Another take on the Oil debate

[dc4]

How do you read the graph, are the higher number of centistrokes good. I use reg motorcraft 15-40 every 3000 miles, I used to use nothing but syn oil but now that i need 15 qts i cant afford it. I have spent a lot of time and a lot of frustration trying to figure out what to use with my budget, and all the daily miles I put on my truck. Im concerned with using the reg motorcraft 15-40, especially since it came with a semi-syn from the factory. I just cant figure out what to use

[Goose350]

Originally Posted by Clay Henry

An oil thread that gets no response??

Originally Posted by Clay Henry

I moved the thread because regular members weren't able to post in it where i placed it before.

Good info

[dc4]

found this and did a cut and paste

This info was created by Jdub on Supramania. He is THE MAN when it comes to this stuff. I think it would do the world a great good to learn this :



Next is the regarded as "High and mighty" Mobil 1:

The only reason I'm doing this is 1) Mobil 1 is a very popular oil and 2) Mobil 1 is not entirely what it claims to be.

Mobil 1 HM 10W-30 is API Service Category SL,SJ,CF. It meets ACEA A3/B3 and A3/B4 requirements. Mobil 1 HM 10W-40 is API Service Category SL,SJ,CF....it does not meet/list ACEA specifications.

Here is the MSDS

Both oils are on par with what you would expect for their given grades. Both have excellent flash points and pour points...the 10W-30 is very good pour point wise, it's good down to -54 deg C. IMO, the 10W-30 would be a great all year oil...there really is no point changing to the 10W-40 for the summer. the 10W-30 will perform very well even during the summer heat. Both oils have a robust additive pack.

Mobil 1 uses Group III + alphaolefins (AN) base oils including polyalphaolefins (PAO)...however, the primary base stock is Group III.


Quote:
In 2006, the results of a gas chromatography test on Mobil 1 5w-30 EP were posted by an industry expert on the popular motor oil discussion website BITOG. It showed the oil to be primarily composed of a less expensive, Group III processed mineral oil. Until this time, Mobil 1 was believed to be a true synthetic, utilizing a Group IV (PAO) base stock. The release of this information has led to a backlash against Exxon Mobil's lubricant products in many automotive communities. Ironically, in 1999, Mobil fought Castrol's change in formulation to a Group III base stock in motor oils being marketed as fully synthetic. Mobil claimed that Castrol was deceiving their customer base, while degrading their products. The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus eventually ruled that Castrol could continue to market their SynTec line as a fully synthetic motor oil. Exxon Mobil currently refuses to comment on the primary base stock of their Mobil 1 series of oils. This has only added further confusion over the exact definition of the term "synthetic oil."

So far, I have not seen any further info on Mobil 1 oils that contradicts the above quote. I have seen this US Patent application by Exxon Mobil:

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...DN/20060211581

The cliff notes on this is Exxon wants to patent the process to utilize Group III base stock with AN and PAO modifiers for use as "synthetic" base stock...one would assume this means their Mobil 1 line of oils. Since PAO and AN are rather expensive, the majority of the base stock is very likely to be Group III...by definition not a true synthetic oil. Appears to me they want to sell us oil marketed as a synthetic, at synthetic prices and increase their profit margin....I guess last year's record profit for any US company wasn't good enough

Keep in mind, Group III base stock does not make Mobil 1 a bad oil...it's actually very good. Take a look at the above pics...very clean...no deposits at all. It justs chaffs my tail pipe to pay synthetic prices and get a Group III oil...especially when Exxon will not come clean about it. Pennzoil Platinum is also using a Group III...the company makes no secret about it. In fact, their Platinum line is among the best there is due to the technology behind refining it.

[Clay Henry]

This seems to be opinion Pushing one brand when those graphs face fact.

[dc4]

Originally Posted by Clay Henry

This seems to be opinion Pushing one brand when those graphs face fact.

well i was hoping someone would maybe explain it a bit, could it true that mobil 1 might not be all it says it is, and that it overpriced for what it is. I dont quite understand the different grades of the ingredients, like mineral oil oils. And shouldnt mobil 1 have a POA basestock oil and not mineral oil.

[Clay Henry]

Originally Posted by dc4

well i was hoping someone would maybe explain it a bit, could it true that mobil 1 might not be all it says it is, and that it overpriced for what it is. I dont quite understand the different grades of the ingredients, like mineral oil oils. And shouldnt mobil 1 have a POA basestock oil and not mineral oil.

Read the last paragraph of post 1 It talks about POA Mineral oils.
I'm certainly not saying Mobil is bad oil but your post didn't compare it to any other brand which makes it sound more like a biased sales pitch.

[chevyeater]

ok, so what is the best weight to use up here where it def. get cold in Wi. I'm assuming the 5w30 would be the best?

[GreenF350]

Interesting. I am somewhat partial to my Rotella T dino oil, but have been considering getting a bypass filtration setup and switching to synthetic. Next comes the debate with myself as to which synthetic to use. If nothing else, this thread got me to do a bit of research and Rotella T 5w-40 Synthetic appears to be mostly mineral oil. In fact, I see no mention of PAO or AO oils mentioned in the MSDS. The MSDS from a Shell site
Shell Lubricants MSDS
on this MSDS
http://www.equivashellmsds.com/Displ....asp?ID=196553
says the "COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS" is "Highly refined mineral oils and additives".

I never really thought about it, but it is interesting that they can list their ingredients as "Highly refined mineral oils" (and additives, presumably synthetic) and still call it a synthetic oil. Does anyone know what the requirements are for a company to claim an oil is synthetic?
-Aaron

[GreenF350]

I just tested my links and read the top of the MSDS. I think their link is broken. I just realized that the MSDS that it pulled up appears to be wrong. I clicked on their link for 5w-40 Rotella T Synthetic and found that takes me to a MSDS for Omala® Oil 3200 that says its use is a Gear Lubricant. Maybe it isn't the correct MSDS? I may do some more research into this and see what I can come up with. Take my above post with a grain of salt for now.
-Aaron

[GreenF350]

Ok, I found the correct MSDS and since my earlier post was pretty misleading I figured I better set the record straight. The Rotella T Synthetic 5w-40 lists the following for "COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS": Blend of synthetic hydrocarbon, polyalphaolefins and additives.

Sorry for any confusion. I guess I should have paid a bit more attention to what I was reading.

-Aaron