Your season of mooing is not important. What is important is what temp range will you be operating in?

 

It's awful light (viscosity wise). Rotella is suppose to be a excellent product.
I would think the lightest you would want to use is 10-30. I don't understand why they don't make a straight 30W full syn. I would think it would be the preferred choice for many off road applications. Anything from a D-9 to your lawnmower. But dont worry. This tread might go 30pgs. Did you read the sticky?

 

I've use this in my mowers without any problems. I also use this in my honda foreman...

 

The Rotella T6 has lower Zinc levels, so I personally would NOT use it in an air-cooled motor.

What changed about automotive motor oils? The allowable levels of Zinc and Phosphorus were reduced by about half in 2010 and that’s after they had already been significantly reduced in years previous to 2010. This reduction lowers the thermal conductivity and anti-wear properties of the oil. Air cooled engines are impacted by this change much more than water cooled engines because air cooled engines depend on the motor oil to carry heat to cool the engine.

I still use Rotella 15-40w in my air-cooled engines (air temps above 50F), and in a 4.9L 300 cid Ford inline 6 cyl motor(year around). This was recommended over 20 years ago from a Cat Master Mechanic, and it has never failed me.

The Rotella T6 looks like a good competitor with Mobil 1. I use Mobil 1 in everything else I own and like it. May look into the T6 but hate to change a good thing.

 

Rotella t6 is not the best oil out there and I would never use it in a gas vehicle. 119. 5W40 SHELL ROTELLA T6 Diesel Oil synthetic, API CJ-4, CI-4 Plus, CI-4, CH-4, SM, SL = 67,804 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD

https://540ratblog.wordpress.com/

 

I know all the experts will disagree with varying degrees of fact and old wives myths, but Kohler, Kawasaki and Briggs sell oil that they claim is formulated for air-cooled engines. Eg. higher levels of the good stuff they can't put in cat equipped engines. But, many will disagree. Based on what, I don't know. We're selling it for $4.50 qt. 90% of dealers are crooks, gouge the price, so they can't sell it. Still sales are low because guys can save .50 per qt. 90% of these same genius's, blow up engines regularly because, they are too stupid to even check the great buy oil. So........ I still think 5-40 is too light for an air-cooled engine with any amount of time on it.

 

I've use this in my mowers without any problems. I also use this in my honda foreman...

I made a mistake I use 15w40 Rotella...

 

It's awful light (viscosity wise). Rotella is suppose to be a excellent product.
I would think the lightest you would want to use is 10-30. I don't understand why they don't make a straight 30W full syn. I would think it would be the preferred choice for many off road applications. Anything from a D-9 to your lawnmower. But dont worry. This tread might go 30pgs. Did you read the sticky?

10w30 is lighter than 5w40
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10w30 is lighter than 5w40
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I'm not getting into a debate. Your right I'm wrong. Use olive oil. I don't care.

 

Here's what B&S has to say about it : http://www.briggsandstratton.com/us/en/support/faqs/mower-oil-type-and-capacity

 

Hi VampireCat19, we do not recommend our Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil in your 7.25HP Briggs and Stratton Quantum engine. Our manuals state that this engine requires an SAE 30W straight weight motor oil. Therefore, we would recommend our Pennzoil SAE 30W Motor Oil for your B+S Quantum engine.

We also see where the service manual for your Chevrolet Trailblazer 4.2 engine requires a 5W-30 weight motor oil which meets GM spec 6094. Our Rotella T6 5W-40 does not meet this spec. With that said, we recommend our Pennzoil Conventional 5W-30 Motor Oil for your Trailblazer. - The Pennzoil Team

 

I run the Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil in the gas mowing truck and Valvoline synthetic 10w-30 in the mowers.

 

It's great to finally have a rep from an oil manufacturer chime in and debunk the Rotella debate. But guys will defend their favorite brand to the death. Until people learn to read manuals or understand ratings they will continue to use whatever they think is best. I will continue to service my customers equipment with what is required not what is on sale or I have on the shelf.
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