Viscocity ratings for full synthetic oils are different than for dino oils -- they are always thinner at low temps and dont' change viscosity nearly as much hot, so the numbers will be misleading.

That said, I would not use a 0 rated oil in ANY diesel, nor really am I happy using it in gas engines. It exists to raise fuel milage a bit, but I'm not convinced that it does an adequate job of lubrication. I'll cheerfully give up a bit of milage for longevity, just like I change the oil filter every oil change -- $13 compared to $7000....

Peter

How would you know? I'm sure there's nothing wrong with using dino with appropriate change intervals, that's all that existed when these engines were designed anyway. IMHO, the problem with lack of changes in diesels is the soot build-up, not the oil becoming exhausted. My recent oil analysis seems to confirm that. I don't know how to relate an engine failure to the type or condition of the oil. You pay your money and take your chances.:confused:

Mobile 1
 

The panzer is down for heavy maintenace, I also took out the filter and it came out in two parts, that cannot be good.:eek:

Do you know what brand of filter and/or how long it was installed? I've never seen that happen.

Filter
 

Mann oil filter, i wonder what caused it? in their to long?.:confused:

Made in India??

These zero viscosity oils are being designed for the tight tolerance engines that are coming out, both gas and (now) diesel. It's pretty amazing to look at the clearances in the engine that VW has in the Toureg, for example.

But our old engines are of a different era, built with more room between their big heavy moving parts, even when cold. I wouldn't use those oils in a 617 engine despite the close tolerances in the turbo and injection pump.

BTW Craig, synthetic oil has been around for a little while. Nazis used a synthetic in their planes and even in tanks, and the US Army had synthetic oils specified for the transmission and engines of turbine engine single and double rotor helicopters as long ago as 1968 or before. I'm sure that there must have been many other applications as well.
Just a friendly commentary on your statement above that "that's all that existed when these engines were designed anyway". No big deal.

One "secret" of Nazi jet engine design was that synthetic oil, I believe something similar to the base for Mobil 1, but I could be wrong.

Dino oils coke badly in jet engines, so the engines won't last long enough to be useful (the turbines, even in those old ones) run red hot or hotter, and destroy anything but synthetics.

Been used by the USAF since 1947, I think.

Amsoil was originally jet engine oil, bought from the supplier in bulk and repackaged by an ex-AF mechanic. Probably different now, but similar.

Peter