Blends.

[hardcore302]

If I didn't have a Ford I would probably overlook blends all together, but I hear such great things on here about MotorCraft Blend and have happily used it in the past.

Seems like MC (and maybe one or two others) are the only blends that grab our attention.

What about the other major manufacturer's blends? Valvoline and Castrol, and the like, how are they? Why don't I hear about them much?

And, what are the benefits to a blend? I never really knew the answer. I know Castrol says it's for stop and go driving..

Thanks!

 

[renegade_987]

Valvoline- Durablend + Maxlife- both are blends, some people seem to like ML better because Durablend can be kind of $$$ but both work fine

Castrol- High Mileage blend, GTX blend, and Syntec blend. Only used regular GTX and it was fine and the blends I'm sure would be even better

Mobil Super HM- This is a blend even though some dont know it. Great oil for the price IMO, about the same or maybe even less than MC.

Pennzoil Gold- Never used so I cant tell you

MC is probably your best bet in terms of price and holding up. As for benefits, IDK, its better than conventional because it does have SOME synthetic in it, just not a whole lot. OCI's could be taken up to 10K I have seen, maybe longer. As for stop and go, never heard that one before but I would not rule it out.

 

[ChiTDI]

Very good blend - Schaeffer's 7000

 

[Merkava_4]

Blends give you the best bang for the buck - especially since they're only
a couple of dollars more per 5 quarts than regular conventional oil.

 

[mongo161]

IMO....most people make their own blends.

4 Quarts of Valvoline conventional and 2 Qts of SynPower/Car Quest/Nappa full Synthetics

4 Quarts of Pennzoil Conventional and 2 Qts of Pennzoil Platinum / Pennzoil Ultra Full synthetic

4 Quarts of Castrol GTX white Bottle and 2 Qts of Edge/Syntec

4 Quarts of Mobil Super conventional and 2 Qts of Mobil 1/Mobil Super Synthetic.

Synthetic Blends that you buy never state the actual amount of Synthetic Oil used in the blend.

By mixing your own blends, from same family of oils, you know that you have 33.33%, or more, of synthetic in the mix.

Even the High Mileage Oils never state how much synthetic is in the mix. Some say "with Synthetic" or "Blend" and then there are some that don't state if the oil is a blend or part synthetic.

Who knows how much Synthetic is actually in the Synthetic Blend or what are the legal requirements for calling it a Blend or with synthetic?

Blending your own mix takes the mystery out of the content of synthetic in your oil change......and in most cases....it is less $$$$ to blend your own mix.

 

[dwendt44]

A blend can have as little as 10% synthetic in it. Most brand names are likely around 20-25%.

Of course, they can move that percentage up or down depending on desired profit margins.
Around here, most 'blends' are close to synthetic prices anyway, so I just use the full synthetic stuff.

My 2¢

 

[mongo161]

So for some of my Synthetic Blends.....

I picked up a load of Gallon Jugs of Conventional in Pennzoil Conventional, Castrol GTX, Quaker State Conventional, Valvoline conventional, MaxLife and Castrol Tection Dino Diesel(15w-40) SL, SM at Kmart on clearance. All conventional PCMO was in 5,10w-30 and some in 10w-40.

I also picked up the synthetics on in Gallon Jugs at Kmart on clearance. Castrol Syntec, Castrol Edge Gold Jug, SM: Castrol Edge with Synthetic SM an SN: Mobil 1, SM: Valvoline SynPower, SM. All in 5,10w-30.

I plan to use these clearance oils in blends, within the same family of oils, for neighbors, family and friends for their OCI's.

Great deals are out there when you can find them.