Best 0W-20 Full Synthetic Oil?

[rstsco]

..,,,you're overthinking this IMO.

BITOG would have fewer members were it not in the nature of most of us here.

I'm putting Mobil 1 Truck and SUV into one of my daughter's cars and the other is getting Valvoline Restore and Protect. IMHO, they are interchangeable in my application. Both engines are starting pretty clean, as is yours. Both are highly rated, but we hear more about Valvoline Restore and Protect lately. My car... it gets HPL Premium Plus PCMO (not that you asked).

Hopefully the OP reads and assimilates this.

Gospel truth!

 

[Astro14]

Please ban BEST OIL THREADS ALREADY!

@wwillson
@dnewton3
@Astro14
@JHZR2
@MolaKule
@Patman
@Sam_Julier

Then we would have to ban threads like this one: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/best-decaf-whole-bean-coffee.406239/

Wouldn’t we?

 

[kschachn]

Then we would have to ban threads like this one: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/best-decaf-whole-bean-coffee.406239/

Wouldn’t we?

No, there is the aspect of the absolute numbers and whether there is value to the objective opinions in the thread. I think “what’s the best decaf coffee” is quite a bit different compared to the endless “what’s the best 0W-20 oil”. Especially since the latter almost certainly will devolve into another endless thick-vs-thin rant argument. Besides, @Pablo doesn’t troll the board with topic selection unlike most of the what’s the best oil thread starters. Doing a search of both will certainly show a vast disparity in the number of existing threads.

 

[Astro14]

No, there is the aspect of the absolute numbers and whether there is value to the objective opinions in the thread. I think “what’s the best decaf coffee” is quite a bit different compared to the endless “what’s the best 0W-20 oil”. Especially since the latter almost certainly will devolve into another endless thick-vs-thin rant argument. Besides, @Pablo doesn’t troll the board with topic selection unlike most of the what’s the best oil thread starters. Doing a search of both will certainly show a vast disparity in the number of existing threads.

I was joking.

In all seriousness, I, too, am tired of the “best oil” threads as well - but it is a common starting point for new members, who tend to be uninformed.

If we ban such threads, we lose the opportunity to educate those folks.

So, while I am tired of the “best oil” threads, because it is tiring to keep re-plowing the same ground, particularly when starting with the same flawed thinking, I believe we should allow them, and walk folks through why there is no “best”.

 

[Pablo]

I was joking.

In all seriousness, I, too, am tired of the “best oil” threads as well - but it is a common starting point for new members, who tend to be uninformed.

If we ban such threads, we lose the opportunity to educate those folks.

So, while I am tired of the “best oil” threads, because it is tiring to keep re-plowing the same ground, particularly when starting with the same flawed thinking, I believe we should allow them, and walk folks through why there is no “best”.

It was working for Tony. OP has been here 4 years. I've seen it from 10+ year members.

BUT ok - how about a "strongly worded disclaimer"

Then we would have to ban threads like this one: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/best-decaf-whole-bean-coffee.406239/

Wouldn’t we?

Exactly why I got away with it. See what I did there? I could have worded it differently, sure.

BUT IT IS: Suggestions for MY SITUATION. My blend (homemade half caf). My brew type espresso.

 

[Zee09]

It was working for Tony. OP has been here 4 years. I've seen it from 10+ year members.

BUT ok - how about a "strongly worded disclaimer"


Exactly why I got away with it. See what I did there? I could have worded it differently, sure.

BUT IT IS: Suggestions for MY SITUATION. My blend (homemade half caf). My brew type espresso.

If you let it be known the best oil is always the cheapest oil you won't have to educate every newbie...

 

[kschachn]

On the other hand, as @dnewton3 has noted above there’s really no technical reason to allow these threads to continue. Unless opinions of “made it feel like it was in sport mode”, “stopped the clapping”, “made the handling more responsive”, “ran so noisy even my deaf father noticed”, “the oil is highly rated”, “it’s only for European engines”, “you’ll shear off the electronic oil pump drive gear”, or “it gives me the warm and fuzzies”. Or a hundred other silly responses, all in addition to what David noted as flawed pseudo- technical evidence such as a singular break-in spectrographic analysis.

 

[mojoe]

It's a perfectly normal, reasonable question for someone who is not a regular here, and is really just looking for advice and recommendations. Having said that, as has been pointed out, there is no definitive correct answer, and I think Japanese pretty much nailed it with the options they gave.

In America you have plenty of choices. My choice would be any of these, in no particular order:

Mobil 1 ESP x2 0W-20
Valvoline Valvoline Restore and Protect 0W-20
Castrol Extended Performance 0W-20 (gold jug)
Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0W-20

If you want top of the line: HPL or Amsoil.

I think if you stick with recommended OCI per warranty, any of those should deliver excellent results, and a good night's sleep for you.

 

[Pablo]

It's a perfectly normal, reasonable question for someone who is not a regular here, and is really just looking for advice and recommendations. Having said that, as has been pointed out, there is no definitive correct answer, and I think Japanese pretty much nailed it with the options they gave.

I think if you stick with recommended OCI per warranty, any of those should deliver excellent results, and a good night's sleep for you.

I get what you are saying of course and no problem.............but I think using thread title as he did - well just look at the thread title.

 

[Astro14]

On the other hand, as @dnewton3 has noted above there’s really no technical reason to allow these threads to continue. Unless opinions of “made it feel like it was in sport mode”, “stopped the clapping”, “made the handling more responsive”, “ran so noisy even my deaf father noticed”, “the oil is highly rated”, “it’s only for European engines”, “you’ll shear off the electronic oil pump drive gear”, or “it gives me the warm and fuzzies”. Or a hundred other silly responses, all in addition to what David noted as flawed pseudo- technical evidence such as a singular break-in spectrographic analysis.

Oh, I agree that there is no shortage of specious, foolish, unsubstantiated claims - it’s emotion, not logic, driving many of the perceptions about oil.

But we moderate behaviour, not content. If we deleted every foolish post, or every post that we knew to be technically inaccurate, what would we have left? How would we distinguish that type of moderation from suppression of opinion? Suppression of debate? I , personally, would rather that foolish claims be peer-reviewed. I think peer review to be more effective than simple moderation.

How about this - what if we made @dnewton3 post above a sticky? Then we could simply link to the sticky in response to the “best oil” noob questions?

 

[fdcg27]

The problem I have with these threads is that it's a dimensionless question.
What constitutes "best"?
Lowest wear? Probably not any measurable difference between oils of any given grade meeting the same specs.
Engine cleanliness? Here again probably not much difference and more a matter of drain intervals and engine design.
Fuel economy? Probably only marginally different within a grade of oils meeting the same specs. Lowest HTHS and highest moly might make some small and immeasurable if real difference, possibly at the expense of equally immeasurable increased wear.
Unless we can define "best" this is a question that cannot be answered and so replies typically consist of members recommending their current favorite oil.
Can we get lowest wear, cleanest engine and best fuel economy all in one oil?
Probably not, but even of we could we don't have the data to define any choice.

 

[tblt44]

Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0w20 and penzoil ultra platinum 0w20 come in at 8.8 viscosity. To the higher side of most 0w20 oils.
I believe penzoil holds up longer from all the u.o.a. I looked at
I take that back mobile site showing 8.3 there 5w20 is 8.8. I think this has changed recently. If I remember 0w20 was 8.8.

 

[mojoe]

I get what you are saying of course and no problem.............but I think using thread title as he did - well just look at the thread title.

To you and others who have been here for years and have made and seen thousands of posts, I understand why these trigger a facepalm. I'm not saying you are right or wrong; I'm just pointing out that a person who doesn't spend a lot of time here can't understand it the same way and shouldn't be expected to have the same perspective. And look, they are just coming here looking for advice, even if the wording of their question aggravates the BITOG veterans. They don't deserve criticism for that, much less a high-handed dressing-down (as some have done).

 

[MolaKule]

If people titled their post as following:

"WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE ENGINE OIL FOR MY XYZ VEHICLE with the ABC engine?"

I think that other members would be more than willing to help.

 

[TomYoung]

Best will be different for every user. Try them all and then choose which you prefer. On the shelf I like Mobil 1 ESPX2 0W-20, Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0w-20, Valvoline Restore and Protect 0w-20, Castrol Edge gold jug 0w-20, and Mobil 1 Extended Performance. Boutique I like Amsoil Signature Series and HPL Supercar 0w-20. Then you have French Motul, Japanese Idemitsu and Eneos, and German Ravenol and Liqui Moly. I forgot about Redline too. And then the value priced oils like Supertech, Kirkland, and Castrol GTX. 5w-20 is also another option if you are hesitant to use a thicker 0w-30 or 0w- 40 oil.

Here’s a bunch of brands is not really responsive to the question. If the point is that it doesn’t really matter, point taken.

 

[dnewton3]

I, for one, see absolutely nothing wrong with using super-thin lubes in today's engines. After all, the OEMs say it's OK.
So why not use the "best decaf whole bean coffee" in your new 5.3L engine? I mean, if it's "the best", right ???


Oh ... Wait ... Never mind ...


P.S. Who makes the best coffee filters now? 'Cuz I know it can't be M/H or Fram ... It's too hard to get the coffee past the ADBV ...

 

[facility1]

Really in a sense ,the best brand of engine oil is the one you personally believe in, weather its brand loyalty or ,results of SDS like, Blackstone labs etc ,PDS .Marketing convincing & amount of excessive licenses and approvals weather needed or not, or self-researching, Pricing, claimed MPG improvement,, reputation of the brand, the U-tube videos or just plain old what you or they think is best, or even crowd following, there is a lot of good information on this site and the previous mentions, the trick is to use your gut feelings too. there really is no BEST brand, just only to you. most of not all are very decent products

 

[Oliveoil2]

For that ride Super Tech 10k miles synthetic at $17.97 is all that’s needed.

 

[McRightclick]

it's for European applications, states this on the container, call and ask Mobil tech line, they will refer you to other products they sell that are compliant to for example dexos gen 3. or whatever the vehicle specs are needed. Mobil AFE is a good choice if you want Mobil 1 oils.

Why would the Euro approvals make it perform worse in America?

 

[CleanSump]

I don't usually bother to read these threads after the initial curiosity of what the person drives.
In another forum unrelated to automobiles, there is a bot that greets all first time posters and points them to the stickies/FAQ list.
Let's face it, newbies rarely read the stickies and just post after finding BITOG on a web search.
Perhaps the Powers that Be could write a response to the "What's the best oil for xxxxx" with an auto-response referring the poster to search or directions as to how to post something along the lines of "recommend an oil for x" or "what would you recommend to an alien with their fist earthmobile?" post. Then autolock.

Or, just a bot that redirects the poster to Reddit.