15w50 Alternatives?

[BrownParticles]

I am due for an oil change and am looking for something a bit more affordable than Redline 15w50. (Engine builder's recommendation)

This oil is for my 2006 Mitsubishi Evolution. It's a 2.0 stroked to 2.3 with forged internals. 8.5:1 compression 25psi boost, making 460hp. 90% of its diet is E85 fuel. This is my have fun car so it gets driven pretty hard. The car gets a mix of short trips and long trips. I live in sunny southern California with temps never below 50F. Car has no problems other than lifter tick which is rather common in these cars.

I've been running Redline 15w50 or Amsoil 10w40 for the last 12,000 miles since it was built. Redline is preferred by the builder; however it's pricy at ~$12/qt. Also i've been changing the oil every 3-4,000 miles.

Ideally I'd run Mobil 1's "Race" 15w50 at $23/5qts from Walmart. However i've been reading conflicting opinions on this oil. The engine builders around here say to stay away from it. Online people say that the formulation have changed and it's not that great anymore. I've never been one for boutique oils as I dump Mobil 1 into all of my other cars without a second thought.

Looking for a more affordable oil because of these short OCIs, would Mobil 1 be adequate for my application- or any other lesser priced oil for that matter? Fuel dilution with E-85 is a concern of mine as well as oil robustness. Let me know if I'm forgetting to mention some other important information. Thanks!

 

[MinamiKotaro]

A good 15w40 like Delvac, Delo, or Rotella would work fine.

 

[expat]

Originally Posted By: MinamiKotaro
A good 15w40 like Delvac, Delo, or Rotella would work fine.


Perfect!

 

[aquariuscsm]

How about Edge 5W50?

 

[Camprunner]

I was in Napa the other day and they have a synthetic 15w50 I don't know who makes it but it was $2.99 on sale.

 

[AntsinmyEyes]

Ive been running the napa 15w50 in my rx7 and its silky smooth. Also ive only ever heard good things about the mobil 1 15w50 so i woupd use that with confidence.

 

[beanoil]

NAPA 15w50 gets another vote.

 

[umungus1122]

There's nothing wrong with Mobil 1 15w-50. Ask the builders to show you their comparative used oil analysis where it's no good. $22.xx 5qt. jug at Walmart. As stated NAPA syn 15w-50 on sale too.

 

[CT8]

You spent big $$$ on the mods and now you are too cheap to spend money on the oil the builder recommended you use after you gave him all the $$$ Really?

 

[tig1]

Sounds like advise coming from oil salesman in regard to Mobil 1 15w50. Here at BITOG it gets good reviews.

 

[ammolab]

Why do you call Mobil 1 15W-50 at Walmart "race oil"? I have used it for decades and consider it a high detergent street oil.

High performance use, yes...but "race"?

I will add that it should be just fine in your car for 3-4 thousand miles.

 

[BrocLuno]

If the builder wants 50 weight at op temp, it's because of the bearing clearances he built in. So you can run Redline to say 5,000 miles, or you could run say Castrol GTX 20W-50 and change at 3,000 as the E-85 will be beating on the oil. With 25 PSI boost you will have fuel slipping past the ring pack - guaranteed ...

Alcohol makes for strange oil chemistries. In the blown alcohol dragster I occasionally crew on, it gets dumped after every run because it's so diluted. And that Redline 50 straight weight at 5 gallons a pop ...

Alcohol is not like gasoline in that a drive down a country lane will not burn it off. It'll get some, but not all. So your oil gets polluted fast. Redline is as resistant to alcohol as possible, but even it succumbs in time ...

Me, I'd run GTX and change it way more often - say 2,500 miles. That way I know there is less alcohol to worry about

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: CT8
You spent big $$$ on the mods and now you are too cheap to spend money on the oil the builder recommended you use after you gave him all the $$$ Really?


+1 really?

 

[JimPghPA]

Redline has way more moly and some other additives than any other oil. There is a very good reason your engine builder wants you to use Redline, and that is because it provides the best protection.

 

[Shannow]

REdline 15W50 has a VERY high HTHS (bearing protection) of 5.8, that's not going to be comparable in anything 40 grade.

Castrol Edge 25W50 is 6.1
Mobil V-Twin 20W50 is similarly 6.1

Pennzoil 25W50 mineral is 5.1 (ish)

 

[FCD]

I wouldn't run a 40 grade, as Shannow said redline oils have very high HTHS viscosities, which is what you're looking for , other than Redline i think Mobil 1 15W50 or Mobil 1 V Twin 20W50 is what i would use

 

[BrownParticles]

I refer to the m1 as "race" oil because I recall it having race proven? on the jug. I have no idea if that has any merit but I found it interesting. I'm not opposed to continue using Redline 15w50, but I'm also not opposed to cheaper alternatives that would also get the job done adequately. The reason my engine builder recommends Redline is because he says that's all he has used, and that it has never let him down before. That made me wonder if the oil is just overkill for my application. I'm impartial to all recommendations but do like M1 for its availability and pricing. I've got to check out this Napa and GTX pricing. All of your guy's input has been informative. Keep them coming if you still got more.

 

[FCD]

Originally Posted By: BrownParticles
I refer to the m1 as "race" oil because I recall it having race proven? on the jug. I have no idea if that has any merit but I found it interesting. I'm not opposed to continue using Redline 15w50, but I'm also not opposed to cheaper alternatives that would also get the job done adequately. The reason my engine builder recommends Redline is because he says that's all he has used, and that it has never let him down before. That made me wonder if the oil is just overkill for my application. I'm impartial to all recommendations but do like M1 for its availability and pricing. I've got to check out this Napa and GTX pricing. All of your guy's input has been informative. Keep them coming if you still got more.


There is a version of Mobil 1 15w50 called Racing 4T for motorcycles, is this what you're reffering to?

 

[4wd]

On the Mobil Racing site - the Mobil 1 15w-50 (race proven) is recommended for all kinds of racing.
Dealer told my boss to run that in his Super Snake ... (Don't ride with him).

 

[bigt61]

Mobil 1 15W-50 is fine. I used it with success in my SBC race cars and my tow vehicle towing an enclosed trailer over 12,000 lbs.