API Certified vs Non-Certified Oils

[Sienna dude]

13% Noack isn't very good, but it looks like an average API-approved product.

It's more than good enough for my van. But I'm sticking to Mobil and Pennzoil lol

 

[OVERKILL]

It's more than good enough for my van

Likely, given how cool it runs.

 

[ABOVE Oils]

Just thinking out loud here, but it seems to me that the quality of oils are limited if they are API certified. Oils like HPL and Amsoil are not bound by API cert on their top-tier oils. While I realize that API certification helps maintain standards, I wonder if their upper limits also limit the add packs of oils in a way that causes more wear. That would explain why testing between API certified oils shows the same level of wear regardless of brand. I would be curious to see testing between API certified and non-certified oils.

API is set up for a reason, not to allow better oils, just slot into petroleum standards. To keep costs low most slot into a certain formula pre approved based on base oil and ad pack. Once you get out of the standard read across specs of oils that have a standard base oil and standard ad pack from one of the major additives companies you have to submit to the full battery of test adding months or years to testing and test costs. If you are making a more niche product, that expense is not worth it. If Motul, Amsoil, RL use a higher degree of plant based oils they may not pass every test set up for petroleum oils. Thinking that the Petroleum institute would be happy to approve oils that were non-petroleum would be a stretch. API is the American Petroleum Institute and not geared to satisfy products not made from petroleum. When you start racing in karting you are rarely using petroleum based oils. When are racing F1 similar. So if you trust the company like Amsoil then the API cert isn't a huge deal. The amount of non petroleum can run the cost up for the oil but rarely is the oil maker using higher quality base oils just to charge more, they do it for a customer need. When you have a $100,000 truck or a $600,000 lambo, or a 777E saving $25 a quart on oil is an interesting choice, at that level they car less about getting API cert, the $100 saving and care more about protecting their asset.