Originally Posted By: dnewton3
First, welcom to the site!
Now for a dose of reality ...
What you are reading there is typical uniformed bias. They are presuming there is direct relationship between inputs and outputs, as if there was a 100% assurance based upon that theorm.
As I've said hundreds (perhaps thousands) of times, inputs are interesting, but results are what matters.
When you run any of those fluids in "normal" comparitive circumstances, you'd find precious little if any statistical difference between their actual abililty to protect the engine from heat, wear, contamination control, etc.
VOAs are predictors; nothing more or less.
UOAs are results, and reveal clear performance capabilities.
I would challenge anyone to show me how the product ranking that the article touts can actaully be replicated in real world results. I'll cut right to the bone; I triple dog dare ya!
While I , for the most part, agree with most of what you post there is an asterisk needed here.
Having owned a 6.0 powerstroke since early '04, and prior to that 7.3 powerstrokes, lube choices, more specificially add-packs do matter. With the HPOP system these trucks employ many lube choices fall woefully short on going the manufacturers OCI's.
Our own HDEO UOA section is evidence enough to make my point.
I have a file full of UOA's that tend to agree with what will be found in the HDEO section.
In my own experience the Shell Rotella T line is an average oil, nothing special. It works just fine in almost all applications, but when you add in an HPOP system to the equation it falls flat on its face.
The number of people who had been using T 15w-40, and then experienced injector issues are alarming, and then switched to the 5w-40 variant and their problems went away.
These same guys all swear that you cannot use "dino" lube in these trucks, there is nothing further than the truth.
In my own truck I have used 10w-30 for the last several years without issue, stellar UOA's, and going the manufacturers OCI.
I guess this means I have sort of accepted the "triple dog dare". hahaha