Schaeffer's Oil and Additives for Diesel Trucks: The Complete Guide

Schaeffer's Oil and Additives for Diesel Trucks: The Complete Guide

We run Schaeffer's in our own shop trucks and in customer trucks that leave our bays every week. It is not the cheapest oil on the shelf and we are not going to pretend it is. What it does give you is a heavier additive package, real moly content, and a track record in hard use equipment that goes back over a century. For a truck that tows, works, or makes power, that matters more than the price per quart.

This guide covers every Schaeffer's oil, additive, fluid, and grease we stock, which diesel engine each one fits, and what filters to run with them. Everything here is in stock or available to order at Powerhouse Diesel in Knoxville, Tennessee, and ships nationwide.

Quick Comparison: Which Schaeffer's Oil Fits Your Truck

Schaeffer's Diesel Engine Oils

These are the daily driver and work truck oils. All of them are rated for the 7.3, 6.0, 6.4, and 6.7 Powerstroke, every 5.9 and 6.7 Cummins, and the full Duramax lineup.

0700 SynShield Durability Advantage 15W-40

Our highest volume oil and the one most trucks leave here with. A synthetic plus heavy duty diesel engine oil built for maximum protection under load. If you tow, haul, or work the truck and you live anywhere that is not brutally cold, this is the default answer. Available in 12 quart case, 6 gallon case, and 5 gallon bucket.

Shop 0700 SynShield 15W-40

9000 SynShield OTR Plus Full Synthetic 5W-40

Full synthetic. Better cold start flow than a 15W-40 and a wider operating range, which makes it the pick for winter in East Tennessee and anywhere north of us. Popular with the emissions equipped trucks that see long idle time and short trips. Comes in 12 quart case, 6 gallon case, and 5 gallon bucket.

Shop 9000 SynShield 5W-40

9012 SynShield OTR Plus Full Synthetic 10W-30

Full synthetic 10W-30 for guys chasing fuel economy on high mileage over the road trucks without giving up film strength. Available in 6 gallon case and 5 gallon bucket.

Shop 9012 SynShield 10W-30

0722 SynShield Ultra Performance 10W-30

Synthetic plus 10W-30. A step down in price from the full synthetic 9012 while still carrying the SynShield additive package. Good middle ground for a work truck on a normal service interval. 12 quart case, 6 gallon case, and 5 gallon bucket.

Shop 0722 SynShield 10W-30

0711-005 SynShield OTR Plus 10W-30

Synthetic plus over the road formula in a 5 gallon bucket. Built for fleet and high mileage duty cycles.

Shop 0711 SynShield OTR Plus 10W-30

0723 SynShield Ultra Performance 5W-30

Full synthetic 5W-30, the lightest weight in the SynShield family. This is your cold climate and light load option. 5 gallon bucket.

Shop 0723 SynShield 5W-30

High Zinc and Racing Oils

If you have a built engine, a flat tappet cam, or a truck that sees the track or the sled, the standard diesel oils are not what you want. These carry a higher zinc package.

0708 Supreme 7000 Synthetic Plus Racing Oil 15W-40

High zinc para synthetic 15W-40. This is the one we point built 7.3 and 5.9 guys toward when the engine is making real power and seeing real cylinder pressure. 6 gallon case and 5 gallon bucket.

Shop 0708 Supreme 7000 15W-40

0709 Supreme 7000 Synthetic Plus Racing Oil 10W-30

Same high zinc package in a 10W-30 for less drag and faster oil flow at startup. 12 quart case, 6 gallon case, and 5 gallon bucket.

Shop 0709 Supreme 7000 10W-30

0191 Micron Moly Racing Oil 20W-50

Heavy weight 20W-50 on 100 percent paraffin base stock with Schaeffer's moly friction modifier package. For high heat, high load, wide bearing clearance builds. 12 quart case and 5 gallon bucket.

Shop 0191 Micron Moly 20W-50

Transmission Fluid

0204SAT All-Trans Supreme ATF

Synthetic base multi vehicle ATF with a shear stable viscosity improver. Behind a diesel that tows, transmission fluid takes as much abuse as the engine oil does and most people ignore it until the trans is already slipping. 12 quart case, 6 gallon case, and 5 gallon bucket.

Shop 0204SAT All-Trans Supreme ATF

Oil Treatment

0132 Moly EP Oil Treatment

Extreme pressure protection for bearings, valve train, pistons, and rings. It raises oil pressure and cuts oil consumption, which makes it worth keeping on the shelf for a high mileage engine that is starting to show its age. Sold as a single bottle, a 24 pint case, or a 5 gallon pail.

Shop 0132 Moly EP Oil Treatment

Schaeffer's Diesel Fuel Additives

Modern diesel fuel is dry. The lubricity that used to come standard got refined out of it, and your injection pump and injectors pay for that. These four cover every season and every problem we see come through the shop.

0137 Diesel Treat 2000 Ultra Low Sulfur

The all season workhorse. Ashless, adds back lubricity, cleans injectors, boosts cetane, and controls water. If you only ever buy one additive, buy this one and run it year round. Single bottle, 24 pint case, or 5 gallon bucket. One of our best sellers.

Shop 0137 Diesel Treat 2000

0137ULSW Diesel Treat 2000 Winter Anti Gel

The winter version. Same cleanup and lubricity package plus cold flow improvers and anti gel protection. Start running it before the first hard freeze, not after you are already sitting in a parking lot waiting on a tow. Single can, 24 pint case, or 4 gallon case. Ships free.

Shop 0137ULSW Winter Anti Gel

0300ULSW Arctic Shield Plus Ultra Low Sulfur

Highly concentrated ashless winter additive built for over the road trucks running in serious cold. Stronger treat rate than the standard winter blend. Single can, 24 pint case, or 4 gallon case.

Shop 0300ULSW Arctic Shield

0137CTPA CarbonTreat All Season

This one targets internal diesel injector deposits, the sticky stuff that causes rough running, plugged fuel filters, and injector failures on common rail trucks. If you have a truck that stumbles and nobody can find the cause, run a can of this before you start throwing injectors at it. Single can.

Shop 0137CTPA CarbonTreat

Grease

02191 SynForce Green NLGI #1

Extreme heavy duty aluminum complex multi purpose grease. Water resistant, stays put, and works across chassis, trailer bearings, and equipment. Single tube or 30 tube case.

Shop 02191 SynForce Green Grease

Oil Filters and Fuel Filters

Good oil in a cheap filter is wasted money. The filter is what actually keeps the abrasives out of your bearings, and on a common rail truck the fuel filter is the only thing standing between contaminated fuel and a set of injectors that costs more than the truck payment.

• Oils and Oil Filters shop the whole category in one place
• Oil Filters
• Fuel Filters full selection across Powerstroke, Cummins, and Duramax
• Fuel Filter Deletes
• Air Filters including direct fit, drop in, and universal fit
• Coolant Filters
• Transmission Filters

Our rule of thumb: change the oil filter every single oil change, no skipping. Change the fuel filter on the manufacturer interval at minimum, and cut that interval in half if you buy fuel from truck stops you do not know or if you ever run a tank low.

Which Schaeffer's Oil for Your Engine

Every Schaeffer's oil listed above is rated for the engines below. Use this as a starting point, then match it to how you actually use the truck.

Ford Powerstroke

• 7.3 Powerstroke (1994 to 2003) run 0700 15W-40 for stock and towing, 0708 high zinc 15W-40 for built trucks. The 7.3 uses engine oil to fire the injectors, so oil quality is not optional on this platform.
• 6.0 Powerstroke (2003 to 2007) another HEUI engine that runs on oil pressure. 0700 15W-40 or 9000 5W-40 in cold weather.
• 6.4 Powerstroke (2008 to 2010) 9000 full synthetic 5W-40 handles the heat and regen cycles well.
• 6.7 Powerstroke (2011 to 2019) 9000 5W-40 or 9012 10W-30.
• 6.7 Powerstroke (2020 and up) 9012 10W-30 full synthetic.

Dodge and Ram Cummins

• 12V 5.9 Cummins (1989 to 1997) 0700 15W-40. The 12 valve is happiest on a heavy weight oil.
• 24V 5.9 Cummins (1998 to 2002) 0700 15W-40 or 0708 if it is built.
• Common Rail 5.9 Cummins (2003 to 2004) 0700 15W-40, plus 0137 Diesel Treat every fill to protect the CP3.
• Common Rail 5.9 Cummins (2004 to 2007) same as above.
• Common Rail 6.7 Cummins (2007 to 2018) 9000 5W-40 for emissions equipped trucks with regen cycles.
• Common Rail 6.7 Cummins (2019 and up) 9012 10W-30 or 9000 5W-40.

Browse everything for your truck in Cummins Parts.

GM Duramax

• LB7 Duramax (2001 to 2004) 0700 15W-40. Run 0137 Diesel Treat religiously, the LB7 injector is the known weak point.
• LLY Duramax (2004 to 2005) 9000 5W-40 helps with the LLY's heat issues.
• LBZ Duramax (2006 to 2007) 0700 15W-40 or 0708 for tuned trucks.
• LMM Duramax (2007 to 2010) 9000 5W-40.
• LML Duramax (2011 to 2016) 9000 5W-40, and CarbonTreat is worth running on the CP4 equipped trucks.
• L5P Duramax (2017 and up) 9012 10W-30 full synthetic.

Browse everything for your truck in Duramax Parts.

Our Recommended Service Routine

1. Run 0137 Diesel Treat 2000 at every fill up, all year. Switch to 0137ULSW winter blend once night temps start dropping below freezing.
2. Change oil and the oil filter together, every time, on the interval your duty cycle calls for. Tow heavy or idle a lot and you shorten it.
3. Change the fuel filter on schedule. On a common rail truck this is the cheapest injector insurance there is.
4. Add 0132 Moly EP if the engine is high mileage and burning or leaking oil.
5. Do not forget the transmission. 0204SAT All-Trans Supreme and a transmission filter on a regular interval will outlast a rebuild bill.
6. Grease the chassis with SynForce Green.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Schaeffer's oil actually worth the extra money?

For a truck that works, yes. Schaeffer's carries a heavier additive package and real moly friction modifiers, which is where the protection comes from under high load and high heat. For a truck that drives 5 miles to town and back on a flat road, a cheaper oil will get you there. For a truck that tows 12,000 pounds up a grade in July, the difference shows up in bearing and ring wear over time.

What is the difference between synthetic plus and full synthetic Schaeffer's oil?

Synthetic plus oils like the 0700 15W-40 and 0722 10W-30 blend synthetic base stock with high quality conventional base. Full synthetic oils like the 9000 5W-40, 9012 10W-30, and 0723 5W-30 use synthetic base throughout, which gives better cold start flow and better resistance to breakdown at high temperature. Full synthetic costs more and generally supports a longer interval.

Can I run 15W-40 in the winter?

In most of Tennessee, yes. Once you are regularly seeing single digit mornings, a 5W-40 like the 9000 or a 5W-30 like the 0723 will get oil to the top end faster on a cold start, and cold start is where most engine wear happens.

Do I really need a diesel fuel additive?

Ultra low sulfur diesel has significantly less natural lubricity than the fuel these injection systems were originally designed around. Your injection pump and injectors are lubricated by the fuel itself. 0137 Diesel Treat 2000 adds that lubricity back, plus cetane and injector cleanup. On a common rail truck with a CP4 pump, we consider it mandatory.

When should I start using the winter anti gel additive?

Before the first hard freeze, not after. Once fuel has gelled in your filter and lines, an anti gel additive will not reverse it, you need a reliquefier and a lot of patience. Start running 0137ULSW when overnight lows begin hitting the 20s and keep running it through the winter.

What is the difference between Diesel Treat 2000 Winter and Arctic Shield?

Both are winter additives. 0300ULSW Arctic Shield is more highly concentrated and aimed at over the road trucks running in serious cold. 0137ULSW is the standard winter blend and covers most pickup and work truck duty in the Southeast.

What does CarbonTreat do that regular Diesel Treat does not?

0137CTPA CarbonTreat targets internal diesel injector deposits specifically, the sticky varnish that builds inside injectors on common rail engines and causes rough idle, poor running, and plugged fuel filters. It is a cleanup product. Diesel Treat 2000 is a maintenance product you run continuously.

How often should I change my fuel filter?

Manufacturer interval at minimum. Cut that in half if you buy fuel from stations you do not know, if you have ever run a tank down to empty, or if you are seeing a power drop under load. A fuel filter is one of the cheapest parts on the truck and injectors are one of the most expensive.

Which oil should I run in a built or tuned truck?

Move to a high zinc racing oil. 0708 Supreme 7000 15W-40, 0709 10W-30, or 0191 Micron Moly 20W-50 depending on your clearances and how hot the engine runs. Call us if you are not sure which, we will ask about your build and point you the right direction.

Do you sell Schaeffer's in bulk or to fleets?

Yes. Most of our oils come in 5 gallon buckets, 6 gallon cases, and 12 quart cases, and additives come in 24 pint cases and 4 or 5 gallon containers. If you are running a fleet and need pricing on volume, contact us directly.

Can Powerhouse Diesel do the oil change for me?

Yes. We are a full service diesel shop in Knoxville, Tennessee and we do Schaeffer's oil changes in house on Powerstroke, Cummins, and Duramax trucks. Give us a call at 865.640.2097 to get on the schedule.

Shop Schaeffer's at Powerhouse Diesel

We are a diesel shop first, which means we sell the same oil and additives we put in the trucks on our own lifts. If you are not sure what your engine needs, call us at 865.640.2097 or stop by 7664 Maynardville Pike in Knoxville. Not local? Everything on this page ships nationwide.

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