Conoco-Phillips Semi Synthetic 5W-20

[Silber Igel]

I took my '09 Camry Hybrid to the dealer

for its first oil change on my pre-paid, but free to me, service. They use Conoco-Phillips products and recommended the 'synthetic blend'. I opted for the 'blend' 5W-20 vs. the 'dino' 5w30 as a 'better choice." Being somewhat familiar with Phillips 66 aircraft oils I felt comfy with my choice.

After I got home, my I'net search revealed that C-P markets three brands: Conoco, Phillips 66 & Kendall that look to the same product. There's scanty information about their products. (Much like the new Texaco/Havoline products!)

I've tried Googling and BITOG searching on their product. Zip! NADA! Other than C-P's website with specification data indicating its "SM and ILSAC 4" (Lets hear a big Whoop for that info!!), I've not found any 'real world' information provided by BITOGers, or comparisons (other than an old study done by AMSOIL) on C-P's products.

OK!!!! NOW I'M NERVOUS!!!!!

I've been oiling up with Syntec 0-30, and lately Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0W-30, in the Sienna; and, Syntec 5w-40 & 5w30 in my old Turbo Beetle with excellent results.

Does anyone use this stuff???

Is using this product, which has uncertain provenance and track record, a big mistake???

Are they excellent, good, adequate, bad???

And, while on the topic.... Would using a quality 'dino' oil be just as good as a full synthetic in this application? Remember that the 2.4L gas motor in the hybrid is lightly loaded and probably runs less than 70% of the time and with 5K oil and filter changes its hardly going to be a stress on any oil you use.

Curiously, the OEM (5W-20) oil was a very thick viscous substance when cold/cool ... sticky and slippery .... Not like the CP blend which is pretty loose and watery.

Thanks!

Silber Igel

 

[tig1]

I beleive they also make Motorcraft semi synt. which is reported to be a good product here on BITOG.

 

[EagleFTE]

Agree with tig1, I see the C/P blended Motorcraft semi syn get very good reviews here quite often. I wouldn't shy away from it but I've never used the C/P.

 

[addyguy]

C-P makes EXCELLENT oils. Use them w/o worry. They have a really good website that sets out all their oils and specs:

http://www.conocophillipslubricants.com/

And yeah, for 5k changes, you can just as easily use a dino. BUT, if you can get the syn blend for the same price as a dino, why not go for that?

 

[bepperb]

Since you have to have relatively short OCI's to maintain warranty, I wouldn't use more than Dino. Then again the difference in cost may have been small.

The 2azfe you have is definitely good for longer, especially with the light load, but I wouldn't throw away the warranty on such a complex drivetrain.

 

[Frank D]

Don't know if the 2.4 motor in your 09 hybrid is the same motor as the 2.4 in my 07 non hybrid Camry but I have used Castrol GTX 5w-20 in it and have Motorcraft 5w-20 syn blend in there now. The 5w-20 oils are thin, even the Castrol stays thin even when cold but the thinnest easiest flowing 5w-20 I have used is the Havoline 5w-20. Conoco Philips makes the Motorcraft oil so I would think they are the same or at least very similar. I have an 02 Ford Windstar with 150,000 miles on it having used nothing but 5w-20 oils, mostly Havoline and Motorcraft. It doesn't burn any oil and despite the naysayers, the motor hasn't fallen out yet and the Windstar gets all the local driving too.

 

[Quest]

Originally Posted By: Silber Igel
I took my '09 Camry Hybrid to the dealer

for its first oil change on my pre-paid, but free to me, service. They use Conoco-Phillips products and recommended the 'synthetic blend'. I opted for the 'blend' 5W-20 vs. the 'dino' 5w30 as a 'better choice." Being somewhat familiar with Phillips 66 aircraft oils I felt comfy with my choice.

After I got home, my I'net search revealed that C-P markets three brands: Conoco, Phillips 66 & Kendall that look to the same product. There's scanty information about their products. (Much like the new Texaco/Havoline products!)

I've tried Googling and BITOG searching on their product. Zip! NADA! Other than C-P's website with specification data indicating its "SM and ILSAC 4" (Lets hear a big Whoop for that info!!), I've not found any 'real world' information provided by BITOGers, or comparisons (other than an old study done by AMSOIL) on C-P's products.

OK!!!! NOW I'M NERVOUS!!!!!

I've been oiling up with Syntec 0-30, and lately Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0W-30, in the Sienna; and, Syntec 5w-40 & 5w30 in my old Turbo Beetle with excellent results.

Does anyone use this stuff???

Is using this product, which has uncertain provenance and track record, a big mistake???

Are they excellent, good, adequate, bad???

And, while on the topic.... Would using a quality 'dino' oil be just as good as a full synthetic in this application? Remember that the 2.4L gas motor in the hybrid is lightly loaded and probably runs less than 70% of the time and with 5K oil and filter changes its hardly going to be a stress on any oil you use.

Curiously, the OEM (5W-20) oil was a very thick viscous substance when cold/cool ... sticky and slippery .... Not like the CP blend which is pretty loose and watery.

Thanks!

Silber Igel

First off, let me assure you that there's no "bad" motor oil on most Continental NA retail shelves, period. In other words: virtually all motor oil makers in NA that meets/exceeds API-SM/ILSAC GF-4 specifications are providing excellent products to consumers/dealerships alike.

Conoco-philips makes excellent motor oils, so does Exxon-Mobil, Chevron/Texaco/Harvoline, Ashland(Valvoline), BP (Castrol),SOPUS (Pennzoil, Quaker State, Formula Shell), etc.

Conoco-Philips also makes/supplies Motorcraft 5w20 oil that gets excellent UOA results too.

So bottomline: why on-earth are you so worried about your oil?

Also: in order to meet the most demanding current engine manufacturer's specifications (API SM/ILSAC GF-4), there's no such thing called conventional oil anymore but most off-the-shelf conventional motor oils, are, in fact, blends of at least Gp2 or better...It may even contain certain % of Gp3 or better in order to achieve the desired results imposed by manufacturers these days.....

So, I, for one, is strongly against the calling of modern formulated conventional motor oil as conventional oil....very demeaning indeed.

Lastly: plse be prepared to spend a tremendous amount of time to study and understand the technologies/terminologies behind modern multiviscosity motor oils for they are not the same kind of motor oil that you or your grandpa used some 20+yrs ago....

Technology has come along way and so does motor oils.

Q.

To calm your fear: I'm running Motorcraft semi-syn 5W20 in my 07 Honda Fit and per OLM, I only change the oil once a year. Most of the mileage covered are highways (70%) with the rest in the city(30%).

 

[Drew99GT]

These oils used to be the darling child here at BITOG. I've run the Trop Artic version for a few years when it was on sale for a buck a quart. They are excellent oils with very good specifications on the data sheets. Let me go drag some of the data sheets up.

 

[Drew99GT]

http://www.conocophillipslubricants.com/documents/phillips66/automotive_engine_oils/66_TA_Syn_MO.pdf

http://www.conocophillipslubricants.com/...20TDS%20Web.pdf

Whelp, they changed the formula, so the specs, mainly cold weather, are on par with any other SM/GF-4 oil. They used to be simply outstanding.

BUT, SM/GF-4 has leveled the playing field so much, that any oil you buy today is going to have good performance (like Quest said).

 

[glenncof]

I use the MC 5W20 blend which is most likely made by C-P. It also meets Ford's '930A spec. It's readily available (at least here) and inexpensive, Walmart has it $12.50/5qt.

My 2005 app runs 5K OCI per spec/warranty. In later MY Ford changed it to 7.5K miles. I believe 5K is conservative.

Over Xmas I bought 40 qt for $40 at AutoZone so I'll be using it for awhile.

I a read story about a Ford Crown Vic, using MC 5W20 in police application to 200K miles with good visual results on engine teardown (due to accident). Coupled with good UOA I am satisfied in can more than do the job.

 

[Mark888]

Originally Posted By: Quest
...there's no such thing called "conventional" oil anymore...

I am not sure the ever was conventional oil. If you use the phrase "conventional oil" in front of a geologist, they will roll their eyes. If you say it in front of three or more geologists, they will beat the [censored] out of you.

 

[Slick 55]

I would use Conoco Hydroclear in a heartbeat. Just not sold where I live (under the Conoco label).

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
These oils used to be the darling child here at BITOG. I've run the Trop Artic version for a few years when it was on sale for a buck a quart. They are excellent oils with very good specifications on the data sheets. Let me go drag some of the data sheets up.

Don't post on here much anymore..but I recall that several years ago (when these Conoco oils were one of the "darling children" ) the Conoco oils and MotorCraft were said to be semi syns. I believe that the new specs could meet the latest specs by improving the add-pack or going with a better base. Looks like though they now officially call it a semi-syn to get the bigger bucks for the product.

 

[Silber Igel]

OK!!! I'm backing away from the ledge!!!! Slowly!!!!

Thanks for all the information about the CP product and the several used oil analysis. I didn't believe the Toy store would put in an inferior product. On the other hand, not being able to have some knowledge about the product ... other than the spec sheets (and all oils have spec sheets!)... was pushing me to the brink.

I also agree that with the upgrade to "SM" and "GL-4" standards, the 'domestic' brands are now almost on par with those that are ACEA qualified. Also the fact that CP doesn't advertise that they meet MB, BMW, VW and other specs is worry some. Maybe they do... but probably they don't.

Agreed also, that the modern 'oils' ...read that as 'dino' oil.. meeting SM/GL-4 are probably almost as good as the synthetics for general applications. Especially those that are engineered for extended drain intervals or higher mileage engines.

 

[Silber Igel]

Originally Posted By: Frank D
Don't know if the 2.4 motor in your 09 hybrid is the same motor as the 2.4 in my 07 non hybrid Camry but I have used Castrol GTX 5w-20 in it and have Motorcraft 5w-20 syn blend in there now.


Frank,

Thanks... this is helpful information. The 2.4L hybrid engine is 'similar' to the 2.4L in the normal Camry. It is not an "Otto" cycle engine but rather and Atkinson cycle engine being modified to have a shorter compression cycle and a long expansion cycle. The result is less power & torque but greater efficiency due to decreased pumping losses and longer power stroke. The genius Toyo engineers delay the intake valve closing via the electronic valve timing set up common in Toyos to get the short compression stroke. Its very slick!!

You can Google Atkinson or Atkinson-Miller for more info.