Originally Posted By: alarmguy
Originally Posted By: jmsjags
Here's a good video on the differences:
https://youtu.be/tYkg0oDUXs8
This video is all wrong and I am surprised Pennzoil sponsored it?
Yes, in general the theory/outcome MAY be the same .. but very inaccurate.
1. The W rating in oil, such as 5w does NOT mean "weight" It means winter rating and would be different from a 5 oil without the w which is rated at the standard Hot viscosity rating. The winter rating is rated on pumpabilty at below freezing temperatures.
" The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has established a numerical code system for grading motor oils according to their viscosity characteristics. SAE viscosity gradings include the following, from low to high viscosity: 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 or 60. The numbers 0, 5, 10, 15 and 25 are suffixed with the letter W, designating they are "winter" (not "weight") or cold-start viscosity, at lower temperature. The number 20 comes with or without a W, depending on whether it is being used to denote a cold or hot viscosity grade. The document SAE J300 defines the viscometrics related to these grades."
Source =
Click here
2. I do agree synthetic will pour better at VERY low temperatures. But, even two different brands of synthetic oils can pour differently and still meet the 5w or 0W spec.
Same goes for Conventional and quite honestly ONCE AGAIN, why didnt the maker of this video use the SAME viscosity conventional oil as the synthetic to begin with?
I see this all the time when people try to prove a point with these videos.
Why not the same brands and same WEIGHT oils of conventional and synthetic compared?
This stuff drives me NuTs ...
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There is more to it, just this evenings thoughts.
But a 5w30 oil in conventional OR synthetic has to meet the SAME API ratings to be certified.
THE "w" winter rating has to have the same MAX pumping ability whether syn or conventional.
With that said the word "MAX" is the key, I would expect the synthetics to be lower then a conventional "MAX" ceiling to be classified as a 5w/* oil.
Source =
Here is the API chart
My personal feelings are without question if I was to always be driving in lower then sub 32 degree weather my choice would be a synthetic.
With that said for normal above 32 weather to 100 degree weather no one can prove to me my engine would be better off using synthetic vs conventional when it comes to ACTUAL engine wear.
Some of the stuff that is cooked/removed out of hydro-cracked oil (which then becomes the name FULLY SYNTHETIC, even though its oil) actually is a benefit of conventional oil when it comes to wear.
Anyway, using the proper grade oil, synthetic or conventional, recommended by the owners manual has no documented proof one is better then the other when it comes to how long an engine will last, again, when following the owners manual.
Oh and when it comes to shearing? He couldnt be more off base, maybe ok for a TRUE synthetics but one just needs to look at the UOAs in this forum to see if what he says holds water. After all most Fully Synthetic oils the common person uses which just guessing must be 80% or more of what is on the store shelves is simply group 3 oil .
Modernity: faith in progress and suspicion/rejection of tradition
Good rant. I doubt engine oil manufacturers are that altruistic that their premium oils far exceed the specifications of their conventional counterparts. To me it's all about horses for courses.
