FAQ

Shell
|
Rotella
|
October 2020 Taking trucks further: the basics of ODI and what it means
HOW DOES
CHANGING MY OIL
EARLY AFFECT ME OR
MY BUSINESS?
If you change your engine oil too
early, then you are not using the full
potential of the engine oil. This practice
potentially leads to paying for oil
changes your vehicle did not need.
Over the lifetime of a vehicle, this can
pile on extra costs.
AND IF YOU CHANGE
THE OIL TOO LATE?
You’re almost certain to see a
deterioration in engine performance.
But worse than that, the oil will no
longer be able to protect your engine
as well as it needs to. Your engine
may suffer from wear that leads to
unplanned maintenance and extra
cost. If you leave longer between
oil changes than the manufacturer’s
specifications, you may also void the
warranty on your truck’s engine.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I
CHANGE MY OIL?
You should follow your OEM’s
recommended oil-change intervals.
ODI can vary depending on the
engine type, engine application or
service and the recommended oil
specification. Consult your truck’s
manual or contact your OEM to find
out the recommended ODI for the oil
you’re using. You may also use Shell
LubeMatch to search for your engine.
When available, the oil drain interval
information will be displayed here.
WHY DOES ODI VARY
BY APPLICATION,
CONDITIONS
AND OEM?
Oil specifications vary from truck to
truck because different vehicles – and
different engines – impose different
levels of stress on the oil. Oils in modern
engines which run hot need to meet
a higher, or newer oil specification,
because high-specification oils have
greater thermal stability, allowing them
to withstand heat and still carry on
protecting for longer. Choosing a lower
quality or specification oil may mean
you need to change your oil more
frequently. The role of lubricants has
always been important, but as engine
technologies have improved over time,
the lubricants have evolved as well.
HOW MUCH OIL
COULD I SAVE IF
I SWITCHED OILS
TO ONE WITH A
LONGER ODI?
Choosing a premium oil which allows
for a longer ODI could cut your oil
consumption considerably over the life
of the vehicle.
As an example: if you are driving
long-haul in a truck with a Detroit DD15
Engine and you use oil that meets the
older API CJ-4 specification, you’ll
need to change your oil every
50,000 miles
[1]
. But if you use a higher-
spec API CK-4 lubricant, you only
need to change your engine oil every
60,000 miles.
HOW ARE SHELL
ROTELLA
®
OILS ABLE
TO MEET OEM OIL
DRAIN INTERVALS?
Over the last decade, Shell has
improved upon the base oil used in its
lubricants. Changes to the refinement
process have created base oils in which
the bonds between molecules are
stronger, making the oil more resistant to
high engine temperatures.
And perhaps, the biggest change
has come from the use of more and
improved “antioxidants” that adapt
physically and chemically when
required, to provide robust protection of
the engine.
This powerful combination of superior,
synthetic base oil and adaptive additive
technology – referred to as Triple
Protection Plus™ Technology – results in
benefits such as:
Enhanced oxidation
control compared to
previous formulations:
guarding against oil
breakdown in hotter
engine conditions
Improved shear stability,
compared to previous
formulations: achieved
because Shell engine
oils experience less loss
of oil viscosity under
severe stress
Excellent aeration
control: helps prevent
air bubbles within the
oil for sustained wear
protection
Triple Protection Plus™ Technology
helps to make the oil effective for
longer, allowing the time between oil
drains to be extended — saving money
and cutting down on maintenance*.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN
MY OIL HAS REACHED ITS
MAXIMUM LIFE?
Always consult your
manufacturer’s recommended oil drain
intervals for your engine and for the
specific oil you are using.
If you feel you can benefit from a more
detailed approach to oil-drain intervals
and oil-management, you could work
with an online oil selector service such
as Shell LubeMatch or contact the Shell
Technical Help Desk at 1-800-BEST-OIL
Do you know why you change your engine oil?Shell Rotella
®
|
April 2021
1.
Daimler: Transition from CJ-4 (PC-10) to CK-4 & FA-4 (PC-11)
*
Always follow the ODI recommendations provided by the maker of your truck. Extending oil-drain intervals is only a good idea if it is officially approved by the manufacturer of
your truck, and is conducted with the support of a Shell Technical Advisor coupled with the use of oil analysis like Shell LubeAnalyst.
Rotella is a trademark of Shell Trademark Management B.V. © SOPUS Products 2021. All rights reserved. CS16911-04
To learn more, visit shell.us/trucking