Always using the same oil ?

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Popsy

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There's this question I've kept asking myself since joining BITOG, and I still haven't found a definitive answer...

Is it better to always use the same oil? I've read that additive bond to metals with pressure and heat during oil use, that new oil is more aggressive and first start to dissolve part of the previous additive layers before rebuilding new layers of additives, etc...

When I'm buying oil, it's usually because it's on sale, so I usually don't use the same oil twice (or for example I use oil A one, then oil B, then oil A again).

Will it be better to always keep the same oil throughout the life of an engine (if it's reasonably possible, of course, manufacturers change formula)? So the layer of additive stays undisturbed (less disturbed) and there's no "additive clash" between brands of oil? Or is this a myth?


For example at the moment I have Motul 300V in my car, next OC will be Shell 0W40 because I have some, and in the future I want to try Valvoline Maxlife 5W40. Should I reconsider and stay for example with 300V (since it appears to do well), instead of using whatever I have on hand / is on sale at the moment of the OC?

Tell me if I'm wrong, and if my engine will ever notice the difference
smile.gif
 
I've also heard about the thing that additives bond to the metals but i haven't seen any definitive proof of it.
A reason i guess to use the same oil would be if you did uoa's and found an oil that performs really well in your engine i.e low wear metals, there really wouldn't be much of a reason to use a different oil then
 
I used to subscribe to use the same oil, and stuck to using it for years. The past several years I've been flip flopping between Castrol, Havoline, Mobil, and Pennzoil synthetics. My favorites being Mobil 1 and PU. I've run each a few years and recently switched back to PU and plan on staying with it. In the grand scheme of things I don't think it matters as long as you're using a good oil that meets the specs for your engine.
 
I like to use boutique oils because I like support smaller companies especially those that supposedly use American sourced base stock. Having said that, my Dad always said the secret to long engine life was not to run it low on oil and change it when it needs to be changed. I have followed that philosophy and normally the rest of the car rusts away and the engine is fine. That's with all types of oils even mixes of different brands. I have also had several old work vehicles that hardly ever had the oil changed just made sure they were full with whatever oil. They still ran fine when the body started falling apart and the electrical systems started acting up.
 
The consumer reports magazine Taxi tests back in the 80s ( I think) said basically all oils are the same.
Something no one on this forum wants to hear I am sure.
You would think that someone would have researched the question. My instinct is that changing manufacturers might be a good idea.
sorta like "always go to the same doctor? well he may know you better but may have the same blind spot all the time.
 
Like anything else there's probably some benefit both ways...run the same oil all the time and there won't be any clashing of additives....run different oils and perhaps you won't run the risk of staying with one oil that perhaps has changed its formula and isn't that good (or just isn't good overall).

I don't think it matters that much, I have a Honda Accord with 287,000 miles on it and I almost never ran the same oi twice. I put whatever was on sale into that engine. [censored] I even put different brands in at the same time...different weights...different change intervals...conventional...synthetic...heavy weight diesel oil...light weight synthetic.

All this oil talk is fun, I enjoy it, but bottom line you car's subframe will probably rot out before your engine gives out. And that's actually what happened to me...at 287,000 miles my front cradle rotted out and I could have/should have junked the car, instead I found a used one for cheap money and put it in. Big job...royal pain. Meanwhile my engine keeps purring along.
 
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Oh, I know engines usually outlive the rest of the car, my question is just curiosity, and maybe a bit aimed to «preserve» classic (or not so classic) cars
smile.gif


Supposing I'll use oils with similar add pack (like not using Valvoline with sodium), I guess engine won't see the difference...next step is doing uoa and compare, but I won't go that far, except for fun maybe!

I guess I'll continue buying whatever is on sale and fit the needs^^
 
Salut Popsy,

Originally Posted By: Popsy
(like not using Valvoline with sodium)


Valvoline oils which are made in Europe (Netherlands) have different specs/approvals than the ones sold/made in North America. I've seen VOA of SynPower FE oil on some eastern european forum and it is not using sodium but rather calcium. In fact the sodium quantity was 4 ppm and calcium 2736 ppm in SynPower FE 5w30 (taken from http://www.oil-club.ru/forum/topic/16516-valvoline-synpower-fe-5w30-svezhee/ ).

Therefore, I don't think you have any risks of using this oil in your car in regards of some completely different additive pack. In fact, I still use it and if you remember our conversation I decided not to switch to Shell Helix Ultra 5w30 because Valvoline SynPower 5w30 has the same specs/approvals and a better pour point.
 
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Although the definitive answer is not possible, too many variables, I vote it doesn't matter.
Someone earlier mentioned that we here, don't like to hear that, but I bet it's true. Oil advertising, hype and old wives tales abound any time you start talking oil. Heck, I know car guys that swear you can't go back & forth between syn and dino, and I (and thousands of others) havery done it for years, and even the oil companies have confirmed it as ok. When it comes to oil, it's really weird, so many myths, and then oil advertising, that's a whole ' nother horse of a different color. Has anyone ever collected on an oil company'so 300,000 mile warranty? Good luck with that. Even all the talk about different additive technology. First oil companies, sort of, let that rumor abound, thinking they'd keep customers, then they realized, if they were ever going to sway users away from their current pick to their newest blend, they had better clear up the wives tales about additive incompatibility, (and syn vs dino), or people wouldn't buy the latest greatest goo juice.
The truth is hard to find in advertising. I knew people, 30 or more years ago, when oil was no where near the quality it is now, that NEVER changed their oil, just added when it got low, with rusted in place filters, and they still made it to 100,000 miles.
So, it stands to reason it don't matter, use what's on sale, suits your fancy, has the prettiest bottle, has a 300,000 mile warranty, whatever, and don't sweat it.
 
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Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
I just don't see the point of trying to improving today's oils , when the motor will outlast the rest of the vehicle. It seems motor oil makers have accomplished what they set out to do.,,
But it's a moving target as engines get smaller and work harder.
 
HerrStig,

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
But it's a moving target as engines get smaller and work harder.


Exactly. I think in Europe we have a trend of smaller and more powerful engines due to emissions limits and taxes on engine volume. As a result you see a lot of turbo charged engines (both petrol and diesel) with volume 0.8 to 1.4 liter producing something like 100 - 140 hp.

I've checked the specs of Nissan 1.2 DIG-T engine and it is a flat tappet engine, with turbo which specs A3/B4 xW-40 oils ...
 
Member NitroNoise used nothing but QSGB in his Hyundai
smile.gif
. Coincidence it's still running: no way

My dad has used QSGB longer than I have been born

I mainly use MaxLife 5w30 or Durablend 5w30 as my go to oil also; never a issue
 
In all honestly,"oil is probably oil",but that philosophy is no fun :P It's fun trying different stuff,even if the effect is purely psychological,after all,positive psychological effects are what keep us happy. The answer to long engine life is to just keep the oil full and clean,I'm sure brand doesn't matter at all.

My dad had gotten over 500,000 miles on his 1990 Olds 88 with nothing but Pennzoil conventional,car still ran perfect when he gave it to my nephew. My 1987 Olds Toronado Trofeo had around 350,000 miles on it with nothing but Castrol GTX,car still ran perfect when I sold it to a coworker so I could have money to put down on the 3000GT I bought.
 
Mostly it doesn't matter. Molybdate as a corrosion inhibitor forms a layer on the top of mild steel and I've seen explanations that it fills in the "gaps" in the wear surfaces. I suppose if you switched to a non-moly based product it would defeat that mechanism.

I think it largely doesn't matter from a practical standpoint. Use an oil as recommended by your manufacturer and change it at an interval recommended and the engine will outlast the rest of the vehicle in terms of wear components.
 
Originally Posted By: volodymyr
Salut Popsy,

Valvoline oils which are made in Europe (Netherlands) have different specs/approvals than the ones sold/made in North America. I've seen VOA of SynPower FE oil on some eastern european forum and it is not using sodium but rather calcium. In fact the sodium quantity was 4 ppm and calcium 2736 ppm in SynPower FE 5w30 (taken from http://www.oil-club.ru/forum/topic/16516-valvoline-synpower-fe-5w30-svezhee/ ).

Therefore, I don't think you have any risks of using this oil in your car in regards of some completely different additive pack. In fact, I still use it and if you remember our conversation I decided not to switch to Shell Helix Ultra 5w30 because Valvoline SynPower 5w30 has the same specs/approvals and a better pour point.


Cheers volodymyr!

I remember that conversation
smile.gif

You are indeed right, the Valvoline product I was considering (Maxlife 5W40) doesn't have a sodium add pack. Valvoline products are quite expensive for me so trying it would have been curiosity only, so I guess I'll continue switching brands, buying the one on sale, since the general opinion is it doesn't matter
cheers3.gif


Edit: yes, sometimes Motul 300V is on sale too here
laugh.gif
 
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