Mobil 1 seems to be the preferred synthetic oil around here but how do the others stack up?

Pennzoil synthetic
Quaker State synthetic
Valvoline Synpower
Castrol Syntec

Is there a real difference in performance? I’m thinking in terms of oil analysis not color or other emotional theories.

 

Excellent topic to hash out. I am no expert, but my understanding is that Mobil 1 is a Group IV PAO synthetic, while most if not all of the others you listed are likely Group III, which are labeled synthetic since Castrol won their court case to be allowed to sell Group III as synthetic. Group III is supposed to be pretty good stuff, but the Mobil 1 is probably better (though I heard it runs on the thinner side of its grades). Then there is Redline, which is a group V ester and is supposed to be the best.

 

Blueranger, great subject matter but you need to set the criteria for the #1 oil. What weight oil? They do not perform the same comparing a 5w-30/10w-30/5w-20. Are you looking for better wear metal reports all year or for the winter only? Looking for the lowest NOACK, best pumping rates, thermal extremes, etc.? There are no magic bullets in motor oils. Where one basestock type may excel in one area, it will fall short in others. Any oil meeting todays SL rating is far better than the best oil of ten years ago. Todays M1 is most likely the best Mobil/Exxon has ever come out with. It is a Gp III, GpIV, and also has some of the new fatty acid esters that M/E has developed. But it is not the best choice for an engine that sits like an old collector car. The same properties that gives it better pump rates also effects the oils running back into the pan rather than coating the parts for extended periods.

 

Sorry, I forgot to specify grade and criteria. I’m looking for a comparison of 5W30 and 10W30 (since its everyones favorite) oils based on year round wear metals.

I know this may be hard to do because there are so many variables that contribute to the results of these tests.

 

I know how you can get your answer but it will take some work from you or someone else. Contact labs that conduct oil analysis and ask if you can get all their UOA's. If you can get them, you can enter the data into a database and run statistical analysis on the results. This will tell you how well the oil held up and give you some idea of how they prevented wear. Maybe the labs already have the results in databases. This would make the job much easier. I am not a statistician but I would be happy to run some statistical analysis on the data.

 

After some searching I have realized this is not going to be easy.

 

I was investigating this very subject last week. Being a new ford owner I want to see my machine gets treated right.

Have used Mobil1 for years in everything possible with only the best results.

Then . . . . .

I read this article.
Link to MLM removed my moderator. No free lunch for those guys.
<www.performanceoilnews.com/oils_against_oils.shtml>
At the least it causes one to consider other possibilities.
Then again, is what is really important -
- Keeping the oil of your choice clean
- Using the best filter possible.
And yes, therein lies the next question - which brand filter.

This could be another 'which came first, the chicken or the egg' subject.

And of course one must wonder just who pays Performance Oil News' bills?

 

i sent valvoline an e-mail asking them about changing from maxlife to maxlife synthetic in my car, i use 5w30. they e-mail me back and said it would be fine to switch to the max synthetic. they also sent me this info.........

A PRODUCT OF THE VALVOLINE COMPANY A DIVISION OF ASHLAND INC.

VALVOLINE MaxLife™ Synthetic Motor Oil

Valvoline MaxLife™ Synthetic Motor Oil is specially formulated for higher mileage engines. Valvoline MaxLife™ Synthetic Motor Oil is formulated with the highest quality synthetic base oils Plus special additives to fight the effects of aging.


The Valvoline MaxLife™ Synthetic Motor Oil Advantage
·1 Special seal conditioners to help keep engines cleaner and reduce oil consumption.
· Additional anti-wear additives to reduce friction and help prevent future wear.
· Extra cleaning agents to help reduce deposits , sludge and varnish formation.
· Advanced thermal stability to help reduce oil burn-off and maximize power output.


Approvals/Performance Levels
API SL/SJ
Valvoline’s Maxlife™ Synthetic motor oil is safe for use in new and rebuilt engines and will not void new car warranties.


Test SAE 5W-30 SAE 10W-30
Vis @ 1000C (cSt) 11.65 11.51
Spec Gravity @ 600 F 0.8551 0.8587
Density (lbs/gal) 7.13 7.16
Total Base Number 10 10
Flash Point COC (0C) 220 230
Pour Point (0C) -42 -42
CCS cP (0C) <6600@-30C <7000@-25C
MRV TP-1 cP (0C) 19,739@-35C 14,200@-30C
Noack % off @ 2500C 11.0 8.31
Zinc/Phosphorus, wt% 0.100/0.095 0.100/0.095
Calcium/Magnesium, wt.% 0.387/Nil 0.387/Nil

.


Effective Date: Expiration Date: Replaces: Author's Initials: Pages Code
1-26-04 DJD
im no expert on how to read this, maybe TallPaul or some of the others can tell me if this is good oil.
Frank
p.s. TallPaul again, why are you going back to durablend ?

 

Hey flash what kind of vehicles/engines do you have and what brand/weight oil do you use?

 

I take it you've seen a few of those around here before, have ya?

 

I can only guess what this link was!

 

fishroe, not in any particular order:
04 Supercrew 4.6- Motorcraft 5w-20
91 Bronco 302- Delo 400 15w-40
89 LSC 325hp-302- Chevron Supreme 10w-30
74 F-100 391- 500+ HP- Mystic 15w-40
74 F-350 390 Delo 400 15w-40 (278,000 miles, uses zero oil)
91 Cougar V6- Chevron Supreme 10w-30
59 ****** Jeep station wagon 6cyl- Chevron Supreme 10w-30
61 Jeep FC 170 6 cyl- Chevron Supreme 10w-30
37 International PU, 6cyl Chevron 30wt
21 ft Carlson jet drive, 514ci Fomoco, 8/71 blower, race gas Delo 400 15w-40

That's all my toys and the juice I run in them. None of my engines ever has oil added between scheduled changes as they don't require any. The Bronco, 74 F-100 F-350, Cougar, and the jeeps all have over 100,000 miles on the clocks and they are still unbroken engines. The LSC has 32,000 original miles, 74 F-100 w/391 has 71,000 miles, 37 Internaional has 82,000 original miles, Supercrew has 4500 miles.

 

OK Flash, I'll bite. Why all the different lubricants? Seems you would have chosen a best-all-round, it has to be a chore keeping up with which goes in what, and having to stock all those.

Is your point that any lubricant will do, just keep it changed?

 

The point is: there is no one oil that will do it all. Different applications require different technologies. Depending on the engine, application, environment, and driver habits all add up to the lube you should be using. Skip the advertizing hype. Do you have a little engine making big HP? Do you drive it on the floor? Do you drive conservatively in a moderate climate? Do you pull a trailer in a high heat environment? Different applications- different requirements. My girls Cougar doesn't make near the 2,000+ HP of the jet boat- different application. My Supercrew 4.6 is made using todays technology, the F-350 is old engine technology- different application. The two 74 F Series- one is a stock 1 ton and the other is a highly modified street tire burner- different application. There is no one motor oil that is going to effectively cover all of the applications.

 

I think Flash has OCOD, or Obsessive Compulsive Oil Disorder.

Absolutely no offense intended Flash. Just some friendly humor.