The Shell Rotella Gas Truck oil is for gasoline pickup trucks and SUVs that face the most extreme conditions. In this article, I’ll describe the Shell Rotella Gas Truck motor oil and its specs.
Shell Rotella Gas Truck is a fully synthetic motor oil made by Shell Lubricants, the heavy-duty Shell Rotella engine oils maker. This motor oil can provide unmatched wear protection that larger and higher torqued powertrains require. Lastly, it outperforms standard engine oils when it comes to engine protection in extreme conditions.
Shell Rotella surpasses the performance of conventional engine oils in severe conditions such as the following:
- Mud-prone environments
- Rugged terrain
- Stop-and-go traffic
- Extensive idling
- Extreme hot and cold temperatures
- Heavy hauling and towing
Read on to learn more about the Shell Rotella Gas Truck motor oil, as well as its specs and features.
Shell Rotella Gas Truck Review
Shell Rotella Gas Truck is a fully synthetic engine oil formulated with advanced additives and full synthetic base oils that includes Shell PurePlus gas-liquid technology. Moreover, it can provide matchless wear protection that bigger and higher torqued powertrains require.
It can outperform standard engine oils in extreme conditions such as heavy hauling and towing, stop-and-go traffic, excessively hot and cold temperatures, rugged terrain, and extensive idling,
Shell Lubricants is the maker of this oil. It is also one of the top makers of reputable heavy-duty Shell Rotella engine oils. Moreover, Shell Lubricants is a leader in diesel engine oil manufacturing for over 40 years.
Lastly, Shell Rotella of Shell Lubricants is the first major motor oil brand that introduced a complete line of fully synthetic motor oils for trucks and SUVs powered by gasoline and diesel engines.
Available in Three Viscosity Grades
The Shell Rotella Gas Truck motor oil is available in three viscosity grades. These viscosity grades are:
- SAE 0W-20
- 5W-20-SAE
- SAE 5W-30
They are available in canisters of one quart, five quarts, and Ecobox sizes in the United States.
Lastly, for trucks and SUVs usually driven in extreme conditions, the recommended motor oil is the SAE 5W-20 and the SAE 5W-30.
Shell Rotella Gas Truck Specs
This motor oil made by Shell Lubricants has satisfied or exceeded the requirements of the following industry specifications:
- API SN-Resource Conserving and all previous categories
- API SN PLUS
- ILSAC GF-5
- Chrysler MS-6395
- Ford WSS-M2C946-B1 (5W-30)
- GM dexos1 Gen 2 specifications
The Shell Rotella Gas Truck engine oil is a unique formulation and is different from the other motor oils in the Shell lubricants product line. This oil has a formula with a higher level of antioxidants to perform better in the bigger truck and SUV gasoline engines.
This unique formulation enables this engine oil to withstand hotter and more stressful operating conditions experienced by SUV and truck owners. These conditions include the following:
- Muddy environments
- Rugged terrain
- Extensive idling
- Extreme hot and cold temperatures
- Heavy hauling and towing
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Shell Rotella Gas Truck Applications
Shell Rotella Gas Truck’s target market is primarily trucks and SUVs that are usually driven in extreme driving conditions that cause wear and tear on the different components of gasoline engines.
Meets API SN+
This motor oil meets API SN+, which is meant to protect turbocharged engines against the debilitating effects of low-speed pre-ignition or LSPI. So, it is also suitable for new turbo-charged V4 and 4-cylinder trucks.
Competitive Price-Wise
Shell Rotella Gas Truck motor oil is also designed to be very competitive, price-wise, with other brands of full synthetic oils competing in the same performance level. It is aimed at SUV and pickup owners and drivers, particularly the 4×4 vehicles, who use their vehicles to perform hard work, including going off-roading, moving an entire household, towing a trailer or boat, and hauling a load of cargo.
A car engine also encounters extreme conditions while running in stop-and-go traffic. Bigger engines require adequate protection in these extreme driving conditions. If the Shell Rotella Gas Truck can protect engines in these extreme conditions, naturally, it has even more ability to protect smaller gasoline engines that don’t usually operate in such trying conditions.
Available in Three Viscosity Grades
The Shell Rotella Gas Truck motor oil is available in three viscosity grades. Each grade has its specific applications. Moreover, Shell Lubricants recommends that the Shell Rotella Gas Truck SAE 0W-20 be used for new vehicles with the latest engine technology. This will ensure maximum fuel economy performance for the gasoline engine.
The Shell Rotella Gas Truck SAE 5W-20 is recommended for 4×4 SUVs and trucks driven in harsh conditions. It is also the same recommendation given to the Shell Rotella Gas Truck SAE 5W-30.
In other words, the Shell Rotella Gas Truck, particularly the 5W-30 full synthetic oil, is recommended for all types of gas-powered vehicles that require SAE 5W-30 synthetic motor oil on their engines, under all driving conditions.
Enhance Engine Performance When You Mix It with Synthetic Oil
An additional feature of the SAE 5W-30 is that you can mix it with other synthetic oil to enhance engine performance.
Please take note that the Shell Rotella Gas Truck SAE 0W-20 may not be suited to older engines. It is best to check with the car’s operator’s manual to determine the right viscosity grade that the gasoline engine of your vehicle requires.
Benefits of the Shell Rotella Gas Truck Motor Oil
The Shell Rotella Gas Truck motor oil offers several benefits to its users. If you put this full synthetic oil in your gasoline engine, you will enjoy the following benefits:
- It will protect the gasoline engine of your SUV or pickup truck in extreme conditions and temperatures.
- It will provide excellent engine protection for your new as well as high mileage truck and SUV.
- Its performance in extreme driving conditions cannot be matched by other conventional full synthetic and mineral motor oils. It will protect the engine in stop-and-go traffic while towing and hauling heavy loads, while running in extreme heat or cold, while running in mud-prone environments, and during extensive idling.
- Prevent sludge and other contaminants from forming and accumulating inside the engine.
- It will keep your gasoline engine clean.
- It has additional synthetic base oils in its formulation. This enhances its oxidation stability, and increases its volatility, and improves its lubricating properties at lower temperatures.
- It enables the engine to achieve its maximum horsepower output.
- It provides unmatched wear protection for bigger and higher torqued gasoline engines.
Advantages of Shell Rotella Over Other Engine Oils
The Shell Rotella Gas Truck motor oil is a fully synthetic oil vastly different from other mineral and full synthetic oils of other brands. Specifically, its formulation and chemical composition are very different.
High Level of Antioxidant
This motor oil contains higher levels of antioxidant that is specifically added for the protection of bigger engines. Moreover, the antioxidant is a substance that will enable this engine oil to handle the hotter and more stressful operation conditions that SUVs and bigger trucks are often subjected to.
Designed for SUVs and Pickup Trucks
The Shell Rotella Gas Truck motor oil is designed for SUVs and pickup trucks that usually operate in extreme conditions. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t use it during normal driving conditions.
In other words, you can also use it in your ordinary car, which you drive every day from home to work and back. It will perform better than the conventional motor oils that are typically made for this application. The Shell Rotella Gas Truck engine oil will provide better protection against wear and tear for your car engine.
Shell Rotella Gas Truck Oil Test Results
The protective ability of the Shell Rotella Gas Truck engine oil was put to the test by the Petroleum Quality Institute of America. And the test results proved that it performed better than the standard requirements.
The tests were conducted on a sample of this motor oil. Moreover, the test results indicated that the PQIA found that it meets the SAE J300 specification for the SAE Viscosity Grade indicated in the product label. They found that the oil is also consistent with the listed API Service Categories.
The following tables will show the battery of tests that PQIA performed on the Shell Rotella Gas Truck motor oil sample:
Viscosity
| Viscosity | Standard | Shell Rotella Gas Truck | Status |
| At 100°C | 6.9 to <9.3 | 8.70 | passed |
| At 40°C | – | 48.67 | passed |
| Viscosity Index | – | 159 | passed |
| Cold Crank Viscosity at -30°C | 6,600 maximum | 3,800 | passed |
Viscosity is an important quality that shows how thin or thick a motor is. It is measured by different methods to determine its behavior during cold startups and also while it is hot at operating temperatures.
NOACK Volatility
| NOACK Volatility | Standard | Shell Rotella Gas Truck | Status |
| NOACK Volatility Mass % Loss, 1 hour at 245.2°C | 15 Maximum | 7.2 | passed |
The Noack volatility (ASTM 5800) is typically used to measure the evaporation loss of engine oil. Furthermore, oils with high volatility may not retain their initial viscosity grade and cannot get thick to a heavier grade. If the motor oil has high volatility, then there’s a risk of compromise in the tailpipe emissions, fuel economy, and engine durability.
Detergent Additives and Total Base Number (TBN)
| Detergent Additives and Total Base Number (TBN) | Standard | Shell Rotella Gas Truck | Status |
| Calcium (ppm) | – | 1,400 | passed |
| Magnesium (ppm) | – | 520 | passed |
| Sodium (ppm) | – | <5 | passed |
| Barium (ppm) | – | <1 | passed |
| TBN, mg KOH/g (ASTM D2896) | – | 8.97 | passed |
Detergent additives in motor oil keep the engine’s metal surfaces clean because they control the formation of deposits. When deposits form in the engine, it will clog the oil passages where the engine oil passes to lubricate its parts. This will lead to engine wear and reduce its performance.
Detergents also prevent corrosive wear because they neutralize acids that form as a combustion by-product. Furthermore, the Total Base Number is a laboratory test that determines the ability of the motor oil to neutralize acids.
Antiwear Additives
| Antiwear Additives (ppm) | Standard | Shell Rotella Gas Truck | Status |
| Phosphorous | 600 to 800 -a | 750 | passed |
| Zinc | – | 886 | passed |
| Molybdenum | – | 178 | passed |
| Titanium | – | <1 | passed |
| Boron | – | 110 | passed |
Antiwear additives protect the engine’s metal surfaces against impact friction. They prevent wear between the moving parts of the engine as well. Moreover, these additives adhere to metal surfaces and form a protective film between the moving metal surfaces. Lastly, they are also multifunctional because they also act as inhibitors of corrosion and as antioxidants.
Contaminants
| Contaminants (ppm) | Standard | Shell Rotella Gas Truck | Status |
| Silicon | – | 7 | passed |
| Silver | – | <1 | passed |
| Aluminum | – | <1 | passed |
| Chromium | – | <1 | passed |
| Iron | – | <1 | passed |
| Nickel | – | <1 | passed |
| Lead | – | <1 | passed |
| Antimony | – | <1 | passed |
| Tin | – | <1 | passed |
| Copper | – | <1 | passed |
| Vanadium | – | <1 | passed |
| Potassium | – | <5 | passed |
| Manganese | – | <1 | passed |
Engine oil is subjected to different contaminants that come from metals. In fact, these contaminants act as abrasive and wear agents that can damage the engine. Fresh motor oil does not generally contain contaminants on a level that can cause engine damage.
However, as the engine oil circulates inside the engine and lubricates the engine components, metal contaminants such as copper, iron, nickel, and others will be carried by the oil. If these contaminants are present in new motor oil, their source might be during the blending, packaging, or transportation.
Conclusion: Shell Rotella Gas Truck Review
Shell Rotella Gas Truck is full synthetic motor oil that can provide unsurpassed wear protection for larger and higher torqued powertrains. Moreover, it is made by Shell Lubricants, a well-known maker of heavy-duty engine oil. Furthermore, this motor oil can outperform standard engine oils for engine protection in extreme conditions.
Shell Rotella Gas Truck oil is very effective because it exceeds the performance of conventional motor oils in severe conditions like rugged terrain, extensive idling, stop-and-go traffic, mud-prone environments, heavy hauling and towing, and extreme hot and cold temperatures.
For quick reference, here are the specs of this motor oil:
- API SN-Resource Conserving and all previous categories
- API SN PLUS
- ILSAC GF-5
- Chrysler MS-6395
- Ford WSS-M2C946-B1 (5W-30)
- GM dexos1 Gen 2 specifications
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