Best Diesel Engine Oil in 2023 (Top 10 & Buying Guide)

Sometimes it might be quite difficult to find the best diesel engine oil. With every niche market offering so many different products, it makes sense that this is the case.

Unfortunately, this very fact can make it incredibly difficult to find the item that best suits your needs, which is why we’ve put together this diesel engine oil buying guide.

Quick Picks:

Our Favorite Diesel Engine Oil Reviews:

SaleBestseller No. 1
Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic 15W-40 Diesel Engine Oil (1-Gallon, Case of 3)
  • Full synthetic 15W-40 diesel engine oil with Triple Protection Plus technology protects against wear, deposits, oil breakdown, and improves low-temperature flow
  • Exceptional wear protection for longer life in a wide range of heavy-duty engine applications — from pickup trucks to tractors to semi rigs
  • Enhanced fuel economy capability of 1.5 percent without compromising engine protection or durability (compared to 15W-40 oils)
  • Multi-functional dispersant additives provide an enhanced level of protection against the effects of soot, dirt, and other contaminants (compared to previous formulation)
  • Increased shear stability for better viscosity control and optimal engine oil pressure
SaleBestseller No. 2
Shell Rotella T4 Triple Protection Conventional 15W-40 Diesel Engine Oil (1-Gallon, Case of 3)
  • Conventional 15W-40 diesel engine oil with Triple Protection technology protects against wear, deposits, and oil breakdown
  • Formulated with advanced additive technology for enhanced deposit control and superior engine cleanliness throughout the oil drain interval
  • Enhanced protection against oil oxidation for more efficient operation
  • Increased shear stability for better viscosity control and optimal engine oil pressure
  • Wear control helps keep moving metal engine surfaces apart for a longer life
Bestseller No. 3
Shell Rotella T5 Synthetic Blend 15W-40 Diesel Engine Oil (1 Gallon, Case of 3)
  • Synthetic blend 15W-40 diesel engine oil with Triple Protection Plus technology protects against wear, deposits, and oil breakdown
  • Ideal for on-highway fleets, construction, and agricultural machinery, and diesel pickup trucks — including high-power vehicles that require resistance to heat and stress
  • Improves low-temperature flow (compared to conventional 15W-40 oils)
  • Helps control engine deposits for reliability at extended oil drain intervals (always follow the OEM recommended oil drain interval)
  • Controls engine wear 37 percent better than the maximum wear requirements in API CK-4 engine wear tests
Bestseller No. 4
Delo 400 SDE SAE Conventional Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oil 15W-40,1 Gallon, Pack of 3
  • Premium quality heavy duty motor oil manufactured in the USA
  • Formulated to meet the requirements of post-2007 low emission engines
  • Provides outstanding performance with ultra-low sulfur diesel and also with normal and low sulfur diesel fuels
  • May be used in older conventional engines and gasoline engines
  • Formulated with ISOSYN technology
SaleBestseller No. 5
Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme SAE 5W-40 Full Synthetic Diesel Engine Oil 1 GA, Case of 3
  • EXCELLENT WEAR PROTECTION IN HEAVY DUTY APPLICATIONS that can take a toll on critical internal moving parts
  • RESISTS OXIDATION AND FIGHTS DEPOSITS & SLUDGE with higher quality synthetic base oils and special inhibitors
  • PROTECTS DURING COLD START UPS WHILE CONTROLING SOOT as heavy-duty equipment can sit idle for extended periods of time
  • ADVANCED FUEL ECONOMY up to 1.5% over 15W-40 conventional oils in on-highway operations
  • UNIQUE 5,000 MILES OIL DRAINS EXTENSION in Cummins X15/X12 engines when average is 7mpg or higher
SaleBestseller No. 6
Mobil 1 112786 Delvac 1300 Super 15W-40 Diesel Engine Oil - 4 Gallon Pack
  • Size: 1 Gallon
  • Type: 15w - 40
  • For usediesel engines requiring 15w-40 engine oil (referbottle for specifications)
  • Extends engine life with its unique additive system
Bestseller No. 7
Valvoline Premium Blue One Solution SAE 15W-40 Diesel Engine Oil 1 GA
  • EXCELLENT WEAR PROTECTION IN HEAVY DUTY APPLICATIONS that can take a toll on critical internal moving parts
  • RESISTS OXIDATION AND FIGHTS DEPOSITS with high quality base oils and special inhibitors
  • PROTECTS DURING COLD START UPS WHILE CONTROLING SOOT as heavy-duty equipment can sit idle for extended periods of time
  • PROPRIETARY ONE SOLUTION GEN2 TECHNOLOGY designed to protect hardworking diesel, gasoline and natural gas engines in both on-highway and off-highway applications
  • UNIQUE 5,000 MILES OIL DRAINS EXTENSION in Cummins X15/X12 engines when average is 7mpg or higher
SaleBestseller No. 8
Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic 5W-40 Diesel Engine Oil (1-Gallon, Single Pack)
  • Full synthetic 5W-40 diesel engine oil with Triple Protection Plus technology protects against wear, deposits, oil breakdown, and improves low-temperature flow
  • Exceptional wear protection for longer life in a wide range of heavy-duty engine applications — from pickup trucks to tractors to semi rigs
  • Enhanced fuel economy capability of 1.5 percent without compromising engine protection or durability (compared to 15W-40 oils)
  • Multi-functional dispersant additives provide an enhanced level of protection against the effects of soot, dirt, and other contaminants (compared to previous formulation)
  • Increased shear stability for better viscosity control and optimal engine oil pressure
SaleBestseller No. 9
Triax Fleet Supreme ESP 5W-40 API CK-4 Full Synthetic Diesel Engine Oil, Friction Optimized and Boosted with Molybdenum & Nano-Boron, Superb Powerstroke Performance (5 Gallon Pail)
  • Unique Additive Technology for UNSURPASSED WEAR PROTECTION, oxidation, and high temp stability. 60% lower wear than leading lubricants and standards. WIDE RANGE COMPATIBLE - Compatible with all heavy-duty diesel engines.
  • HIGHEST VISCOSITY INDEX any 5W-40 motor oil, of any brand, with exceptional stability and flow properties. Friction modified and VI stabilizer pre-boosted. Un-rivaled turbo-charger protection, will not create deposits and ash on turbo bearings (will not fry on the turbo). Up to 4% Fuel economy vs any 15W-40. COLD FLOW - Exceptional cold flow down to - 46 F.
  • OUTSTANDING POWER-STROKE PERFORMANCE Including 6.0 L turbo diesel: ELIMINATES STICTION AND INJECTOR ISSUES that plague Power-stroke engines - No need for additional additives - Contains state-of-the-art dispersal and ash control systems to keep your engine extremely clean.
  • EXTREME DRAIN CAPABILITIES: 25,000 mile drain interval for pickups and 80,000 for class 8 semi-trucks*
  • WHAT WILL YOU NOTICE THE FIRST TIME YOU SWITCH? - Dramatic reduction of engine noise. Improved fuel economy by at least 2%. Substantially longer drain intervals vs all other brands. Virtually no deposits on turbos. Significantly improved oil analysis results and engine durability.
SaleBestseller No. 10
AC Delco DexosD 0w-20 Light Duty Diesel Engine Oil 19370138, 10-9277 and AC Delco PF66, 55495105, 19391402 Oil Filter Oil Change Kit For 3.0l Duramax Diesel LM2…
  • Exceeds ILSAC GF-5/APIstandards for protection against deposits, wear, and low speed preignition, especiallyturbocharged engines.
  • Exceeds ILSAC GF-5/APIstandards for protection against deposits, wear, and low speed preignition, especiallyturbocharged engines.
  • Meets ILSAC GF-5 specificationsfulfill current energy-conserving performance standards
  • Meets APIService Classification requirementsbe suitable for usemodern engines

Last update on 2023-06-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How to find the best diesel engine oil?

Here, we’ll be going over a number of factors that you can use to ensure that you’re purchasing the best diesel engine oil for you.

Regardless of which type of item you’re looking to buy, chances are that there are existing buying guides on the internet, all of which aim to give you good diesel engine oil recommendations.

Despite these recommendations, however, it’s always a good idea to do your own research. In addition to this research, asking yourself the following questions is also super helpful:

  • What features does the diesel engine oil need to have to be perfect for my needs?
  • What is my budget?
  • Do I need to purchase a certain brand?

Once you’ve answered these questions and have a good idea of what you’re looking for and the buying process becomes much easier. Keep in mind that when looking for the best product, there’s no need to rush. In fact, very rarely are the ideal products found by choosing the first one you see or by basing your decisions on only one factor. Take your time and enjoy the process!

Now, with the answers to the previous questions in mind, we urge you to use our upcoming buying guide for diesel engine oil to find what you’re looking for:

Brand

In some cases, the brand of diesel engine oil is very important. For example, if you’re looking for an item that works in tandem with another, you might very well need both products to be the same brand. If this is the case, it’s vital to pay attention to this factor, as choosing the wrong product can mean the difference between wasting your money and buying a great product that functions as it should.

Features

The features in any given diesel engine oil are important because they can dictate which version of an item you need and how much money you need to spend. Consider all the key features that you want your item to have and don’t settle for anything that doesn’t check at least ¾ of your boxes.

Reviews

Customer reviews about diesel engine oil are crucial – especially when you’re buying a product that costs a lot of money or serves a big importance. Luckily, most products can be found online, which means that it’s common for there to be scores of customer reviews from those who have already purchased any given product.

Pay attention to these reviews. Take note of the pros and cons that they mention, and factor these into your big decision. In some cases, you’ll be forced to sacrifice one con in order to gain a particular pro, but being aware of the potential con is going to be beneficial in either case.

Quality

Of course, quality is key. You don’t want to purchase a low-quality product. If you do, you run the risk of your item breaking, not working properly, or otherwise proving to be very disappointing, as well as a waste of money.

You can compare diesel engine oil quality by researching what your potential purchases are made from, contrasting the individual items against each other to discern which one is made of the best materials.

Warranty

Warranty isn’t always going to be important, but it definitely can be. This is especially true if the item in question is tech-related or expensive. A good warranty will be valid for an extended time after purchase and cover a variety of problems ranging from item defects to random accidents, water damage, and other miscellaneous events that could ruin your product.

Conclusion

The quest to find the best diesel engine oil can be daunting – but it doesn’t have to be. It can be made much easier by asking yourself a few simple questions and then thinking critically about the items you want to buy. Consider their features, quality, brand, warranty, and customer reviews and you’re more likely to make a great purchase.