Just wondering if this is a good or bad idea.
Sure I see people claiming how their engines (somehow they just know?) love it.
Or it's made stronger because diesel engines are stronger then gas engines. stuff like that.

What do you guys think and is there any good reading on this subject?
I think they're just dumb ricers but then I don't know any better either.

 

Diesel engine oils are fine. In the case of flat tappet cam engines like small block Chevy's its a good idea as the higher zinc levels will help keep a cam from going flat. Just be sure to use the right viscosity.
20w-50 would be a bad idea.

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I don't believe it's a good idea to use diesel oils in gas engines even if they're rated SM, etc. There's another forum I sponsor and someone on there was advocating the use of Shell Rotella T-6 in gasoline engines. Like you noticed, this person was also touting how well his engine ran with the diesel oil, etc, etc.

I did a little research to include reading the data sheet on the oil, reading posts on BITOG and I sent an e-mail to Shell Technical Services asking for their position on it. Passenger vehicles with Gasoline engines were clearly absent from the recommended applications listed on the data sheet. The response I received from Shell was a definite "No - Don't use this oil in gasoline engines". The reason they cited was that the additive package used in the oil was biased toward diesel applications and they would shorten the life of catalytic converters if used in gas engines.

Although zinc an phosphorous levels have been reduced in the newer oils, oil makers have substituted other additives that provide adequate protection to street engines while not shortening the life of expensive emissions components.

Recommend you stick with an oil that's recommended for Gasoline engines.