Best 5W-40 synthetic?

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Elf Excellium LDX 5w-40, Lubromoly 5W-40, and Valvoline Synpower 5W-40 deserve to be on the list too.

In an experiment I did about a year ago, I subjected Amsoil 5W-40 to some nasty high temperatures alongside M1 0W-40 and Valvoline Synpower 5W-40. Amsoil took the abuse with little drama (change in color, viscosity, and volume) while the latter two turned into what looked like Coke syrup and they were visibly evaporating at a higher rate than Amsoil. Measuring the volume of oil remaining of all 3 afterward showed the same trend. I'd like to get a hold of some more 5W-40 (or 0W-40)oils in the future to do more testing.
 
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How about M1 0W40?

M1 0w-40 is a F-WINO oil. 40 weight in name only
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I suppose the boutique 5w-40's have their advantages ..probably in one aspect or another. I doubt any of them have the endurance of D1/TSUV ..and can never compete with it in terms of cost/benefit ..unless you're talking about some oil designed for a 100 mile life span @ 7-9000 rpm where some other oil will result in expensive damage.
 
Pablo,

How far below your original list would you put the BC 5w40?

I've often wondered whether BC is a group III or IV and how it stacks up against the other 5w40's.
 
BC 5W-40 meets 502 00 approval with a unique formulation of group 3,4,5 oils and an additive package that is high in Mg - 1000 ppm. I believe this is the preferred oil for many Audi/VW engines with low-tension rings that can't scrap Mobil 1, GC, and other "real" synthetic oils off their cylinder walls. As the BC label says, "Offers full synthetic _performance_, engineered specifically to meet VW engine warranty requirements...unique and proprietary formula...reducing harmful deposit formation." The GC label says something different - "European formula engineered to meet MB 229.5 specification", although it too is 502 00 approved.

This point aside, the thinner GC is probably the better choice if oil consumption is not an issue, and if the UOA looks good.
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BTW, I experience less oil consumption with BC and RTS than with GC and T&SUV in my Audi 12V V6.


BC PDS

[ December 07, 2005, 09:00 PM: Message edited by: G Peen Jr ]
 
Thanks for all of the replies, I guess each oil has its good points and bad points. For some reason, I have been looking at Ester based oils instead of PAO oils and seeing alittle difference.
 
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I believe this is the preferred oil for many Audi/VW engines with low-tension rings that can't scrap Mobil 1, GC, and other "real" synthetic oils off their cylinder walls.

G Peen Jr, we all may believe as we please.
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Why do some engines with low-tension rings tend to show increased consumption? Maybe the oil is not supposed to be totally scraped off the cylinder walls! The 12v engine, for example, has a fairly aggressive cylinder wall finish with lots of "tooth." Recently, a 12v owner who tore own his engine, commented how the crosshatch cylinder wall finish was still there after 150k miles. Super-low oil consumption may be detrimental to super-low mechanical wear.

I "believe" that any engine with low tension rings that shows increased consumption, will benefit, at least in terms of low oil consumption, if that's the ne plus ultra, which it should not be in my opinion, from using a Group III or lower oil, as those "lesser" oils tend to slip less by the rings than Group IV and V oils. Sorry for the run-on sentence.

Delo 400 15W-40 (Group II+, I believe) reduced oil consumtion in my 12v to nearly zero.
For the fist 70-90k miles with Syntec 5W-40, oil comsumption was less than 1/3 qt per 10k miles! I believe that most oil consumption in my 12v can be attributed to worn valve shaft seals (used to puff a bit blue smoke 50k miles ago, but stopped doing it -- now at 143k miles, puff-free) and driving style (high RPM and lots of engine braking/high vaccum). I have no issues with this type engine needing up to 0.5 qt/1k miles.

[ December 08, 2005, 07:04 AM: Message edited by: moribundman ]
 
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quote:

I believe this is the preferred oil for many Audi/VW engines with low-tension rings that can't scrap Mobil 1, GC, and other "real" synthetic oils off their cylinder walls.

G Peen Jr, we all may believe as we please.
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Mori, I would agree!
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Why do some engines with low-tension rings tend to show increased consumption? Maybe the oil is not supposed to be totally scraped off the cylinder walls! .... [old repeated material deleted]

Mori, _I believe_ even you would agree that it would be better to reduce oil consumption from 1qt/1000 miles to 1 qt/2000 miles or less. I never said that consumption should be zero.
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Please read more carefully.

Similar discussion


As with other discussions in the past, you can not see past the letter of what you repost from other sources (remember some of your comments about VW specs and HTHS a year or so ago?). Nor do I want to go into my background or sources. Let's end this discussion.
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Funny, you should accuse me of reposting mindlessly what I've read somewhere. I'm usually the one who keeps pointing out that just because something's been said somehwere it's not necessarily or even likely true. In this context it's very funny that YOU are quoting the advertising copy from a Castrol bottle!
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You allude to us discussing similar topics last year? I don't even remember your forum name -- unless you are the one fellow who keeps changing his name after niggling on my posts for awhile. If that's you, then I wonder what your real intent is? You'll have to change your name again!
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You don't want to back up your theories? Are you above having to back up your claims? You decide to end an "discussion" when there wasn't even a real discussion?
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You keep telling me to read more carefully. Don't you understand that my replies are merely comments regarding to what you've said? You can't shut me up.
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