Dual Rated SN & GF-5 Oils Better ?

[ChrisD46]

If a oil now has a dual rating of SN plus GF-5 does it make for a better oil ? If so why in your opinion ? I was prompted to ask due to new formulation of M1 0W30 oils now being advertised as being reformulated to meet SN plus GF-5 ratings ...

 

[sciphi]

It's likely "better" if your car needs either one of those two specifications. Otherwise, on an older car that ran just fine on SM/GF-4, it's nice and not necessary.

 

[A_Harman]

No. SN is identical to GF-5.

 

[newtoncd8]

Originally Posted By: A_Harman

No. SN is identical to GF-5.

I don't know the answer, but there must be some differences between SN and GF-5. For example, in our RX, I run the Pennzoil HM 5W30. According to Pennzoil, all Pennzoil® motor oils, conventional or synthetic, will be reformulated to exceed the new ILSAC GF-5 / API SN specification (except Pennzoil High Mileage Vehicle, which will be API SN only).

 

[robertcope]

http://www.gf-5.com/uploads/File/API%20SN%20Discussion.pdf "API SN, when licensed with Resource Conserving, is equivalent to ILSAC GF-5." But you can have API SN without RC: "API SN with Resource Conserving is equivalent to ILSAC GF-5. In contrast, API SN does NOT require * Sequence VID Fuel Economy * Sequence IIIGB Phosphorous Retention * TEOST 33C * Emulsion Retention" robert