Best Oil for Duramax Review 2020

If you google "the best oil for Duramax," you will get hundreds of products. However, not all oils are suitable for your GM V8 diesel engine for trucks. If you want to enhance the performance of your DMAX engine, then you have to choose the right product.

Product

Pros

OUR #1 RATED

Shell Rotella T5 Synthetic Blend Diesel Engine Oil

  • It has a wide range of applications
  • The oil enhances fuel economy
  • Your diesel will run quieter and smoother
  • It works excellently for higher mileage gasoline engines

OUR #2 RATED

Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic 5W-40 Diesel Engine Oil

  • The oil is also ideal for motorcycle (have a Harley see our guide on the best oil for a Harley) (have a Harley see our guide on the best oil for a Harley)
  • It has outstanding shear stability
  • Transmissions become smoother
  • Inexpensive

OUR #3 RATED

Mobil 1 96989 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil

  • Highly recommended for
    high performance
    vehicles
  • Excellent for euro engines
    and towing
  • It helps in cleaning and
    cooling your Duramax engine
  • The oil works well with any oil filter

Synthetic Vs. Conventional

If you have changed the car oil before, then you can tell the difference.

Synthetic – These oils are developed in lads to ensure they have unique strains of desirable lubricating and chemical capabilities. As a result, it enhances the performance of the car engine. They are highly recommended by lube technicians in vehicles that run in extreme conditions like hot weather, cold weather, and rapid elevation changes.

Synthetic has better flow in harsh weather conditions, allowing essential moving parts to get pretty lubricated.

Conventional /Regular - There is nothing wrong with the natural automotive oils. They have been used for years, and they occur naturally in the environment. They are readily available and cheap. However, there is little control over the availability of impurities or unwanted elements in these oils. The contaminants build up over time in the engines, which will halt its performance. You will also have a frequent change of oil.

List of Top-Rated Oils for Duramax Comparison Table:

Product Na​me

Viscosity

Type

Shell Rotella T5 Synthetic Blend Diesel Engine Oil

15W-40

Synthetic 

Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic 5W-40 Diesel Engine Oil

5W-40

Synthetic

Mobil 1 96989 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil

0W-40

Synthetic

The Oils for Duramax Reviews & Buyer’s Guide:

Shell Rotella T5 Synthetic Blend Diesel Engine Oil

Shell Rotella T has been in the industry for long, and it boasts of vast experience, durable products, and stellar services. This is a rear combination. Their products are highly reliable, and so is the Shell Rotella T5 Synthetic Blend Diesel Engine Oil. The heavy-duty diesel oil has triple protection plus technology to deliver all the benefits you ever want. 

This is a unique formulation of synthetic base oils, and the triple protection advanced additive technology. The technology is designed to protect against deposits, wear, oil breakdown, and better low-temperature flow.

For better performance, the oil is engineered with advanced low-ash formulation, which helps in controlling the blocking or poisoning of the exhaust after-treatment devices. More so, it helps to maintain vehicle emission compliance and engine fuel efficacy. Synthetic base oil components provide the capability to reduce fuel consumption.

A clean engine means high performance. It also prolongs the lifespan, and you will have an easy time cleaning. That's why this Shell Rotella T5 Synthetic Blend Diesel Engine Oil has an advanced formulation to deliver incredible engine cleanliness and protection against dirt and other particulates. Rotella T5 demonstrates 55% better deposit control. It also boosts the oil breakdown.

The oil has a wide range of applications. It’s an excellent choice for on-highway fleets, agriculture, diesel pick-up trucks, including high-power vehicles and construction trucks

PROS

  • Your diesel will run quieter and smoother
  • The oil enhances fuel economy
  • It has a wide range of applications
  • It works excellently for higher mileage gasoline engines
  • It’s convenient and comes at a competitive price

CONS

  • It’s heavy oil

Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic 5W-40 Diesel Engine Oil

Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic 5W-40 Diesel Engine Oil provides incredible protection against harmful engine sludge and wear. Its compatibility with the exhaust emissions control system is excellent. With a great fuel economy, this oil will save you some bucks. Through the use of the most advanced technology, this synthetic heavy-duty engine oil provides e enhanced fuel economy capability of about 1.5%. It does this without compromising the engine's durability or protection. 

Engine wear can be dangerous. And if it happens, you might be forced to replace it, which is quite expensive. You, therefore, need to protect it. The Shell Rotella T6 provides a significantly increased level to protect the engine from harmful wear. This also ensures it lasts long and improves performance.

The combination of advanced multi-functional dispersant additives with synthetic base oils enhances the protection level against the effects of dirt, soot, and other particulates. This heavy-duty oil resists breakdown by heat to ensure continuous protection via service interval. More so, the heavy-duty synthetic oil will maintain optimal pressure and resists viscosity loss through shear.

PROS

  • The oil is also ideal for motorcycle
  • It has outstanding shear stability
  • The engine starts with ease even during extreme cold weather condition
  • Transmissions become smoother
  • Inexpensive

CONS

  • Be careful when ordering from online shops since you might not get the real product

Mobil 1 96989 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil

The Mobil 1 96989 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil is made from crude oil and is used to cool, lubricate and clean engines. It’s a blend of hybrid oils (which is a combination of synthetic and conventional oils), recycled oils, synthetic, bio-based, and conventional oils.

The Mobil oil work in any condition. The combination of synthetic ingredients goes beyond the OEM requirements, meaning it enhances incredible performance. The oil has a 71 viscosity at 40 degrees Celsius and 13 at 100 degrees Celsius, making it one of the most versatile synthetic oils on the market.

The oils also offer improved frictional properties and provide a wide temperature range. This delivers exemplary engine performance under all weather and road conditions.

The truck owners swear by it since its performance is not affected by the hot blistering deserts of Yemen or the extreme colds of Siberia.

Mobil Motor oil has a weight of SAE 0W-40, which means the viscosity rating of 0 in cold weather and a rating of 40 at extreme temperatures. For enhanced performance, ensure you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. 

PROS

  • Highly recommended for high-performance vehicles
  • Excellent for euro engines
    and towing
  • It helps in cleaning and
    cooling your Duramax engine
  • The oil works well with any oil filter

CONS

  • Not ideal if you're on a tight budget
  • Only buy from the reliable seller since there're many counterfeit products

Conclusion

The right oil for Duramax is essential to enhancing engine life. It also ensures that the engine's life is not compromised under any condition- both in cold and hot weather conditions. All these oils have different formulations, but they work perfectly. No matter which synthetic oil you choose, they will all make your Duramax perform efficiently. More so, they provide you with a long-lasting, smooth, and engine protection.

You may also like Royal Purple 04154 15W40 Oil. It combines premium base oils with proprietary additive technologies for high performance. This oil delivers superior protection and boosts performance in diesel and gasoline engines. Royal Purple motor oil is compatible with conventional and synthetic motor oils.

Enhanced additive technology prevents metal-to-metal contact. Low coefficient friction results in an optimized fuel economy. The patented additive technology prevents the sludge and lubrication starvation.

Duramax Fuel Filters- Buyer’s Guide

A fuel filter is a crucial component of an internal engine. Filters prevent penetration of abrasive particles and resins. However, diesel fuel contains high paraffin content that crystalizes at negative temperatures. It, therefore, becomes necessary to have a Duramax fuel filter.

To buy the best filter, you need to consider some parameters. They include:

Manufacturer - The best Duramax fuel filter will come from a reliable manufacturer. Opt for reputable brands. When buying from online stores like amazon, first read the reviews from customers to get invaluable information.

Price - You don't have to break your bank for a fuel filter. However, be wary of low-ball costs. 35% or 40% discounts are rear, and it might mean the filter is of low quality.

Quality and Solidity - The material used will determine the durability of a filter. All parts should be well assembled. 

FAQ:

What oil should I use in my Duramax?
- When it comes to Duramax oils, synthetic oils are far superior and reliable than conventional oils. They exhibit greater resilience to thermal, chemical, and mechanical breakdown. Therefore, a synthetic will be the most ideal.

What fuel does a 6.6 Duramax take?
- There are a plethora of oils in the market, and all brands promise to deliver a stellar performance. Some truck owners swear by Rotella or Mobil 1. Figure out what works best for your vehicle.

What is the best oil for diesel engines?
- Part of diesel engine maintenance involves changing the lubricating oil to ensure the engine parts are operating smoothly as well as enhancing the performance. Then the best oil is the one that enhances the smooth running of the engine and boost its performance.

➢ Is synthetic oil better for diesel engines
- There is a myriad of advantages associated with using synthetic oil on the engine oil. These oils are less prone to coking and less viscosity at high temperatures. More so, they have superior additive stability to allow extended service life. This means they can operate under any conditions without compromising the functionality of the engine.
Therefore, we can conclusively state that synthetic oil is better for your diesel engine. However, it's a bit expensive compared to conventional oil. On the other hand, regular oils might be cheap but might not function under harsh weather conditions.

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