Can you even buy a "bad" oil anymore? Even cheap syn is great!

[Glenda W.]

Approvals are approvals…

 

[kschachn]

Approvals are approvals…

Yes I'll substitute brands with the same approval.

But if "oil is oil" then should I substitute a house-brand API SP oil for one that has BMW Longlife-04 approval? Are those two the same?

 

[Chris142]

I keep seeing pictures of the original cross hatching on cylinder walls of engines that had their pistons pulled for other reasons. Before the days of synthetics, it was common for an engine to require the use of the “ridge reamer” to get pistons out of the engine. The cylinder walls were worn so much, it left a ridge at the top of the cylinder where the original cylinder diameter was. Using ridge readers was common all the way into the 1990’s on engines that were using conventional oil in the 70’s & 80’s. I wonder what UOA’s would have indicated back then.

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A lot of that wear came from out of tune carbureators dumping raw gas down the intake. As soon as GM went to fuel injection the 350 engines started lasting hundreds of 1000's of miles.

 

[We're Metals]

I disagree that most oils are good enough, especially engines with turbos.

The certifications on the bottles dont agree with this statement.

 

[userfriendly]

A lot of that wear came from out of tune carbureators dumping raw gas down the intake. As soon as GM went to fuel injection the 350 engines started lasting hundreds of 1000's of miles.

I’ll second that. Railway vans used for dead heading crews had SBCs operating on LPG that lasted a million miles, not kilometres on plain Jane 10w30.
I had several lpg fuelled cars and trucks. One 350 dropped a valve seat at around 200,000 miles and the cross hatch was still visible right up to the top ring turn around location.

 

[Glenda W.]

Yes I'll substitute brands with the same approval.

But if "oil is oil" then should I substitute a house-brand API SP oil for one that has BMW Longlife-04 approval? Are those two the same?

Sorry, I should have been more clear on my sarcasm.

 

[Glenda W.]

Approvals are approvals…

Insert sarcasm here.

 

[Nesterenko]

Poor value proposition.

If the boutique brands, especially long drain oils are used, there can be outstanding value without question.

 

[OilUzer]

I can’t take credit for it, someone started an oil is oil topic and for the most part it’s true. The rest is marketing 101.

There's a sucker born every minute! No?

Marketing 101 deals with "overselling" an idea.

 

[kschachn]

Sorry, I should have been more clear on my sarcasm.

No I knew it was. My comment wasn’t worded very well.

 

[BLND1]

It wasn't that long ago when "gas stations" had many different brands of oil, and they all were competitively priced. They would even check your oil, and add it for you.

Long enough.

The never ending march towards throwaway consumerism.

 

[wemay]

As long as the oil you choose has the appropriate seal, specifications or approvals of, API/ILSAC/ACEA or any of the various manufacturer approvals, it's going to be a good oil.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

T. A waste of money is to buy HPL and dump it after a few thousand miles. Makes me shake my head.

Makes me shake my head about my normal 3k OCIs and I'm still a month or two away from trying HPL in our Kia

But you know what? I will consider doing a 4k OCI with HPL. I'll sleep on it the rest of July.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Boutique oils have lousy price/performance, and overcharge for the fun of it!

I only found that opinion true with the Amsoil Euro 0w lineup. But that's my fault, since Amsoil website suggested I use Signature Series instead.

I'm not totally turned off by the brand. I'll purchase Signature Series in my future.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Approvals are approvals…

Many times we don't need Approval, when the money is coming out of our own pocket.
Sometimes the best medicine comes from right inside our own head....... especially older, much wiser heads.
Do I make mistakes now & then ?.... sure. But it's the Devil that made me do it...... literally!..... Or my wife..

 

[locomaster1969]

I don't get the rationale of buying SuperTech, when for the same money you can do better, like Mobil 1 better. And Mobil 1 uses higher quality ingredients compared to SuperTech.

Is it a known fact that the ingredients are of a higher quality?

 

[locomaster1969]

For most regular passenger cars being daily driven on public roads, the only thing you really need to worry about is selecting the correct viscosity and spec for your vehicle.
Keep the oil clean with whatever oil change interval achieves that for your climate and driving conditions and your engine will live a long and healthy life.

And check the oil level once in a while.

 

[Reloader59]

Boutique oils have lousy price/performance, and overcharge for the fun of it!

Overcharge for the fun of it? One of the most ridiculous statements I've ever heard.

 

[thetricky]

Good point! And this is assuming that the boutique oils can protect up to 2 or 3x longer OCIs. Big assumption for me to take that risk.

if you can't stomach long OCIs, best is using one of your favorite oils from local stores. And even among those, we talking +/-$5 per jug (5 qt.) difference. That's the price diff i see between for example ST and other fancier oils when on sale!

Too many unknown variables to stick with long OCIs. Fuel dilution, soot, viscosity retention, effectiveness or suspension capability after x many miles and much more ...

imho, the only good thing about long OCI is the environment but at least people are recycling these days, I hope.

There are no assumptions here though. Plenty of boutique oil uoa’s here to show that yes, they can go the distance across a decent spread of engine types.

 

[DirectRejection]

I made an informed presumption a long time ago that, given my driving conditions, ring cleanliness is my big issue.

That is where the heat is on.

That drove me to using VW 507 oils in vehicles calling for much less.