API Certified vs Non-Certified Oils

[buster]

You could also have an SP oil like Mobil 1 EP that would go far beyond the baseline SP level. (in red/hypothetical).

 

[Glenda W.]

You could also have an SP oil like Mobil 1 EP that would go far beyond the baseline SP level. (in red/hypothetical).



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This is exactly why not all oils meeting the same approvals/specs are the same. EP with a GTL/PAO/AN base vs Supertech with a cookie cutter approved add pack and group 3/2 base.

 

[buster]

This is exactly why not all oils meeting the same specs are the same. EP with a GTL/PAO/AN base vs Supertech with a cookie cutter approved add pack and group 3/2 base.

Right. There are some that say "well it's API SP so it's a bare min spec." True, but not true. The EP oils, and many other oils, far exceed these baseline API specs.

 

[WobblyElvis]

I would be more likely to buy a boutique oil if they had some API certification. Lack of trust.

 

[Sienna dude]

This is exactly why not all oils meeting the same specs are the same. EP with a GTL/PAO/AN base vs Supertech with a cookie cutter approved add pack and group 3/2 base.

Supertech is a good oil

 

[Glenda W.]

Supertech is a good oil

It is good. But it’s not exceptional.

 

[brandon9715]

Supertech is a good oil

SuperTech is fine, and I use their oils in certain applications. For high stress applications, I would go with a higher end oil. Use case/engine specs dictate what oils are better than others.

 

[Sienna dude]

SuperTech is fine, and I use their oils in certain applications. For high stress applications, I would go with a higher end oil. Use case/engine specs dictate what oils are better than others.

For a Toyota ecobox it is a good oil

 

[Sienna dude]

It is good. But it’s not exceptional.

Its price is exceptional lol

 

[Sienna dude]

I believe expensive is not necessarily good and cheap is not necessarily bad. Walmart moves stuff fast so they can afford to sell it at that price. Imagine if HPL moved their oil as fast as Walmart, they could lower their prices. If they can afford to give 25% discount on July 4th, they can afford to do that every single day if they could move their oil fast.

 

[Glenda W.]

I believe expensive is not necessarily good and cheap is not necessarily bad. Walmart moves stuff fast so they can afford to sell it at that price. Imagine if HPL moved their oil as fast as Walmart, they could lower their prices. If they can afford to give 25% discount on July 4th, they can afford to do that every single day if they could move their oil fast.

Not just that but PAO, Esters, AN’s, star polymers etc. are expensive ingredients. Mobil has an advantage over most as they’re not just a blender but manufacture almost everything. Or own companies that do.

 

[Hohn]

Right. There are some that say "well it's API SP so it's a bare min spec." True, but not true. The EP oils, and many other oils, far exceed these baseline API specs.

Right, so it's correct to say API or ILSAC grades are indeed fairly low, but the important thing is to look at what *other* endorsements/specs they meet.

IF it's API SP and VW 504/507, that's quite a different discussion from being mere API SP only. And that's separate still from the EP vs non-EP aspect. Different still if it's got MB229.5x, LL-01, etc etc.

 

[Sienna dude]

I remember I d

Not just that but PAO, Esters, AN’s, star polymers etc. are expensive ingredients. Mobil has an advantage over most as they’re not just a blender but manufacture almost everything. Or own companies that do.

Yes those things are expensive but if you sell in big volume, you can still turn a little profit. But selling at 25% off every single day, HPL cannot stay in business. That little profit is not enough. But for a behemoth like walmart, that tiny bit of profit from supertech is enough. I bet Walmart makes way more money from Super Tech then hpl does from their amazing oils lol

 

[Sienna dude]

Even if Walmart doesn't make money from Super tech, it could be just their Costco hot dogs. Costco's hot dogs are awesome lol

 

[buster]

Right, so it's correct to say API or ILSAC grades are indeed fairly low, but the important thing is to look at what *other* endorsements/specs they meet.

IF it's API SP and VW 504/507, that's quite a different discussion from being mere API SP only. And that's separate still from the EP vs non-EP aspect. Different still if it's got MB229.5x, LL-01, etc etc.

Another thing is the tests are different so you're comparing apples/oranges. Some OEM's, like GM or VW, have different testing for turbos etc. For SP they use IIIH for high temp deposits and oxidation. IVB for wear etc. So it's hard to even attempt to compare them when they're testing using different test methods.

 

[4WD]

Even if Walmart doesn't make money from Super tech, it could be just their Costco hot dogs. Costco's hot dogs are awesome lol

SuperTech is the hotdog class of oil !!!

 

[Urshurak776]

All that matters

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Mazda just says "API Certified." Doesn't even give a specification like SN, SP, etc.

 

[Sienna dude]

Mazda just says "API Certified." Doesn't even give a specification like SN, SP, etc.

Mazdas are great cars, just change the oil is what they are saying lol.

 

[Sienna dude]

And cheaper than a spectrographic analysis.

In my UOA' iron has been roughly 1 ppm per 1000 miles over different brands of oils and even different viscosity. Any particular reason why that is so? I wonder what could increase that? 10% fuel in the oil, TBN less than 1? Honestly when I tried Amsoil, I was hoping and expecting to cut iron wear in half but that didn't happen. I am not arguing, just trying to learn.

 

[Glenda W.]

I remember I d

Yes those things are expensive but if you sell in big volume, you can still turn a little profit. But selling at 25% off every single day, HPL cannot stay in business. That little profit is not enough. But for a behemoth like walmart, that tiny bit of profit from supertech is enough. I bet Walmart makes way more money from Super Tech then hpl does from their amazing oils lol

I’d love to see what it costs Walmart for the $18 jug. Mass produced base stocks. They’re definitely making money.