Originally Posted By: Shannow
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I asked a Mobil tech last week if I could mix AFE 0W20 with AFE 0W30 to get rid of a few stray quarts I have of their AFE 0W20 laying around. He told me
they wouldn't back the product if I had a problem and wouldn't know what the end mix would be. The tech guy said it would be OK to mix them to top up toward the end of an OCI, but not to use if for a full OCI. I found that interesting, and it goes along with what Shannow and a few others have been saying for quite some time. Another member had a similar exchange with Mobil, and was told exactly the same thing. I also asked about using 0W40 for a mix oil, with AFE 0W20, and his reply was exactly the same.
I asked only because of all the discussions lately about mixing different viscosity to get a home brew.
They didn't test the mix therefore they don't know how it performs and don't back it. That's I understand, a big company like Mobil would not say anything without data to back it.
My reason for mixing is I like certain HTHS that is hard to find over the shelf. Like xW30 with HTHS of 3.3-3.4 for both S2000 and E430.
Pennzoil took the same stance, almost word for word. My feeling is exactly what you said, they haven't tested it and they're basing their stance on that. If you think about it, they'd have a ton of testing, just based on how many combinations we can come up with within a brand. For me it's very easy not to mix, I'll find a use for the stray quarts or return them.
The standard for miscibility (the "compatability" that is talked about on BITOG) requires that the finished engine oil (not gear oil, or engine oil mixed with gear oil) can be mixed with a handful of reference oils (7?)
Then the combined oil has to be cooled to the new pour point of the combination (no reference to the pour point of the test oil), that number recorded, then heated to 150C, and returned to that cold temperature for 24 hours.
When returned to room temperature, the combination is not allowed to drop out precipitates, or split into different layers.
That's the test and that's all it promises.
It doesn't promise 0W+0W=0W, SN+SN=SN, or any other performance parameter, just that the mix, cooled, heated, and cooled doesn't undergo chemical reactions that are clearly disadvantageous.
Like I said, my remaining AFE 0W20 is going back for a refund.
For me there's really no need to mix.