Battle of the Budget Oils: Havoline Dino or TropArctic

[jeepman]

I couldn't find a similar thread via search, so I am asking for opinions on which you feel is best, Havoline dino or TropArctic Syn Blend and why?

I need a recommendation for a friend who thinks neither must be any good because of the low price. Thanks in advance for any feedback...

 

[JAYCEE]

Havoline.

The proof is in the UOAs. I like it also because it is available in every dollar store and Wal-mart in the country.

 

[twentynine]

My oil stash is full of Havoline and tropartic, either one will do a good job. The difference is so small it's hardly worth the time to think about.

 

[Mustang_Cougar]

The Connoco-Phillips oils are synthetic blends, Havoline isn't. Motorcraft, the sister of TropArctic, seems to be a great oil...and since no one has provided proof otherwise, it's assumed that all the Connoco-Phillips oils are of similar formulation. Therefore, search the UOA's for "Motorcraft" to at least get a starting point for how TropArctic performs.

That being said, Havoline seems to be the budget darling of late. I'd go with whichever is cheaper...but then, I'd probably skip both and get $.49 Shell or Chevron. Any modern, major produced oil will perform well with consistant, short-term OCI's.

 

[Blue99]

Your search feature experience will prove to be so much more rewarding, if you try using the correct mis-spelling of the term!

For whatever reason, the Phillips 66 brand has always been spelled TropArtic.

TropArtic Syn Blend Product Data Sheet

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Use either with impunity.

 

[beanoil]

quote:

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Originally posted by GROUCHO MARX:
Use either with impunity.

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Is that the new additive from Fram?
Seriously, either is very good. I am currently running the Kendall version of CP's offering, and fine it to be smooth, with instant oil pressure in the cold, and no consumption so far, 1000 miles into the run. The Hav is an excellent value in the 5 quart jugs at WM. Take your pick and drive.

 

[wavinwayne]

quote:

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Originally posted by jeepman:
....I am asking for opinions on which you feel is best, Havoline dino or TropArctic Syn Blend and why?

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Keep in mind that even though I have 3k posts on this site, I still don't claim to know jack about oil. With that in mind, here's how the mush in my my thick wooden skull ranks them:

If the T.A. is cheaper on a given day, it's the better oil.

If the Havoline is cheaper, I'd go with it.

 

[bighead]

LOL W2....that is an excellent way of thinking.

 

[bighead]

I'm running TA in the wife's Explorer right now. I had a 20 qt stash, enough for 4 5K OCI's, and I've noticed it runs pretty smooth. Although, I feel the 4.0L SOHC V6 is a good running engine anyway. I will eventually run some Havoline in it, once the TA is used up. I'm confident it will be equally smooth.

 

[mikemc]

I've been buying whichever is cheapest, currently TA at $1.48 qt. Both are very good oils and my UOA's with Havoline have been excellent.

 

[Black Thunder]

quote:

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Originally posted by Blue99:
Your search feature experience will prove to be so much more rewarding, if you try using the correct mis-spelling of the term!

For whatever reason, the Phillips 66 brand has always been spelled TropArtic.

TropArtic Syn Blend Product Data Sheet

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weird. for some reason i always pronounced and spelled it with the extra C in there.


strange that i never noticed the real way of its spelling

 

[hominid7]

According to the most recent spec sheets, the Conoco oils have a base number of 7.8 and an ash% of .9 across 5w20, 5w30, and 10w30. The Havoline oils differ somewhat with a base number of a whopping 8.5 for 5w20 and 7.6 for 5w30 and 10w30. For Havoline, ash seems to be consistent at .9 as well.

So, perhaps if you want to use a 5w20 go with Havoline and if you want to use a 5w30 or 10w30 go with Conoco. I'm betting the Havoline 5w20 with a base number of 8.5 is the cheapest oil available with such a high base #, making that particular oil a very good value.

Where i live and shop, TropArtic is cheapest, with Havoline and Motorcraft being the same price, so at least around here, price is really not a factor unless you can find something on sale.

If your final choice of oils comes down to these two, you just cant go wrong with either

 

[m2200b]

Drop some 15-40 delo into that Havoline 5-20 (or CS) and you have a higher TBN then any of the Conocos.

 

[Blue99]

quote:

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I'm betting the Havoline 5w20 with a base number of 8.5 is the cheapest oil available with such a high base #, making that particular oil a very good value.

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Keep in mind that in many cases, the level of additives reflects the quality of the oil basestocks.

Havoline 5W-20, at 8.5 TBN, may be the level of detergents/dispersants required for the GRP II+ base oil to pass the piston deposit requirements of the 100 hr @ 300F degrees Sequence IIIG test.

The ConocoPhillips family of 5W-20's are a blend of Grp II and Grp III and may require less TBN to achieve a passing score on the IIIG test.

5W-20's are heavy on the 4 cSt base oils which tend to have volatility & oxidation problems. So more additives are required vs. say a 10w30, which will have some 6cSt in the blend.

 

[ImaginThat]

^^^ Ya what he said

Just remember your comparing apple pie and apple cobbler, both are darn good. A group II+ oil Havoline to a group II(+ unknown for a fact) blended with a group III oil in T/A. Either one could provide advantages over the other dependant upon application and conditions. If I was going budget I can get 49 cent oil and have tried them, but I'm running 5w30 T/A in the wife's van, and MC 5w20 in my truck

 

[Ray H]

I, too, would like to know where I can get some o' this "Impunity" stuff. In the meantime I'll just hobble along with my stash of TropArctic 10w30.

The problem with comparing UOAs of Havoline with the ConocoPhillips brands is there're virtually no posted UOAs of the ConocoPhillips brands to speak of. The one I gleaned during a search (Kendall semi-syn SM 10w30 in a Jeep 4.0L) had been skewed with a supplement.

 

[Vilan]

quote:

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Originally posted by jeepman:
I need a recommendation for a friend who thinks neither must be any good because of the low price. Thanks in advance for any feedback...

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Havoline is about $4.50 a quart here in Canada, if that make your friend feel better since he can now use Havoline as an expensive oil.

 

[Ray H]

People who steadfastly maintain that price paid is directly correlated to quality cannot be swayed. Don't bother trying - especially if they have a big-screen HD TV now that the NBA playoffs and baseball season are here.

 

[GoldenRod]

Right now I'm trying decide between Havoline and Motorcraft for my next change. Such a gruelling decision to make.