Comparison of the majors

[RamFan]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Originally Posted By: johnachak
Funny that Pennzoil Conventional and Platinum Syn have the same pour point.



I noticed that before too. But so does VWB and Synpower.


I wonder if this has anything to do with conventionals today containing some synthetic bases.

 

[Coprolite]

Great Compilation.

For future proofing, you might want to add API and ILSAC (e.g. SN / GF-5) for each of the oils. If a new grade comes, it would be handy to know what is in your stash and what is on the shelf at the store. Some people want the SM version of an oil, but aren't very excited about the reformulation....

 

[fdcg27]

Really interesting.
Thanks for the nice work!

 

[RamFan]

Originally Posted By: Coprolite
Great Compilation.

For future proofing, you might want to add API and ILSAC (e.g. SN / GF-5) for each of the oils. If a new grade comes, it would be handy to know what is in your stash and what is on the shelf at the store. Some people want the SM version of an oil, but aren't very excited about the reformulation....


These are all SN/GF5. Some of the high mileage oils, I believe the M1, Defy, and Pennzoil are the only ones rated otherwise, SL.

 

[Thax]

Thank you for this write up , very useful.

 

[Mitch Alsup]

Originally Posted By: RamFan
Originally Posted By: Mitch Alsup
How is it that Redline can make a 5w30 oil with an HTHS of 3.8 and nobody else can come close?


I believe the amount of GRP IV & V base oils has a lot to do with it.


When I look at this (5-7 years ago) the ester based oils had the higher HTHS versus viscosity than the PAO based oils. So I wondered if this is the ester base or the extra density of the ester oils and the change in scale (cSt -> cP) showing up.

 

[Mitch Alsup]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Mitch Alsup
How is it that Redline can make a 5w30 oil with an HTHS of 3.8 and nobody else can come close?

Pennzoil Ultra Euro 5w30 has HT/HS of 3.7 cP. Is that close enough?

Amsoil European Car Formula 5w30 also has HT/HS of 3.7 cP.


I think most oil manufacturers could make a 5w30 oil with high HT/HS, but they choose not to because such oil would not be considered "energy conserving". Very few engine manufacturers require such high HT/HS.


Yes, 3.7 is probably close enough to 3.8.

Some us who have (essentially) racing engines in our cars (Ferraris) with a speced oil of 4.2 HTHS and are no longer going to run the living snot out of the car (285dF+ oil temps) might benefit from lower startup wear and fuel milage with oils that have as close to 4.2 cP as we can find from a thnner oil at startup (80cSt rather than 90cSt) and operating (10cSt rather than 14cSt).

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
I think most oil manufacturers could make a 5w30 oil with high HT/HS, but they choose not to because such oil would not be considered "energy conserving". Very few engine manufacturers require such high HT/HS.


Absolutely. There are ACEA A1/B1 - A5/B5 - ILSAC GF-5 oils, then there are ACEA A3/B3 - A3/B4 - SM or SN oils. If one wants to make a 5w30 that's approved by the average Japanese or North American maker still using 5w30, it's got to be one of the former.

 

[kneesahn]

Thanks for this.

 

[[RT] ProjUltraZ]

Thanks RamFan, have an oci coming up on 5w30 VWB and considering some maxlife which i did like in the past

 

[Hokiefyd]

Nice job.

What's with the low VIs for Pennzoil Ultra? I've never really got a "warm fuzzy" with this oil. It doesn't appear like the specs are better than lesser oils, and the only attribute that Pennzoil markets for this oil is something that's unverifiable in most cases (piston cleanliness).

I continue to question the usefulness of this product in their line. The only thing that really looks interesting about it is the slight bump in HT/HS viscosity if that's something you're looking for.

 

[RamFan]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Nice job.

What's with the low VIs for Pennzoil Ultra? I've never really got a "warm fuzzy" with this oil. It doesn't appear like the specs are better than lesser oils, and the only attribute that Pennzoil markets for this oil is something that's unverifiable in most cases (piston cleanliness).

I continue to question the usefulness of this product in their line. The only thing that really looks interesting about it is the slight bump in HT/HS viscosity if that's something you're looking for.

Yeah I'm not all too sure, on that same note you'd expect M1 EP to have a substantially higher VI and it doesn't when compared to other top tier oils. I'm beginning to come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter what oil you use for a daily driver, anything that meets your specs and requirements will do everything it needs to for the presecribed OCI. The debate between conventional and synthetic will live on though.