2020 test2 productsEngine Oil & Fluids
Which Motor Oil Brand Wins?
We compared 2 motor oil options head to head. Shell Rotella Gas Truck came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
Winner
Shell Rotella Gas Truck
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Runner-up
Mobil 1
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Evaporative Loss | Lubricity Cold | Lubricity Hot | Cold Flow Race | Lab Wear Metals | Lab Moly | Lab Potassium | Lab Calcium | Lab Magnesium | Lab Phosphorus | Lab Zinc | Viscosity At 210 F | Flash Point | Total Base Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Shell Rotella Gas Truck | lost 5.14 g, from 430.19 g to 425.05 g, after 2 hours at 420 F, less loss than Mobil 1, won this test | smaller wear scar than Mobil 1, won the cool oil lubricity test | smaller wear scar than Mobil 1 at 225 F, won the hot oil lubricity test as well | both the new and cooked samples crossed the finish line about an inch and a half ahead of Mobil 1, won the cold flow test | no aluminum, chromium, iron, copper, lead, or tin detected | 144 parts per million, about twice as much as Mobil 1 | 81 parts per million | 1,171 parts per million, higher than Mobil 1's 903 | 445 parts per million, less than Mobil 1's 618 | 603 parts per million, slightly less than Mobil 1's 626 | 743 parts per million, more than Mobil 1's 687 | slightly higher than Mobil 1 | 440 F, higher than Mobil 1's 425 F | 7.1, lower than Mobil 1's 8.1 |
| 2Mobil 1 | lost 7.42 g, from 411.17 g to 403.75 g, after 2 hours at 420 F, more loss than Shell | larger wear scar than Shell, lost the cool oil lubricity test | larger wear scar than Shell at 225 F, lost the hot oil lubricity test as well | finished about an inch and a half behind Shell in both the new and cooked oil samples | trace levels of aluminum, iron, and lead detected | about half as much as Shell's 144 parts per million | 88 parts per million | 903 parts per million, lower than Shell's 1,171 | 618 parts per million, more than Shell's 445 | 626 parts per million, slightly more than Shell's 603 | 687 parts per million, less than Shell's 743 | not tested | 425 F, lower than Shell's 440 F | 8.1, higher than Shell's 7.1 |
How it was tested
- evaporative loss and thermal breakdown resistance after 2 hours at 420 F
- lubricity and film strength wear scar test on cool oil
- lubricity and film strength wear scar test on oil heated to 225 F
- cold flow race at negative 40 F comparing new and heat cooked samples of each oil
- independent oil lab analysis of wear metals, anti-wear additives, detergents, dispersants, viscosity, flash point and total base number
“Mobile 1 is a good motor oil, but in my opinion, Shell Gas Truck is slightly better.”