Custom homemade motor oil

[David]

quote:

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Originally posted by satterfi:
What's wrong with blending, mixing, formulating, or concocting your on motor oil ?

API certification? Who cares? Not me. Give me the good stuff.

When it's all said and done it won't be much different than people who brew their own beer. It will cost more but the guy had a bit of fun doing it. That's what makes life worth living.

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Well maybe not for you! But me,,, well I spend too much of my hard earn money in cars to play around with oil! I will NOT make my own oil

I would rather buy oil from a company with a proven track record ! Like my daddy always said, if it ain't broke don't fix it ... I have been using schaeffer for over 12 years and this works great for me! Why would I take that chance?? Schaeffer has been blending oil for many years and I for one don't have their experience to blend my own using just anything I find off the shelf in a walmart..
Terry I am sorry but when you make this homemade brew and test, test, test, test and spend the kind of money for all that testing by independant labs and have a proven track record for over 100 years, then I might look at it! But for now I want a company like I describe! sorry

 

[dragboat]

Well I have a Pet project that Terry is somewhat involved with in at least analyzing/ recommendations ect and knowing what I am after with this little car.
This is not for Terry or against others,it is just that this little Pet will get it's oil anaylized every change and probable adjustments will be made according to the results. So in my particular case, I would not be afraid of running anything Terry mixed up for my personal use but now will be hesitatant to post anything we do playing around with my oil in this particular car because if it works,,,he should be paid for his knowledge and posting the results will give his knowledge out for free. These analysis tests now and in the future are now officially owned by Terry Dyson. He can use his ownership rights in anyway he chooses

I sincerely hope I did not offend anyone by posting this,,but I see a positive side of taking his advice on this particular engine

 

[Terry]

Friends and Countrymen, Hey I just suggested an idea to see if it would be accepted or not.

I do not sell oil, only testing.

Kirt I feel comfortable enough on this site to say it the way I see it.

I'm not trying to step on anybodys turf oil sales wise.

At any rate my idea is not to sell oil but to design products specifically based on test results I've seen for my own customers. They would have to build it (and take full responsibility for the final product). I never will desire or have the capitol to set up an engine oil company. Besides it's a declining business.

I do have years of background studying the internal combustion engine and the liquids that lubricate them. I sit for hours listening to engineers and chemists banter around their theories and then test them in real engines in real time to see if the theories hold up. So over the years I've come up with some ideas nobody owns but me.

The technology exists to build your own lubricant from OTC materials if you know how much,and what type adds to use. I do it with race engines why not mom and pop.

If I ever do it it won't be in the near future.

Until then I'm just Terry the oil analysis guy.

 

[Ron]

Hi,
Well don't worry about ethics, most of our leaders don't bother with that either.Just get out the facts about motor oil(s).
I'd like to see a side-by-side graph like analysis of all the oils mentioned on this forum. All the numbers ethically compared to establish a
usable target to throw darts at for the next oil change!Thanks
Ron

 

[Eric]

Jeez, what a bunch of kill joys!! If Terry tells me how to mix a couple of quarts of home brew, I doubt Amesoil, Mobil, Purple whatever, et al will go broke. Heck, brother Bob could make a few bucks stocking the materials maybe. I can't imagine that Terry hasn't committed a lot of things to computer for instant camparison. We need to mine his brain pan.

 

[David]

quote:

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Originally posted by Eric:
Jeez, what a bunch of kill joys!! If Terry tells me how to mix a couple of quarts of home brew, I doubt Amesoil, Mobil, Purple whatever, et al will go broke. Heck, brother Bob could make a few bucks stocking the materials maybe. I can't imagine that Terry hasn't committed a lot of things to computer for instant camparison. We need to mine his brain pan.

---

Hey Eric your profile list Occupation: "Unknown"
does that mean "Kill Joys"

Eric, we have a lot of great people on this board and we are all learning from each others experiences and facts about "Lubrication" Like from Bob, Terry, Johnny, Stuart Hughes, Msparks,Al ,Bror Jace ,dragboat,
59Vetteman ,Spector just to name a few! We want good useful information that people may use, and maybe it might help someone. That's my goal!!

Sorry Terry, but just sounds to much like snakeoil talk.

Please try to understand what i am trying to say!!
I have the upmost respect for you and your work, ever since I started reading your post on the noria board

 

[con carne]

Bob and David,

The original question was how much you would pay for such a recipe. I am sure you are not telling Terry anything that he does not already know and I can't help thinking that you sound like a couple of close-minded parents.

"Nothing ventured nothing gained" is the saying and without this kind of thinking we would still be without alot of good things in this world - all the power to you Terry!

[ August 03, 2002, 10:16 PM: Message edited by: David ]

 

[David]

quote:

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Originally posted by con carne:
Bob and David,

The original question was how much you would pay for such a recipe. I am sure you are not telling Terry anything that he does not already know and I can't help thinking that you sound like a couple of close-minded parents.

"Nothing ventured nothing gained" is the saying and without this kind of thinking we would still be without alot of good things in this world - all the power to you Terry!

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OK Mr. con carne, I would pay $0.00 and I know Terry knows what he is talking about, but like I said I'am not going to be testing this in my $35,000 car !

And by the way, what is your Occupation besides being in the Military

[ August 03, 2002, 10:29 PM: Message edited by: David ]

 

[Terry]

I appreciate the input both congratulatory and "tread softly" ! If I decide to actually do it my oil analysis customers would be the first offered this service, mostly because I know their machines. Don't hold your breath though.

Con Carne with the fiscal situation in Argentina I bet you are blessed to have a military job ?

I miss visiting Buenos Aires and having the mustard sprayed on my shirt by the sweet little old lady and her "friends" !

Seriously I am very sorry for what the friendly people of Argentina are going through right now.

David you do not offend and I value your opinion.

I can't abide stupidity especially when I am the main suspect.

 

[David]

Yall got to be kinding

 

[jjbula]

quote:

---

Originally posted by David:

I will NOT make my own oil

I would rather buy oil from a company with a proven track record ! Like my daddy always said, if it ain't broke don't fix it ... I have been using schaeffer for over 12 years and this works great for me! Why would I take that chance?? Schaeffer has been blending oil for many years and I for one don't have their experience to blend my own using just anything I find off the shelf in a walmart..
Terry I am sorry but when you make this homemade brew and test, test, test, test and spend the kind of money for all that testing by independant labs and have a proven track record for over 100 years, then I might look at it! But for now I want a company like I describe! sorry

[/QB]

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David, David.....

Eric was talking about your comments above.
Maybe you got carried away discussing the merits of Schaeffer's wonderful product and the dangers of a homemade oil, but it is in a judgmental tone.

Don't be such a kill joy.

Next you'll be telling us to quit smelling oil.

 

[widman]

I'm with Bob. Been watching this thread, finally stepping in. I've studied the $4 million study they ran for the CH-4 oils. The variations in wear, carbon, sludge and consumption vary between certified additives when base oils are switched. There is too much variance for me to even think of mixing additives to an oil.
And the blending/mixing question is very valid. There is a local "blender" whose oils always have precipitated addives in the bottom of the container.

 

[Terry]

The Status Quo is ruffled by the thought of this aren't they ?

Remember I have been the die hard who has preached "fully formulated" motor oils and NOT using any additional additives.

Like the increasing quality of motor oils lately,additives effectiveness and compatibility are progressing to the point were a blending plant is just a mixing plant. Many "synthetic" oil companies do no more than that. All under the oversight of a chemist/tribilogist on retainer to approve of their latest variation on the product.

It's a matter of time when the organometallic adds are not as critical to the mix. Esters and base oils will take a more active role in the lubricant, including oils that can be hand mixed at less cost than the products we see today.

 

[jjbula]

First,

Bob, David, Widman--Thanks for your honest take on the subject.

I am still in awe at the brain trust on this forum, really!

The discussions are very informative.

I don't know if I would ever buy a 'specialty' oil, but I find the subject fascinating.

Terry--How much do you think it would cost to run the tests that we all like to review?

TBN, Noack, pumpability, pour point, viscosity

[ August 04, 2002, 07:50 PM: Message edited by: jjbula ]

 

[richard612]

I'd like to start with an off-the-shelf oil that's good at holding its viscosity in a combined-transmission motorcycle engine. One with no friction modifiers.

Then we'll get the Zinc/Phosphorus levels up around 1500ppm.

Now we have a good motorcycle oil.

Can you simply add ZDDP to a fully formulated oil, or is it more complicated than that?

 

[UncleS2]

As posted above, I'd happily risk a little $ on a home brew, OTS oil recipe. This'll make some folks cringe: In my old Volvo, engine was rebuilt @~170,000 miles, w/chrome rings, & they never really seated properly. I hit on an oil change cocktail that worked well for me. For 4 qts total: Valvoline Turbo Formula 20w50(now discontinued); ~2.5 oz STP 4-Cyl additive(using the dab of STP cut oil use by half, no foolin!); & final version, a 4-cyl can of Restore. Car ran very well on this for over 100K miles, when I sold it w/over 300K on it, it ran & drove great.

so, as you can see, for good or bad, I have long had an experimental approach to motor oil.

 

[Ugly3]

Terry - What you are describing is the boutique of boutique motor oils. My guess is that there will be a very small market for such a service. After all, it is easy to get 100,000 miles with a decent dino oil and reasonable change intervals.

Who is going to want the "custom" oil formulation? The 1/2 of 1 percent who want to get the very last drop of benefit they can from an oil.

While I agree that this is an intersting acedemic exercise I can't see a "market" here with enough volume to make it an ongoing viable business.

 

[C4Dave]

I think the value of such a service would be based on how much money it would save me. I currently use Motorcraft 5w20 in my Taurus at 5000 mile intervals. An oil and filter change costs me $10, and I do it about twice a year. I have no doubt that my engine will last well beyond the car, so a better oil would be of little benefit.

Convince me that you can save me money and you'll have a customer.

 

[TallPaul]

Terry, It seems the oils available today are pretty decent, but a lot of folks would feel better with a good additive like ZDDP and TBN boost, maybe moly, maybe some ester to give some "start up" cling.

What if you develop an additive that is very concentrated so we could boost antiwear on an SL oil to SH values with, say 1/2 oz per quart, and boost a new SM oil to SH values with say 1 oz? I might be into that.

Be cheaper than formulating an oil and easier to package, store, etc.

 

[MikeR]

There's a two-year gap in this thread.

Terry, where do you stand now with this interesting idea?

thx,
MR