I know..3116/3126 Oil again

Deep in Depth

Member
Jun 3, 2010
61
Prescott, Ontario
Boat Info
2000 410 Sundancer, Raymarine Color HD Radar, E7D MFD, C127 MFD, AIS
Engines
Cat 3116TA
Ok..its been hashed around for years but now that Shell no longer makes Rotella T in a straight weight synthetic that met the CAT spec, what are we going to use? Cat SAEO is very expensive. I've looked at Mobile, Amsoil, Shell and their is no substitute for the CAT SAEO that would meet the requirements of this bulletin: http://www.cat.com/cda/files/214956/7/SEBU6251-12-01-Mar09.pdf. Page16.

Any suggestions from those who have done their research.
 
Frank and Dom are the men. From what i've gathered, shell didn't change the formula. Still using Rotella straight weight.
 
I have not made a decision yet. I bought most of the last pallet of the old Rotella T SAE 40 my distribuor had, so I am a year or so away from being forced into the research/decision. If I were making the change today, I would switch to Cat DEO SAE 30/40.

Not that it is right or wrong, our Sea Ray dealer has changed back to Rotella T 15W-40.
 
Well so far today I have learned from Shell that they do not offer oil that meet the specs required by Cat. If you put Rotella T1 in your engine, Shell says to remove it as they, or Cat will warranty the engine.

But now for the good news...I called Mobil and they actually supply CAT with their oil. In Canada, the oil for 3116 and 3126TA engines are:
Delvac 1330 or 1340 http://www.mobil.ca/Canada-English-...s_products_engine-oils_mobil-delvac-1340.aspx, and in the US its Mobilgard 450 NC. http://www.exxonmobil.com/USA-English/Marine/PDS/GLXXENMRNEMMobilgard_450_NC.aspx

We now have an option and in the spring, I will be changing my oil...again
 
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I used the 15W-40 by mistake several years ago. Ran out of soap trying to wash the transom of soot!

I have been using SAE 30 Rotella since then!

Kontiki
40 Sedan 3126
 
I don't know Deep....the one for USA is 40 wt. and I use 30. You stated above "they took out the zinc" yet the mobil has no zinc. I do not see where the mobil will work, do you Frank? I also read somewhere that Shell did NOT change the formula of it's rotella, they just changed the label, so maybe a legal thing?
 
The cat marine dealer in Louisiana sold me Rotella T40 last month saw the label had changed he told me it was the same.
He does not even sell the cat oil all his work is only marine he told me all he uses is Rotella .
 
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Reading their doc it seems that if you have Airseps on the breather than you probably can use multivis since oil will not be entering the inlet tract. You might want to first demonstrate that the Airsep is removing all of the oil from the blow-by gases, though.

Best regards,
Frank
 
I can only pass on what the experts tell me. Shell no longer manufactures Rotella T and none of their present oils meet the monograde CF-4 requirement for 3116/3126 engines. Shell tells me it is not just a name change, it is a formula change which is now Rotella T1 which only meet API CF-2. Here is the website for Shell Rotella oils: http://www.shell.com/home/Framework...lla-en/html/iwgen/products/products_home.html.

When I called the Canadian Mobil tech rep, he told me he contacted his US counterpart and confirmed they supply CAT with oil and SAEO is Delvac 1330 or 1340.

We need to make our own decisions to what is right for our engines and the more information we can find through good research will benefit us all. This is a bit of a gray area with the loss of Rotella T and you should call Shell or CAT and get in your own comfort zone.
 
Here's my take:

The publication link posted above appears to be CAT's most recent recommendation for their diesel engine fluids (December 2010). That said, I consider it the current guidance directly from the manufacturer with regard to which oil to use in my 3126 motors.

Excerpting the page below from the document.....

CATOilReco.jpg




The text outlined in red is clear that multi viscosity oil is not recommended in MUI 3116/3126 motors.

The text outlined in blue states what we all already knew was in the works with the API CF/CF-4 ratings.

The text outlined in purple is what drove me at the end of the 2009 season to contact Shell oil manufacturing and engineering personnel. I pasted a sniblet of an email in post #7 back in this thread

I used the T1 30 Rotella in my motors for the 2010 season. I had samples sent in like I do every end of season. My results were as they have been since these motors were born....perfect.

At the end of the 2010 season, I changed the oil and again refilled with the Rotella T1 30.

YMMV
 
Bugsy, that is an option and what most users of older engines use. I need to look into it to determine the correct % in PPM.
 
I researched this a while ago with Castrol and they came up with Tection Monograde 30. According to their technical people this oil is a Cat recommended substitute for 3116/3126 engines.
What say you???
 
I would think that those in FL would want the 40wt and those up north would need 30WT. My Dad worked for years a Ballard oil. I called and asked his old boss and best friend to see if I could help you guys. He said that he would just call CAT and see what they think. He said they'll recommend CAT oil but to tell them that CAT oil is not always readily available for some people, which I would think is probably true. So, In a quick conversation with CAT this AM I spoke with one of their technical support reps. I asked if there were other oils other than CAT oil that would be recommended. I asked him about Mobilguard 30WT or 40WT and he said it will depend on the location of the boat (30 v40) and what your serial number is and he could recommend other oils.
So it does sound like CAT will give you a list of approved oils, but a quick call with your serial # will get you what you're looking for.
(309) 675-1000

Best of luck
 
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I called Mobil and they actually supply CAT with their oil. In Canada, the oil for 3116 and 3126TA engines are:
Delvac 1330 or 1340 http://www.mobil.ca/Canada-English-...s_products_engine-oils_mobil-delvac-1340.aspx, and in the US its Mobilgard 450 NC. http://www.exxonmobil.com/USA-English/Marine/PDS/GLXXENMRNEMMobilgard_450_NC.aspx

My local CAT dealer/service center told me to use Mobil also but the Mobilgard 450 is a SAE 40 weight product. I have been using 30 up until now.

RB
 

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