Re: Oils-Gasoline VS Diesel

Posted by Charlie Tosch on Sep. 14, 1998 at 21:49:37

In Reply to: Oils-Gasoline VS Diesel
posted by Rick Botti on Sep. 14, 1998 at 12:48:28

: Does anyone know the difference between modern Diesel oil and
: gasoline oils? Someone tols me they had really good luck with Delo 15-40w from Chevron, anty thoughts?
If you look on an oil can you should see the API ratings (American Petrolium Institute).These ratings will probably be something like CD, CE, CF, etc and SE, SF, SG, etc.The C stands for compression ignition, ie diesel, and the S means spark ignition, ie gasoline.Some oils have only S ratings, no C ratings.The best oils have both C and S ratings and can be used in both gas and diesel engines.The letters following the C and S are for the specs-the latest and best specs are the highest letters, ie F is better than E, etc.I don't know just what the highest spec lettering is for C or S rated oils-you should be able to see by looking at different brands and qualities of oil.If an manufacturer specifies SF oils, you can use anything SF or higher, but you shouldn't use SE or lower.
I have been using diesel oil with the latest C spec which also has the latest S spec.I use Shell Rotella T.This oil has excellent qualitiies and is especially good in preventing wear in high stress areas like camshaft lobes.I'm sure there are other oils that have the same specs and would give the same results.Cheeper is not always better-remember, oil is cheeper than parts!