confused about oil for 480ce 6CTA

[Nicholas]

I’m getting ready to do my first oil change and I’m confused about the engine oil specs. The manual calls for ces20071 or ces20076 oil, or CG-4 or CH-4. Valvoline blue is very difficult to find around me, but Shell Rotella T is on sale for $60 for a 5 gal bucket. Shell Rotella T lists compatibility with CH-4 and CG-4 but CES20081, not -71. Searching around I couldn’t find anything cummins put out saying CES20081 is backward compatible with -71.

Is the plain vanilla 15w-40 shell Rotella T fine to use? Or do i need T4 or T6? Or just keep shopping around and try to find cummins/valvoline?

Also for 2 6CTA’s plus the genset, does three 5 gallon buckets sound about right to buy?

Topic

[Rob Schepis]

Ah, I buy in one gallon containers so that’s what I was referencing…

[Nicholas]

I don’t know – maybe it’s a regional thing. I’ve checked autozone, advanced, tractor supply, Walmart, hardware stores, and west marine. All I could find was 1 gallon containers at TSC and Walmart. Didn’t think about pep boys because I don’t seem to drive by one very often. I even asked TSC if they could order it in 5 gal buckets and they said no. The auto parts stores have it in lighter weights but not 15w. I’m sure I could find it eventually but on the flip side shell Rotella is every where and $60 for 5 gallons.

If it doesn’t really matter, I’ll just use what’s cheap and widely available around here (Rotella).

[Rob Schepis]

Nicholas Cummings wrote:

Valvoline blue is very difficult to find around me,

Really? … Advanced Auto Parts and Pep Boys both sell it.

[Tony Athens]

Oil Specs

Quit over thinking,, Your engine was designed for oil specs in the early 90’s.. New oils are great but have been upgraded mostly due to emission regulations, not for the “LUBRICATION QUALITIES”…………..Use any Shell Rotella T, Delo 400, Mobil,Delvac, Union Guardol , Texico Halvoline, or Valvoline Blue 15-40 ( or a bunch of other) and sleep well………..

Oil make or using the most current new “spec” has never been an issue with engines like this..

Tony

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John W, Nicholas

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