Consensus on Mobil Delvac 1

[Kennedy01]

I've seen this oil in 5w40 for sale at Walmart for about $22/gallon. It's the ESP. I don't consider it to be too expensive at that price. I'd be running it in a 5.3 Vortec for one year intervals, probably 6-7k miles.

I've been using Swepco 306 in 15w40. I really like it, but I've had it analyzed 3 times (VOA) and each sample has shown differences that, in my opinion, are beyond the margin of error. Still, I'm not totally put off by that as I've had good service from it.

Really just exploring alternatives. Thank you.

 

[CleverUserName]

It’s alright. The newest version of ESP doesn’t have any group IV or V base oils anymore, it’s a shadow of its former self and not a premium product IMO.

I have a stash of the CJ-4 and early CK-4 formulations, after it’s used up I would buy something else.

 

[Bighorn2500]

That price is on par with its competitors, 5w40 T6 and VPBE. Usually with $2-$3 difference near me. It’s good oil, I’ve ran it and did a UOA years ago in my Cummins. Its just not on the Ford approved list for 6.7L Powerstrokes as the Phosphorus is lower than Ford requires.

Best when on Mobil’s rebate, the farm and fleet type stores near me sell the five gallon pails of it for $129.99 That’s when I grab some typically with $40 rebate on top.

You just missed the 2024 fall rebate by just a little over two weeks, September 1 through October 31.

 

[JavierH19]

It's good stuff but I'd probably just get QS euro 5w-40 given that it's the same price if not less since esp 5w-40 shows as $26 online for me but you get an extra quart with pcmo jugs. It's popular stuff since it's always sold out in stores but I order online. It's also a gas/diesel oil given that it's rated for both applications through its euro approvals but not by an api diesel rating though our engines are gas. I use qs 5w-40 in my 2021's 6.2 and whatever 15w-40 I find on sale in my old 5.3 and 6.0.

 

[Kennedy01]

It's good stuff but I'd probably just get QS euro 5w-40 given that it's the same price if not less since esp 5w-40 shows as $26 online for me but you get an extra quart with pcmo jugs. It's popular stuff since it's always sold out in stores but I order online. It's also a gas/diesel oil given that it's rated for both applications through its euro approvals but not by an api diesel rating though our engines are gas. I use qs 5w-40 in my 2021's 6.2 and whatever 15w-40 I find on sale in my old 5.3 and 6.0.

I just looked at a VOA of the QS 5w40, looks pretty good although I personally would like a little higher Zddp...kv100 is about the same as the Swepco 15w40 I'm currently using.

 

[JavierH19]

I just looked at a VOA of the QS 5w40, looks pretty good although I personally would like a little higher Zddp...kv100 is about the same as the Swepco 15w40 I'm currently using.

If you don't need it to crank in temps lower than 5f I'd get delvac extreme 15w-40. I've started my engines at 20f with it and they started fine. I remember seeing delvac extreme be 1300 zinc and 1200 phos though the 1000/1000 most euro oils have is still plenty for a hydraulic roller gas engine but having more never hurts.

 

[JavierH19]

Found the screenshot of it

 

[addyguy]

The late Gary Allen referred to this once as the ‘800-lb gorilla of oils’…always think of that when I hear about this oil!
Pre emission concerns, this oil was a lot more stout and had more metallic additives in it, as did most HD oils.

 

[Plumb Bob]

The "Consensus" usually is printed on the back label. ExxonMobil always does it.

 

[53' Stude]

I've seen this oil in 5w40 for sale at Walmart for about $22/gallon. It's the ESP. I don't consider it to be too expensive at that price. I'd be running it in a 5.3 Vortec for one year intervals, probably 6-7k miles.

I've been using Swepco 306 in 15w40. I really like it, but I've had it analyzed 3 times (VOA) and each sample has shown differences that, in my opinion, are beyond the margin of error. Still, I'm not totally put off by that as I've had good service from it.

Really just exploring alternatives. Thank you.

I use it in my focus with zero issues. I don’t care if it’s not good as it used to be. It works.

 

[burbguy82]

I have come to understand that A VOA is good for some things but not for depicting oil characteristics, in relation to how YOUR engine will wear, under the conditions YOU put it in. The UOA is good to see how YOUR ENGINE is reacting to the oil. You can use 5 different oils in 5 different applications and one of them will be the best, with little or no correlation to a VOA and what it can show.

Long story short, a VOA is not a predictor of a result, it is a baseline to compare you UOA to.

 

[Kennedy01]

I have come to understand that A VOA is good for some things but not for depicting oil characteristics, in relation to how YOUR engine will wear, under the conditions YOU put it in. The UOA is good to see how YOUR ENGINE is reacting to the oil. You can use 5 different oils in 5 different applications and one of them will be the best, with little or no correlation to a VOA and what it can show.

Long story short, a VOA is not a predictor of a result, it is a baseline to compare you UOA to.

Lake Speed Jr tends to agree. I spoke with him regarding the Swepco sample I sent to Speed Diagnostix, and regarding the low KV100 value he was not concerned. He said the same thing you just did.

This sample showed a 12.7, then retested at 12.63, compared to two other samples testing at 13.7 and 13.9 respectively, albeit at different labs. Additive concentration was excellent.

 

[burbguy82]

Lake Speed Jr tends to agree. I spoke with him regarding the Swepco sample I sent to Speed Diagnostix, and regarding the low KV100 value he was not concerned. He said the same thing you just did.

This sample showed a 12.7, then retested at 12.63, compared to two other samples testing at 13.7 and 13.9 respectively, albeit at different labs. Additive concentration was excellent.

I am not a scientist, but it seems like there is much more to the oil than what you can see in a Spectrographic machine, like @kschachn has said countless times. I have started to understand that in my limited mental capacity.

It also seems like everything is a factor. Fuel, usage of engine, engine materials, etc.

I have watched a bunch of LSJR videos ,and although much of it is based for publicity, there is some good info in there. Especially where he shows where all the base oil comes from. Very eye opening.

A bunch of money is wasted on speculation.

Long range shooting is very much the same principles as it pertains to results. I should have made the connection a long time ago.

 

[Kennedy01]

I am not a scientist, but it seems like there is much more to the oil than what you can see in a Spectrographic machine, like @kschachn has said countless times. I have started to understand that in my limited mental capacity.

It also seems like everything is a factor. Fuel, usage of engine, engine materials, etc.

I have watched a bunch of LSJR videos ,and although much of it is based for publicity, there is some good info in there. Especially where he shows where all the base oil comes from. Very eye opening.

A bunch of money is wasted on speculation.

Long range shooting is very much the same principles as it pertains to results. I should have made the connection a long time ago.

Yeah, that's very true, and the real world service will far outweigh the lab analysis. I've had excellent service out of the oil I'm currently using and I don't really have a reason to change. Still, it's nice to explore options and see what's out there.

 

[Kennedy01]

Found the screenshot of it

View attachment 250078

I went to Walmart to look for QS Euro, no sopus euros period. I did almost snag a 2.5 gallon container of Delvac Extreme... almost

 

[burbguy82]

Yeah, that's very true, and the real world service will far outweigh the lab analysis. I've had excellent service out of the oil I'm currently using and I don't really have a reason to change. Still, it's nice to explore options and see what's out there.

recently, i bought an older truck and plan to do some " oil tests" to see whicch the engine likes better. FIRST ON THE LIST WAS delvac1300, then i am going to try supertech 15w40 full syn

 

[JavierH19]

I went to Walmart to look for QS Euro, no sopus euros period. I did almost snag a 2.5 gallon container of Delvac Extreme... almost

I've been ordering online since it's free with $35+ and it always ships the next day. I can still see the tag for it at my store but it's usually empty or there's only 1 jug rarely 2 and they're sometimes on the top most shelf so I have to check. m1 0w-40 is always sold out, can't remember the last time I saw it on my stores shelves.

 

[Kennedy01]

I've been ordering online since it's free with $35+ and it always ships the next day. I can still see the tag for it at my store but it's usually empty or there's only 1 jug rarely 2 and they're sometimes on the top most shelf so I have to check. m1 0w-40 is always sold out, can't remember the last time I saw it on my stores shelves.

My local store doesn't even have a place for the Pennzoil or QS Euro oils, but they have plenty of Castrol euro and Mobil 1 Euro. Also had plenty of Delvac Extreme in gallons, 2.5 gallons, and 5 gallon buckets.

 

[Kennedy01]

recently, i bought an older truck and plan to do some " oil tests" to see whicch the engine likes better. FIRST ON THE LIST WAS delvac1300, then i am going to try supertech 15w40 full syn

The Super Tech synthetic 15w40 looks good on paper. $15.84/gallon locally. The truth is pretty much any hdeo is more than adequate for just about anything....but this forum wouldn't exist if we just accepted that

 

[burbguy82]

The Super Tech synthetic 15w40 looks good on paper. $15.84/gallon locally. The truth is pretty much any hdeo is more than adequate for just about anything....but this forum wouldn't exist if we just accepted that

Some of the newer products like Mobil Delvac are low in Zinc, making them allegedly unsuitable for classic cars. Delvac 1300 Syn blend is CK-4|SP rated. Even in 15w40.

VR1 has been reformulated to include classic cars, and exceeds SL service rating. In other words it is a street oil now, aswell as a racing oil.

ST does look good on paper, so it will be my second test.