Quality was up in 2005.

Read here:

http://www.imakenews.com/lng/e_artic....cfm?x=b11,0,w

 

I think you will find that API has really started testing and catching more out of grade oils and the oil companies have responded with much easier to blend add packs with better and higher VI basestocks. Some of the newer processes like Raffinate will make a Gp II+ fairly cheap and a Gp III real reasonable. Some of the newer fatty acid esters and even some of the vegetable esters have seen useage in todays oils. All of these pluses and still the price of motor oil is reasonable. With the clean burning engines, new oil formulations, newer basestocks, it's almost hard to wear an engine out. It wasn't that long ago that an engine that saw 100,000 miles was a real winner engine. Now even a beater will go over that. Sometimes we complain about API and the cuts we are seeing in the add packs but engine life doesn't seem to be suffering. I'd say the API is doing a fabulous job.

FWIW, did you know that the oils that we buy, which are mostly a Gp II, Gp II+, GP III and Gp IV, are the best in the world bar none. Most of the rest of the worlds motor oils are still the ancient Gp I solvent refined crap we gave up decades ago as the primary basestock. I think we owe ILSAC a thank you as well.

 

Makes "Brand Name" irrelevant, doesn't it?

 

I believe that brand name oils became irrelevant after Consumer Reports published the results of their 4 1/2 million mile oil tests using New York City taxi cabs in 1996. They were unable to find any meaningful difference between the many brands that were tested. This seems to have been confirmed by the many thousands of folks who change the oil using the lowest priced oils and often drive 200,000 or more miles without any engine problems.

 

I was trying to be a little more subtle.

Mentioning the "CR" word usually starts a fight.

(PSSSSSSSSS - Tell you a secret. You're right. SHHHHHHHHHH!).

 

I would have to agree to a point that brand doesn't matter. If you change vehicles at 75-100,000 miles, any API oil will get you there and there shouldn't be any problems. If you are the type of individual that buys one and then drives it til it drops, you can take advantage of the synergystic reaction of the ZDDP and the moly that is in some of the oils. This reaction can, and in most cases, will add mileage to your engine life. I personally like the moly/ZDDP relationship but then again, I like my women about 5'5" and 130-140 lbs. I don't like a tall skinny gal like the New York model. So it's all about personal preferences. Your mileage may vary.

 

I use an aircraft grade oil in my engines. It hold up an withstands heat much better then conventional oils. It costs more but the performnace is outstanding.