Every year Shell Lubricants rounds up the construction and trucking press to talk about diesel engine lubricants. Last year there was one big news story—the industry’s new oil specs CK-4 and FA-4, almost 10 years in the making. (See what we wrote about it here.)
But with the CK-4/FA-4 story behind us, this year Shell unveiled a number of new products, including:
Shell Rotella T6 Multi-Vehicle 5W-30
Rotella T6 Multi-Vehicle 5W-30Providing a single oil for all a fleet’s needs from pickup trucks with gasoline engines to diesel-powered, heavy-duty vocational trucks and off-road equipment is a tall order. But that’s the big selling point of Shell’s new full synthetic Rotella T6 Multi-Vehicle 5W-30. It meets It meets both the API CK-4 spec for heavy-duty diesel engines and the API SN spec for gasoline engines with no restrictions or waivers says Jason Brown, global technology manager.
Heavy-duty diesel lube oils are formulated with a higher percentage of performance additives than gasoline engines, says Brown. But high levels of phosphorous, a key anti-wear additive for big diesels, is bad for automotive catalytic converters. Shell’s solution was to keep phosphorous levels low but boost supplemental anti-wear additives conducive to gasoline engine requirements, thus satisfying the needs for both gasoline and diesel engines.
Shell Rotella ELC correction fluid
Rotella ELC correction fluidCoolants are so hardy now you can leave them in a machine or truck for years without the regular flushing and refill. But they do need occasional topping off due to normal evaporation and small leaks. And there’s the rub. In a busy company with multiple drivers or operators running a single truck or machine, who tops off what with what is anybody’s guess. The chances of a machine’s or truck’s coolant being diluted or contaminated are pretty good. To combat this Shell’s Rotella ELC Correction Fluid will restore additive levels and corrosion inhibitor levels to satisfactory levels so you get the same benefits of the original Shell Rotella nitrite free and ELC coolants. The correction fluid can also be used to convert cooling systems to Shell Rotella ELCs in cases where a complete drain of the system is physically impossible. Shell also provides test strips to check the additive levels and make sure you have sufficient protection with these coolants.
Shell Rotella DEF and oil filters
Shell Rotella DEFYou can’t run a modern diesel without diesel exhaust fluid or DEF. So, Shell now sells DEF at retail outlets under the Rotella brand. For use with any diesel engine running a selective catalytic reduction system, the Rotella DEF will come in 2.5 gallon containers. This size provides the optimal level for top up of many smaller DEF tanks and emergency filling of larger DEF tanks, says Chris Guerrero, global heavy-duty diesel engine oil brand and marketing manager.
And while you’re picking up your DEF at your favorite retail outlet, you may want to check out the new high efficiency Shell Rotella oil filters for diesel pickup trucks. The offering includes six of the most common diesel engine oil filter sizes, covering about 99 percent of the market says Dan Arcy, global OEM Technical manager. The high efficiency filters have the capacity to meet extended drain intervals, Arcy says.
Rotella T5 Ultra 10W-30
Rotella T5 Ultra 10W-30In addition to the API CK-4 spec for diesel lube oils, the API also started licensing another spec last year, the FA-4 formulations. Shell announced that its Rotella T5 Ultra meets this FA-4 specification, which is designed for low viscosity and improved fuel efficiency in on-highway truck engines built beginning in 2017.
Ford diesel spec
Shell also announced in September that Ford Motor Company has approved three CK-4 spec Shell Rotella heavy-duty engine oils for use in their diesel vehicles. These include the T-4 15W-40, Triple Protection, T5 10W-30 Synthetic Blend and T6 5W-40 Full synthetic.
