Beachbumcook, this I believe is the International service bulletin that you are talking about. It advices the use of synthetic oils at temperatures below zero on 2004 and newer DT466 engines. I have not found information such as this on the VT365. For what its worth we run 5W-40 Rotella Synthetic year around in all our International powered buses which include; 3 DT360s, 4 DT466s, 7 T444Es and 1 VT365/6.0 Powerstroke and we change the oil & filter every 7,500 miles in that 6.0 which now has 60,000 trouble free miles;




APPLIES TO



<TABLE id=t0412301 style="BORDER-RIGHT: gray solid; BORDER-TOP: gray solid; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; BORDER-LEFT: gray solid; WIDTH: 65%; BORDER-BOTTOM: gray solid" cols=5 cellPadding=6 rules=all align=center frame=ALL><CAPTION>2004 Model Year DT 466 Cold Weather Starting Recommendations </CAPTION><THEAD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c0c0c0"><TR><TH vAlign=bottom align=middle>Ambient Temperature

</TH><TH vAlign=bottom align=middle>Starting Aids

</TH><TH vAlign=bottom align=middle>Oil

</TH><TH vAlign=bottom align=middle>Fuel

</TH><TH vAlign=bottom align=middle>Battery

</TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f0f0f0"><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>40 F

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>Grid Heater

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>15W40

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle># 2 Diesel 42 Cetane Min

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>1300 CCA Min

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>30 F

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>Grid Heater

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>15W40

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle># 2 Diesel 42 Cetane Min

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>1300 CCA min

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>20 F

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>Grid Heater

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>10W30

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>#1D & #2D Blend 50/50 Diesel 42 Cetane Min

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>1300 CCA min

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>10 F

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>Grid Heater

Block Heater

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>10W30

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>#1D & #2D Blend 50/50 Diesel 42 Cetane Min

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>1300 CCA min

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>0 F

</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>Grid Heater

Block Heater

Fuel Heater

Oil Pan Heater

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>5W40 Synthetic 0W30 Synthetic

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>#1 Diesel 42 Cetane Min

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>1950 CCA min

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>-10 F

</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>Grid Heater

Block Heater

Fuel Heater

Oil Pan Heater

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>5W40 Synthetic 0W30 Synthetic

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>#1 Diesel 42 Cetane Min

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>1950 CCA min

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>-20 F

</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>Grid Heater

Block Heater

Fuel Heater

Oil Pan Heater

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>5W40 Synthetic 0W30 Synthetic

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>#1 Diesel 42 Cetane Min

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>1950 CCA min

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>-30 F

</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=middle>Grid Heater

Block Heater

Fuel Heater

Oil Pan Heater

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>5W40 Synthetic 0W30 Synthetic

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>#1 Diesel 42 Cetane Min

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle>1950 CCA min

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



© 2006 International Truck and Engine Corporation

 

That's it!!!!

Great post and thanks.

Hopefully running anti-gel in my fuel (whether trated by the station or not), 5W-40 motor oil and having the block heater... I am good to go (as I know I am).

Windchills get cold here, but windchill is not relevant for non-skin or metal parts. Ambient temps is all that this referes to and if it is that cold (-30F)... I just need to stay home!!!!

I choose to run 5W-40 year-round for easier starts, always change my oil and filter on time, use additives in my fuel, let my truck warm up and make sure my batteries are in good condition... but some expect diesels to start right up like a gasser and/or expect them to start right up just like it was 70F outside!! They don't and they never will.... they are diesel!!!!

Special care and maintenance is required and what works on other brands of diesels or even the older 7.3's... are different due to EGR's and other computerized settings/monitorings of this motor.

Lets face it... 15W-40 is a thick oil at cold temps... regardless of brand.

How many of you (except firemen) jump out of bed, pants on and run out the door without warming up with a hot shower, coffee and something to eat.... our trucks are just like us... they need to warm up and loosen up when it is cold.

 

"Looks you have done your homework and are set to go!!!

I use synthetic 5W-40 Rotella and so far so good. Easier starts and good Blackstone oil reports.

Enjoy..."
Well I have obtained a wealth of information from this forum, saved a ton of money by still running OEM quality pruducts w/o having to pay OEM (FORD packaged) prices (namely fuel filters and oil filters). Looking forward to running the Synthetic and my timing couldn't have been better as it looks like were in store for a cold winter. The day time temps for the last week have never gotten above the mid 20's and it's still about 5 below at my house right now. Tonight I'm gonna pull the boiling water trick.......heat up a cup of water in the microwave to the point at which it's boiling, take it outside an toss the water up into the air and watch it turn into a vapor cloud and not a single drop of water hits the ground.
.....and yes, as cold as it is my truck is plugged in

 

Wow... that's cold!!!!

Screw the water trick.... just go sit by the fire with your favorite drink and watch TV, movie or a good book (Diesel Power Magazine). It's too darn cold to be playing "watch my water vapor trick"!!!

Take care and stay warm.

 

So that is what you do for fun & entertainment in the North country, Yeah, Yippie . . . . Party down tonight!

 

Well, I don't exactly do it all the time. There's other activities to do at night when it's dark and really cold

 

As your slogan below your screen name states.... "Get Her Down'... oh... that was "Get R- Done"... sorry.... we know what you mean!!!

 

LMAO, that's what I'm talking about............
I would add something else, but it'd prob get edited out..............

 

And that would that be . . . Checking your cold tire preasure?

Making hail w/ your winshield washer fluid . . .

 

Hardy, har, har, har! I gotta go into town here shortly, I'll probably will get the bump, bump, bump going down the road for the flat spots on the tires. Neighbor...poor guy haa a dodge duracrap and he just fired it up.......can't see the truck for all the exhaust surrounding it. He shou'da bought a Ford!!

 

HMMMM--a DEALER recommends. As you say....SHOW IT TO ME ON A CORPORATE LETTERHEAD WHERE NAVISTAR CORPORATE RECOMMENDS SHELL ROTELLA. I thought there had been lots of discussions about what DEALERS recommended in the halls of FTE. What does FORD CORPORATE recommend for a brand of motor oil?????????

 

please do share your findings and tell us the other brands. i say its not scientific but it is quantitive.

 

Come on npccpartsman.... learn to read what I type and not be biased based on your preconcieved beliefs...

Here is what I wrote in my post #28 above:
Answer:
We use and recommend Rotella 15W-40 year round and if one wants too they can use synthetic, but they recommend that once moving to synthetic to stay with it and not switch back and forth seasonaly. They have no issues with Rotella and that is all they use at this facility.

Nowhere did I write that Navistar/Int'l promotes a certain brand of oil and I would bet my truck on the fact that they do not endorse any one brand of oil!!! Even Ford does not recommend a brand of oil, but to use one that meets the API certification at time of manufacture.

I called, I asked and was given an answer. "THIS FACILITY USES ROTELLA AND USES 15w-40 YEAR-ROUND AND RECOMMENDS IF SWITCHING TO SYNTHETIC TO STAY WITH IT!!!!"

 

I'm not biased and I have no preconceived beliefs. I'm just stating back what you stated about wanting proof. I didn't say that you did write anything about Navistar corporate, but don't say what one dealership recommends to promote your beliefs. If they had said water would you put that in your crankcase??? I don't think so. I don't care what a dealership recommends, I want to know what Navistar recommends.......or Ford. Hmmmmm. Wouldn't Ford recommend their oil or would they say use something else? That would be rather stupid wouldn't it? I sell Bobcat oil. Meets all the specs of the major diesel engine manufacturers (it's 15W40 CI-4 rating, not plus) and bobcat does NOT recommend it be used in OTR vehicles, even though it's specs say it can be. It's just not good oil for that, but it works GREAT in Bobcat diesels.

And I think the performance requirements for a 6.0 and a vt365 are a little different. that's been well documented once or twice.

 

My original post and request was regarding viscosities and cold temps only. You brought up the Rotella oil brand and "issues" later on about injector wearing issues?

I called my local IH dealer and asked about viscosities and he just happened to mention the brand of oil they use at this facility. I could care less if he had stated Rotella, Chevron, Mobil or whatever.... it just happened that he mentioned a brand name that you do not endorse (nothing more).

The post above that shows what Navistar promotes for another motor and what to do or use in cooler temps is/what I was thinking I had heard or read... and I have acknowledged such.

Again... I am after viscosity information/recommendations not brands. I have posted links where Shell had heard of these rumors about their oil causing problems yet Ford and Int'l have not filed any complaints nor has Int'l published anything to their heavy duty facilities about it... so with that I feel confident in using and recommending Rotella over your "beliefs and what you have been told". I am sure you have been told and you trust it... but until Shell, Ford, Int'l or Navistar publish something to the contrary... it is safe to use!!!

Now back to viscosities.... using 5W-40 year-round is a good thing and using the block heater and lighter weight oil is the key to easier starts. What I was after was comparing Navistar's temp ranges versus Ford's TSB on lighter weight oils in the winter.

I know it will be hard... but lets get back to the viscosity issue and off brand names as I think a couple of us have answered that part of the hijacked thread.