And your position is based soley on the Lava Lamp methodology of fluidity analysis? Ok... Perhaps your position is better advanced by noting there are applications where conventional oil is recommended over synthetic oil especially in some cost vs benefit analysis. Although, many FTE folks (myself included) report operational benefits of synthetic vs dino such as easier starts, smoother running and last but not least increased mpg.

The fact that Mobil1 is factory fill for every Mercedes, Porsche, Aston Martin, Bentley, many Cadillacs (the fast ones), Dodge Viper and Chevrolet Corvette should certainly lend credence to the merits of this product... It's not for everyone: True. For those that want one of the better oils in the marketplace and appreciate the benefits derived: Absolutely.

 

Who cares about thermal breakdown. The oil gets changed out after 3-5K anyhow. The inventor of mobil 1 approached GM and told engineering at GM that they would certify the oil for 100,000 miles. Yup and it lasts that long, it really does. BUT.... and this is big....nobody keeps the same oil in an engine long enough for the higher thermal breakdown to manifest as relevent. GM would not go for it. The drivers manuals say change the oil 3 to 5K. It does not say wait longer if you use synth. Regular old oil with the appropriate SAE rating is indistinct from synth with the same SAE rating at 3-5 K miles.

Re viscosity and heat capacity...

The SAE tests EXACTLY the viscosity at temperature. It tests the enthalpic heat capacity.

So what else is there? There is no magical parameter that makes a 30 weight oil a 10 weight oil. The purpose of oil is to prevent metal to metal contact.... ahem... that is viscosity, the hydrodynamic wedge created by relative motion of two components.

Using synth is like having a 16oz beer and only a 12 oz beer glass. A 12 oz beer fits the 12 oz glass just fine. The 16 oz beer will fill the 12 oz glass too. but... why buy the extra 4 oz since you are only going to drink 5 oz anyway.



http://www.sae.org/servlets/productD...CD=J304_199906
http://www.sae.org/servlets/productD...CD=J357_199910

Below is one of Mobil's latest patent on oil... it refers to the SAE standards, the kinematic viscostities the molecular weights of the base stock and the therrmal breakdown temps.

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...t+AND+AN/mobil

Bubble gum is an exteme to make the point. If it met SAE's spec, then it would be Bubble gum in name only. Just like Synth meets spec. It's just plain oil. (pssssst polyester is still a hydrocarbon that came from the ground)

 

I am not saying that the cost/benefits are worth it for the 3,000 mile oil change, and if i used it, I would never change anywhere near that often, just filters at regular interval with full changeover at higher mileage with tests to prove the life of the oil.

I was and still am simply arguing with your very general statement of "oil is oil" and standards are standards. Will they both do what the SAE spec says? Yes, but a spec doesn’t quantify anything above and beyond that, nor does it limit it.


Not sure about why I am only drinking 5 oz here if I had a 12 or 16oz beer, I personally would get the 16 oz, pour it into the glass, chug the last 4 ounces, and enjoy the 12 oz worth while sitting down and not having to rush up to get another beer for a bit.

Either that or reengineer the receptacle into a pint glass.

 

I'm with ya on the beer. Making 16 oz fit into 12 oz is a worthwhile enterprise.

 

I got one of those Pepboys calendars somewhere. Bought one for a $20 cupoun on a OBD2 reader. Paid $1 and saved $20. Did not look through the rest of it for other goo deals... doh!

 

viscocity is one thing- its just the way the oil flows for a given temperature and yes i am not going to talk all scientific anyways there are alot of other aspects that you need to look at with motor oils and that is how long does the truck sit, how much acids are going to be formed in the oil do to the heat up and cool down of running around or sitting in your front yard in the sun

granted most oils will last longer then 5 or 6 or even longer but is that in a 2 month period or stretched out over a year or 6 months

 

excelent, a joint venture it will be ... miller time coming up pretty soon - 3 day weekend for me, have a good one everybody

 

Thermal breakdown doesn't have anything to do with the duration the oil sits in the engine. Rather, it's a measure of the oil's ability to adhere to its given viscosity and continue protecting against metal-to-metal contact at high temperatures, as well as the tolerance of the oil and additives to resist its own breakdown under those high temperatures.

I don't use synthetic because I feel it's a "better" viscosity. I use it because it generally gives you a more consistent viscosity across a given temp range, lower volatility (and corresponding higher flashpoint), higher temperature before thermal breakdown occurs, higher film strength and other measures.

But your point on viscosity is correct. 6=1/2 dozen. 10W-30 mineral = 10W-30 synthetic.

 

From what I can deduct from palindromelol, I guess what he's saying is that, and I agree with him is that he'd rather store his bubblegum in a teflon coated ceramic urn rather than a bedpost overnite. That way it could be used over and over and over and over as many times as you'd like without wearing out your jaw. At least this is what I walk away with. Makes sense.