Like the title says.. Is Shell rotella a good oil to use? I was wondering if it is synthetic or not. I know it can be used in a diesel engine but heard it has more detergents in it and can be used in a gasser.

Unfortunately you may be starting an Oil War post. There are many different opinions, some very passionate, about oil in general and there are many posts about oi on this forum.

I use it in my '84 300D during the winter and it does a good job for me.

Best advice I ever saw was, whatever you use change it hot and often.

__________________
John

1995 E320 - 115kmi+ Smoke Silver/Cream (Wife's Wagon)
1989 260E - 195kmi+ Black/Grey (My Panther)
1984 300D - 242kmi+ Black/Palomino (Retired)

Not synthetic, but its on the Approved List http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html

I use it in all my diesels: one mercedes and two tractors. My friend is a diesel mechanic and says the motors are the cleanest when rotella is used. He works on tractors, trucks and heavy equipment.
I use synthetic in my gassers.

Shell Rotella is also available in a synthetic but the version most use is normal Dino. While different viscosities are recommended by Mercedes, depending on your climate, the 15W40 is good for all but the most extreme climates. Most listings consider the older Benz engines to be "hard working European engines" and recommend the diesel versions of oils for those gas engines. Many folks who have older Mercedes use nothing but diesel-rated oils. My 1990 300E with 98K has used it exclusively since nearly new and my friend has used nothing but that in his 1977 230 (gas) and with more than 160K. When the valve cover was removed recently for valve adjustment, everything was exceptionally clean!

The previous owner used it.
I was changing valve seals on the engine and noticed after 75000 miles how clean it was in the valve cover area.
Never used the oil before but I will keep using it in my 560sl
It worked and kept engine very clean
Oil pressure also on engine is super
I do like syn better but for these old cars which got them this far
I am not messing with something that works

__________________
[B]Mike Y.
00 sl500 sport
88 560 sl (sold)

Rotella is the correct TYPE of oil for diesel engines with extra detergents to disperse the diesel soot. These types of oil are called UNIVERSAL oil. The most common of these are Shell Rotella T, Mobil Delvac and Chevron Delo 400.

Of these Shell, however, has the highest parafin content which is not a good thing. Independent tests show Delo to be the best, but any of these oils will serve you very well IF you change hot and often.

Good luck,

Thanks guys. I put that oil in my gasser and my car performs awesome!

I just made the switch to 15w40, too. It seems to be what Mercedes originally recommended in the owner's manual. I'm using the Carquest "house" brand, which is made by Valvoline.

__________________
'01 SLK320, '79 450SL & '01 C320 -- What? 3 Mercedes? I am DEFINITELY crazy!!!

I am trying the rotella syn in both my wife's truck and my son's car.... i'll probably switch his back over to 20w-50 for the summer, however.

pep boys had a sale on pennzoil syn, so that is what is going into the truck next... i am only using syn to lengthen the oil changes from 3k to about 6 or 7k.... my wife has a 35 mile one way commute.

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

have also used valvoline 15/40 'all fleet' in my engine with good success.
it is also diesel rated.

lately though the delo and delvac have been used mainly due to easy availabilty at wal-mart

__________________
1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

IIRC Rotella hardly has any ZDDP compared with the original formula that was available 6-7 years ago. The Aircooled guys loved the original formula but still use it because it still is higher than anything else on the market and the extra detergents really help the non-filtered AC'ed Volkswagens. A few of the real anal folk (mostly Porsche guys) buy some concentrated zinc additive that's super expensive to add to every oil change, right before they send their old oil off to a lab to be analyzed (LOL). Whatever floats their oil boat.

__________________
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...