive Shell Rotella Synthetic oil. I refuse to buy this product. If this is a marketing strategy to sell the much more expensive oil - it is a failure. I never see any change in the wall of Shell Rotella Synthetic oil stock - yet the regular 15W-40 area is always sold out. Is there any way you can work with my local store to tell them they are not keeping in stock the product I need, and obviously the product that is selling? Thank You.
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Ken300D

Uh, mind if I ask a dumb question? Why don't you go for the Chevron Delo 400 or the Mobil Del??? 1300. It costs about the same, and it's widely felt to be a better oil, something about the base stock is better. Just my 2 cents; myself a victim of the "Synthetic" rotella scam.

__________________
Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

Numbers and statistics aside, is there anyone who can actually discern the difference between Rotella T, Delo, and Delvac 1300? Also, is there a big difference in "feel" between those dino oils and Delvac 1?

Alex

__________________
1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Alex, not sure if you're talking about the "feel" of the car using different oils, or if you mean how the oil itself "feels" between one's fingertips. I can attest that my SD love(d) the Delo 400, and seemed to run just a hair better, and quieter, than with the Rotella.

Also, for anyone in the colder climates, going to a 10W30 or 5W40 makes a big difference in cold weather power and warmup times, as well as faster and easier cranking. The bummer with 10W30 is that Mercedes says not to use it above 50 deg F, so I'm very careful to get it changed before average high temperatures get much over 40-45 deg F.

The Rotella is almost like water at room temperatures, although I'd rather use Delvac 1, if I could find it.

__________________
Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

My local WallyWorld had lots of non-synthetic Rotella last time I stopped by. Individual gallons and the 6 gallon case for $38.00.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Greetings Ken,

You didn't mention whether you asked the automotive manager what the deal was on the outage of Rotella was at Wal-Mart. In most cases they can tell you on the spot whether it's a warehouse supply problem. In which case Shell is at fault because they can't keep up with demand or if it's a local store problem. TLE manager hasn't boosted his or her orders to compensate for an increase in sales. As far as a corporate stategy goes, if all dino oil dissappeared off the shelf leaving only synthetic to buy company wide, that I would consider a stategy, not a few isolated incidents. We have plenty sitting on our shelf here in Missouri. I could also believe that there is either a reformulation or repackaging issue that would keep the shelf bare as well. If you use any type of quanity of Rotella, simply tell the TLE manager how many cases you'd like ordered just for you, and they'll be happy to call you when your order arrives. That product won't go to the sales floor but will be held back for you.

Charles

__________________
"Tell me and I will listen, Teach me and I will learn, Show me and I will accomplish, Involve me and I will succeed."
'84 300SD 256,000 Gold on Brown (Mileage Award)
'86 300E 246,000 Blue on Tan

Robert,
I was refering to the feel of the car, not of the oil itself. I use Delvac 1300 with 2 quarts of Mobil 1 10W30 and am wondering if I'd actually feel a difference when experimenting with other stuff.

ALex

__________________
1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Well - OK - I admit we're not having a humanitarian crisis here - but I just want my Shell Rotella T.

I did talk to someone working in the automotive department, but it didn't seem to be a manager. I told them that's what I always bought, and that I was disappointed not to see any gallon containers or cases of gallon containers. I also asked if any additional supply was in the storeroom. His response was "No, nothing back there either, I just can't keep it on the shelf." Duh! You can sure tell the difference between the WalMarts and the places like Home Depot where the employees are given stock incentives. I know in Home Depot if something sells they're going to resupply, based on employee input.

But as someone mentioned it might be a supply issue - I can't imagine why, because its just dino oil that's been around for years.

I sure appreciate all the observations. Maybe I can get my store straightened out, or go to the WalMarts close to where I work instead. It's the sight of 20-ft of shelf space devoted to Shell Rotella Synthetic at $100/gallon (or whatever) that made me become an "activist".

I probably use 30 gallons a year - five cases. Does WalMart ever put motor oil on sale? I might use that strategy "can-do" mentioned if I found it on sale - just buy the year's worth at once.

Thanks all,
Ken300D

Mobil 1 for $17/ gal! the WallyWorld I just stopped at had it for $26/gal. So I bought Rotella synthetic for $18.44/gal.

I thought that their pricing system was centralized in Alabama or wherever they came from.

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Greetings Ken,

Actually the stock incentives are better at Wal-Mart than Home Depot. All the associates in any particular store shares a portion of their stores profit on a yearly basis. This money naturally is invested in Wal-Mart stock but each employee has their own account. I've talked to a few of their employees that have been around for the last 20 years working in their stores, and their accounts are in excess of a half million dollars. Not a bad retirement fund if you ask me. So the incentive is there.
As far as seeing oil on sale at any discount retailer, it would be rare unless they are competing with another retailer on this loss leader item. Most petroleum products such as oil only produce a profit margin of 7% or less, and in some cases it's a negative mark-up, or a loss leader just to get you in the store.

Charles

__________________
"Tell me and I will listen, Teach me and I will learn, Show me and I will accomplish, Involve me and I will succeed."
'84 300SD 256,000 Gold on Brown (Mileage Award)
'86 300E 246,000 Blue on Tan

Thanks for the info on the WalMart employee incentives. I didn't know they had such a thing there - just comparing their "energy" to employees at Home Depot!

You are right about the oil products getting me into the store. That's what I went in for - and ended up with considerably more based on seeing other things as I passed by them.

And another thing, while I'm whining and having my temper tantrum - - - I like to use the old gallon containers to hold the used oil for disposal. Not too easy handling it this way in quart containers!

I have this suspicious feeling that the profit/markup is higher on the synthetic Rotella.

So, I'm going to check out some of the other WalMart stores in the area, and also check with my brother who is a member at Costco and Sam's Club.

If I get an interesting response from my electronic complaint to the WalMart web site, I'll post it here.

Ken300D