Diesel Engine Oil In A Gas Engine

[stregaiq440]

Can someone give me a accurate reason why you shouldn't run diesel oil in a gas engine. I would never do this, but I am in an ongoing arguement with someone who has done it for years with no problems.

[Texsrt4]

diesel oils tend to have a higher zinc content than average oil. higher levels of zinc help keep your flat tappet camps living longer. will you have to worry about that in your truck? no, but if he has an older vehicle it is definitely something to think about

[ZZ327]

there really isnt a difference, Oil is oil. Diesel oil is usually just thicker./ 15w40. instead of 5 or 10w30. I have done it, other than being thick as shit and make the engine have to run harder under 70 degrees( meaning it didnt heat up fast enough to absorb water and get down to all the bearings). It didnt cause direct mechanical damage.

[ATMINF]

If you are breaking in a cam, lifters, roller rockers etc.., the higher moly and other "metals" in the diesel oil is better. And I think some of the cam and lifter companys recommend using the diesel oil for break in. As for normal use, I don't think its really bad for it unless you are in really cold climates, other than worse gas milage. As for oil protection I can't really say, I don't know if it has a different detergent package vs a gas motor oil?? I do know they have a different overall attitve package.

[fbachman]

when i first read this, I THOUGHT you were asking whether you can run diesel fuel in a gas engine.

 

[dlstewart01]

Diesel being messier than gas, the deisel oil will have more cleaners in it. Being a little thicker won't hurt a thing. A lot of people on bobistheoilguy.com run diesel in their gassers.

 

Now before the gotta run thinner crowd come out and say it will kill your engine I ran across a bit of interesting info. The new Corvette Z06 sold in America says to use 5W30 while all the ones shipped to New Zealand mandates 0W40. There is a sticker on the body next to the drivers seat as you open the door thats says 0w40 only?. Same car same engine same assembly line.

 

Yeah I was at the Corvette plant the other week. Its only about 45 minutes from my house. We camped in Bowlingreen that weekend.

 

Don

[d3athsong]

Shouldn't hurt it any. Run 15w40 in the gas engines of both my gas gmc 3 tons. Mainly for the simple reason is its cheaper and easier to pump it out of a 50 gallon drum then to go buy 2 4 point whatever litre jugs of oil.

[carneyman]

We use diesel engine in all our gassers on the farm. Run just fine in this Texas heat. Now, when it gets cold, they tend to not want to start, but then again, we don't really water much during the winter anyway.