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Another Oil Thread - Sorry

Discussion in 'Engines' started by DOCKMASTER, Sep 14, 2025 at 11:42 AM.

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  1. DOCKMASTER, Sep 14, 2025 at 11:42 AM
    #1
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Sorry but here's another engine oil thread. I'm buying oil for my next oil change on my CAT C-18 Acerts. I'm currently planning to buy the Kirkland 15w-40 oil sold at Costco. It is Chevron Delo 400 Synthetic blend sold under the Kirkland name - Confirmed. I used the same Delo oil at last change but with the Chevron label. The Kirkland oil is almost 1/2 the price as what I can find the Delo label for. Yes, it meets or exceeds all the specs required by CAT. However, CAT does not specifically approve it. They only specifically approve their CAT labeled oil (made by exxon mobil). I have no warranty issue restrictions that require me to use the CAT labeled oil. Thoughts or concerns? Given I need 25 gals of oil for a change, the cost difference is significant.
    rocdiver likes this.
  2. MBevins, Sep 14, 2025 at 2:27 PM
    #2
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Got my popcorn out. :)
  3. Capt Ralph, Sep 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM
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    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Me too. NLC4r6s.gif
  4. gcsi, Sep 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
    #4
    gcsi

    gcsi Senior Member

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    I read this paper some years ago, influenced my oil behavior moving forward. YMMV…..

    Attached Files:

  5. Capt Ralph, Sep 14, 2025 at 8:03 PM
    #5
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Yep, The Motor Oil Geek.
    I have queried him a few times about straight 40w / CF-2 with no replies.
  6. DOCKMASTER, Sep 14, 2025 at 9:18 PM
    #6
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Geez, I thought I would have at least 20 differing opinions so far. I guess everyone’s either out on their boats or busy watching week 2 of NFL .
  7. Capt Ralph, Sep 14, 2025 at 9:23 PM
    #7
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I hope all are out on their boats.
    NFL early season usually sux.
    Never been impressed with the rest of the season until the day after the Stupid Bowl either.
  8. Capt Ralph, Sep 14, 2025 at 9:33 PM
    #8
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I'm sure Cat has a oil spec page including the amounts of stuff & additive levels they want in their engines.
    Compare that with product spec of the Wally oil. If close and same API license level, should be good to go.
  9. MBevins, Sep 14, 2025 at 9:40 PM
    #9
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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  10. Capt Ralph, Sep 14, 2025 at 9:56 PM
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    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Please don't tell me you paid that much.
    Amazon does deliver a cheaper oil;
    https://www.amazon.com/Republic-Diesel-gallons-Compare-Chevron/dp/B0CH1V8GVF/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1NIOFXRQHJ9TV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HybSY7PQEk2k8n2T5CZ3Aw.CfWoAay7AilQ5mCwGqc40i-BhVPtIGvG0NhqfF6CO9E&dib_tag=se&keywords=republic+cf2+oil&qid=1757901336&sprefix=republic,aps,179&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

    I have not paid that much in years either.

    On my north wall is this years inventory for two boats. I still have pails of Mobil oil on the south wall.
    If your going to shop for oil, arm wrestling and quantity get involved.
    20250407_131818.jpg
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2025 at 10:05 PM
  11. DOCKMASTER, Sep 14, 2025 at 10:52 PM
    #11
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    That about what I paid for the Delo in Ketchikan. So about $20/gal. The same oil in a Kirkland bottle is $12/gal.
  12. MBevins, Sep 15, 2025 at 9:27 PM
    #12
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    That's a great price
  13. Capt Ralph, Sep 16, 2025 at 8:58 AM
    #13
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    In a quick search on the web;
    Seems Kirkland Olive oil has poor ratings.
    Seems Kirkland motor oil has good ratings.

    Like the Oil Geek says; science.
    Send a raw sample to a lab.
    Run some thru an engine a few hours and send that to a lab.

    There are only 3 or 4 companies that make the synthetic bases and additives for all the synthetic oil brands.
    None of them makes a bad oil.
    The only difference between the brands is the formula they request and their marketing stating their formula is better.
    Real testing is the only way to prove these these things. On a racetrack, On a dino, in a lab or end user real use.

    If Cat has no problem & your still under warranty, Run it..
  14. MBevins, Sep 16, 2025 at 9:03 AM
    #14
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    I went to Costco's site, it doesn't appear, at here in the north east.
  15. DOCKMASTER, Sep 16, 2025 at 11:36 AM
    #15
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    I bought some a few weeks ago here in the PacNW. It's sold in boxes with three 1 gal jugs in a box. It's $38 for a box (3 gals total).

    I put it in my motorhome with a Cummins 9 liter
  16. Capt Ralph, Sep 16, 2025 at 11:45 AM
    #16
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Well there ya go. Send oil samples from your camper to the labs.
  17. Capt J, Sep 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
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    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    If it meets the specs it should be fine. You can also usually get gallons OF Chevron and etc cheap at Walmart. CAT's oil as well as MAN and several other diesel manufacturers use Mobil and whatever additive package they want. For what it costs, I generally use the manufacturers oil, because then if there's an oil related warranty issue, there's ZERO finger pointing and for what a C-18 costs these days......trying to save a few bucks on oil once a year is well.......
    d_meister and rtrafford like this.
  18. DOCKMASTER, Sep 17, 2025 at 11:02 AM
    #18
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    I hear you and I agree in concept. If it was a few bucks I wouldn't even consider this. But the CAT labeled oil is literally 3x the cost. And if I thought it was putting my engines at risk, there would be no discussion.

    I went through my serialized O&M manual that are specific to my engines I received. I verified that CAT recommends their CAT oil but it is not required. They list three CAT specs which are CAT ECF-1-a, CAT ECF-2 and CAT ECF-3. Direct from the manual "The three listed specifications are acceptable. Each higher CAT ECF specification provide increased performance over lower CAT ECF specifications". So CAT ECF-3 is the top recommendation and direct from the manual that cross references to API CJ-4. The CJ-4 is now improved to CK4. The Kirkland is API-CK-4 rated. The lowest tier acceptable oil CAT recommends crosses to API-CH-4. So by all accounts the CK-4 is well above and requirements. Kind of seems like a no-brainer to save $500.
  19. gcsi, Sep 17, 2025 at 2:30 PM
    #19
    gcsi

    gcsi Senior Member

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    I'm sitting at my desk updating engine logbooks so actually have recent data at hand... Last changed oil on 8/1/25, Used CAT DELO ULS 15W-40, cost me $730.80 for fifty gallons (5 gallon pails) of oil and $62.21 for the four CAT Oil Filters. That equals $14.62 / gallon for the oil.

    Another way to think of this is cost per hour. I'm religious about 200hr changes, so.... $3.96 per hour. If you really want to experience some sleepless nights, start adding up costs associated with boat ownership as a function of actual use hours.

    Given the fiasco potential of a bad oil, and the de minimus cost of manufacturers oil with respect to overall operating cost; seems like a no-brainer to me.
  20. DOCKMASTER, Sep 17, 2025 at 11:16 PM
    #20
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Can you share where you get CAT Delo for $14.62/gallon? I can’t find it for anywhere close to that price. And CAT oil filters for $15 each? Source please - thanks!
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