Recent content by JTC

Hmm, Amsoil says SuperSyn is good but unremarkable, basically a slightly modified TriSyn. I guess it all hinges on just how significant those "slight chemistry changes to meet API SL standards" are. Well, Amsoil saying it's "good" is significant in itself.

Bror, You write: "Bob has doubts about the ability of its ester additive to provide much, if any, seal swelling. " As the old saying goes: tell the truth and shame the devil. So, here's the truth as I see it: Bob has doubts about just about anything except Schaeffer's. Nevertheless, this is...

You've got to wonder. For example, in the base RSX, which is powered by their newest generation of engines, Acura (Honda) specs 5w-20 oil and a 10,000 mile normal service change. And they are only requiring an SH oil. Could they have done enough testing to ensure there won't be maintenance...

Stuart, I remember that original M1 well I had a new 1978 Ford Fiesta, which I put 5w-20 M1 in. And such leaks! The car had an external oil pump whose seal was eaten alive by the oil, which just sort of ran out and down the engine. Ford fixed it under warranty (fooled them) and I went back to...

Patman, you asked about a full synthetic 5w-20. FWIW I sent Mobil an email the week before last asking if they planned a 5w-20 Mobil 1. They said yes, that they are testing formulations and that its introduction is planned for this Fall.

Hmm, it's all conditional. Go here for an interesting .pdf EPA

Frankly, we are all simply ignorant about how good, or bad, M1 SuperSyn is. However, ExxonMobil's marketing emphasizes the new formula's anti-wear properties above all. That tells me something. If there was no basis for that claim, why would they stupidly market a product as better than...

web page on 5w-20 This site is Korean, and contains, evidently, a paper on the development and testing of modern 5w-20 oils. The text is unreadible, but the charts are in English and contain some interesting test reports of 5w-20 vs. 5w-30 using improved (group 2?) base oils and additives. I...

Oil: do we really know what works anymore? Ford & Honda are pushing 5w-20. Terry wants a 5w-60. Johnny loves those Euro 0w-40s. Bob wants oil to plate out on his tests. And so forth. Most interesting to me, the tech article explaining that the Euro penchant for higher vis oil is likely...

MolaKule, I expect that you are right on the CAFE issue, for Ford anyway. But Honda has always been greenest of the car companies, so I suspect that they may have more altruistic motives. Good point about shear. Combine that with Terry's observation (on another board, perhaps here also) that...

My guess is that whether a 5w-20 works as well as a 5w-30 is engine specific. Ford & Honda certified only certain, recent engines for the thinner weight. It would be interesting to compare 5w-20 vs. 5w-30 across those engines.

web page Here's some info on esters.

Who mentioned best? Superior, well respected, but no one mentioned best. So it goes.

The discussion of just what SuperSyn might be is fascinating, and I thank Steve & MolaKule for their insights. What they say reinforces my early opinion that we have dismissed Mobil1 with SuperSyn too quickly, and without data, because the chemistry is new and not to industry standards. But --...

loubapache: still, just guessing, but 15w-50 -- higher pour point PAO base stock relatively unaffected by supersyn addition 0w-40 -- special case, pour point depressants possibly overriding any pour point increase from supersyn JTC