Delvac 1 Full-synthetic @ CAT dealers - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JHZR2 · #1 01-15-2003, 04:32 PM

After reading in another synth post that CAT-branded full-synthetic 5w-40 oil is actually rebadged Delvac 1, I went over to the local Catepillar place to see if they had any. They had 2 gallons that someone had ordered and never came to get. They got it for me, and it looked just like the delvac 1 bottles seen on billboards, a silver version of the 1300 super bottle, more or less (Delvac 1 bottles sold in Canada look like black antifreeze bottles).
They are selling it for $21.66/gallon. To me this isn't too bad, the only place I have ever seen it before was in Canadian Wal-Mart, and it was ~$25/gal after the exchange rate and all...
So, I just figured Id make a dedicated post for those who might be looking for some of this stuff (Ive looked in DE, NJ and PA, as well as truckstops all over, with no luck). If anyone is having a real problem getting this oil, and really want some, pm me, and maybe we can figure something out, as the cat dealer has a lot of it at their warehouse. I dont know if shipping it is legal, but thats something that we could find out if necessary.
Delvac 1 seems like really good stuff... Even today, when it is 25°out, my oil pressure dropped from the peg @ idle after maybe 2 or 3 minutes of light driving. Dino 15w-40 would always need many miles to drop, even when warm out. The delvac has also seemed to fix my oil pressure gauge vibrations at idle (no clue why). However, at the same time, my car seems a bit smokier now... I wouldnt have used it before I took care of my leaks, as I probably would have gone through a lot of it, but I dont use any more than heavier dino, and looking into the oil filler cap, the engine looks cleaner than it has before switching. Not to be offensive to mobil1 users (and I know that MB uses mobil1 in their diesels), but I think the increased detergency and dispercancy of a CH-4/CI-4 oil of identical quality can only be good for the engine, and if the price is more or less the same, then why not go with it? (curously, one wal-mart that I have been in, out of 3 that I shop at semi-regularly, always has mobil1 at $3.38-3.54/qt for all viscosities, which seems to be really good... what do others pay for mobil1? I use it in our other cars, and feel lucky that for whatever reason, this one walmart has it so cheap)
All just FYI...

JMH

P.E.Haiges · #2 01-15-2003, 08:12 PM

It would be nice if Fastlane or Partshop sold Delvasc1 (HINT, HINT).

P E H

#3 01-16-2003, 02:13 AM

Ouch. I'll stick with Rotella T at $6 a gallon.

The Warden · #4 01-16-2003, 04:15 AM

I think there are hazardous-shipping rules regarding shipping oil. It's not exactly easy, but oil is flammable, eh? It might be illegal to ship it wouthout the right permits...which could be the reason that Fastlane doesn't ship it.

That reminds me; I gotta order my wheel bearing/brake stuff...

Mike123 · #5 01-17-2003, 03:29 PM

I check the local Walmart regularly for oil prices. The had Rotella T synthetic for $12.83 per gallon a couple of weeks ago, but apparently that's over. It was $18.88 this week. But they had cases of 12 quarts of Mobil 1, all viscosities, for $28.88 this week.

JHZR2 · #6 01-17-2003, 06:22 PM

WHAT?!??!?!?
$28.88 for 12 qts?!?
Thats only $2.40/ qt
Never seen that, I know where Ill be first thing tomorrow am...

lrg · #7 01-17-2003, 06:53 PM

Most flammable items can be shipped but it has to be by ground. Anything potentially explosive (like gasoline) can't be shipped by regular carriers. (Gee, I wonder why they don't want that stuff in airplanes.) If Fastlane can ship diesel purge then they could ship oil. Problem is oil is a pretty competitively priced item so it's likely there's not enough margin in it for them to bother.

Robert W. Roe · #8 01-18-2003, 01:13 AM

Mike 124, are you sure that you're not looking at a 6 quart case of Mobil 1? I've never seen a 12 quart case of oil, at least since the 1970's.

Also, I wonder how the Delvac compares to the "new" try-synth Mobil 1? Apologies in advance if I start another oil thread ....

Mike123 · #9 01-18-2003, 10:00 AM

I will double check the number of quarts per case on the Mobil 1.
I must admit that makes more sense, but it looked like the size of a case of 12.

The cases of oil I bought in the 60's & 70's were 24 quart cases. The cases of Rotella T, Rotella T Synthetic and the cases of Valvoline and Castrol for my gassers I have been buying for years are all cases of 12. I haven't noticed any cases of 6. Perhaps they are marketed differently in different areas.

JHZR2 · #10 01-18-2003, 10:05 AM

Ive seen cases of 6 mobil1... they are pretty common. but Ive never seen a 12 of any synth. Dino oils can still be bought in cases of 12 though.

Mike123 · #11 01-18-2003, 10:10 AM

I must be wrong about the Mobil 1, but I buy Rotella T synthetic in cases of 12 all the time.

Mike123 · #12 01-18-2003, 04:04 PM

I went back to the Walmart today where I saw the Mobil 1 oil on sale. It was 12 quarts for $28.88. But, they were not in cases. The earlier posters were right about Mobil 1 coming in 6 quart cases. The oil was at half price on clearance. A clerk said they were clearing out the Mobil 1 on hand. He said they had 3 or 4 quarts of some viscosities and wanted to sell it out. That store will only sell case lots in the future. They were completely out of Mobil 1 today. He said I would not have been able to find enough of one viscosity to do an oil change on my MB. Sorry I did not check this before posting. Apparently they only had 12 quarts.

Robert W. Roe · #13 01-18-2003, 04:07 PM

Sorry if I misled anyone. I should have said I've only seen Mobil 1 in cases of 6. Nice find on the case of 12 tho...

Mike123 · #14 01-18-2003, 04:54 PM

Robert, you are absolutely right about the Mobil 1 and several other synthetics coming in cases of 6. But, some other synthetics come in cases of 12. I don't think you misled anyone.

JHZR2 · #15 01-18-2003, 06:42 PM

wow, im going to have to check my wal-mart for that deal... thanks for the heads-up

JMH