Edge/Mobil 1

[BertWhitaker]

I'm just going to break down and ask this.

I'm totally confident in my decision to use Mobil 1 oil filters, mostly because of the results of testing clearly described by this guy on the net.

But, as pertains to oil, I have been using Mobil 1 full synthetic since I got my 07, but then I saw this stuff about Castrol Edge outperforming Mobil 1 synthetic by 8X. The deal is apparently that two identical engines were assembled after careful measurement of their camshafts (IVA test). Then they were both run under identical conditions, but one had Castrol Edge, while the other had Mobil 1 full synthetic. After the running, the camshafts were again measured. The Mobil 1 shaft had lost 0.090", while the Castrol Edge camshaft HAD ONLY LOST 0.010". I had always thought Mobil 1 full synthetic was the best thing to use, since Vettes and Ferraris use them as factory fill, but the results of this test have me worried. My initial game plan was to switch to Castrol Edge when they come out with 5W-20 (they only have Edge in 5w30 at the moment), but, in the meantime, to use Castrol Syntec.

I've also heard that Mobil 1's base stock is ALL polyalpha olephins, but Castrol will only say that Edge contains SOME PAO, which may mean way less than 100%. And Syntec sounds like it may be a hydrocracked, Class III, which is an additionally refined natural base oil, from what I've been led to believe.

I'm worried that I've fallen prey to Mobil 1's hype, and that I have failed to provide the best protection I can for my Ridge. I can see the tons of industry specifications passed by Mobil 1, but cannot seem to find so extensive and explicit a listing from Castrol. I want my valvetrain to never need adjusting, and to never wear out.

What's the best oil on the planet to use? It's impossible to find clear test results comparing oils.

?

 

[mcrn]

Ferrari does not use Mobil 1 they use Shell products. Also most people here will say there is no one best oil but if I had to say which one is best my money would be on Redline. I have no experience with it though. You should also tell tell us what kind of driving you will do to help people here answer your question better.

 

[Hounds]

Mr. Whitaker: I responded to your post on vtec.net.

 

[tig1]

Be careful, I heard Mobil 1 filters cause iron also. Run for your life!

 

[Mark888]

If you are concerned about Mobil 1, check out this thread about the most recent 24 Hours of Daytona race:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/rolex-24-hours-of-daytona.100806/

Second, Edge should be compared to Mobil 1 Extended Performance ( Extended performance). Although Castrol does claim that Edge is 8X times better wear performance than Mobil 1, it only claims to be "unsurpassed" by Mobil 1 Extended Performance.

The "8X better" is apparently based on one test conducted by Ashland (Valvoline) last year, for which there is no independent confirmation of the results that I have seen, nor have I seen any recent test published.

 

[buster]

Mobil 1

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: BertWhitaker
What's the best oil on the planet to use? It's impossible to find clear test results comparing oils.

That's because no such test results exist.

As I said in another thread that asked a similar question (albeit in a much less... sophisticated way), I think we can safely say there is no such thing as a "best oil". Lots of people have favorites, but that's just opinion. Some oils are good for some things, others are good for other things. Even if there were an overall best, very few people in the world have enough knowledge to know what it is, and you can bet good money they won't post here...

On the Mobil 1 vs. Castrol Edge thing: Don't take one test to mean everything. I'm sure the Mobil engineers could just as easily find a test in which their product would beat Castrol's just as badly.

On the subject of factory fills: Yes, it means the oil is good. But don't forget that a factory fill also has to be available in BIG quantities. There might be a better oil out there that didn't make the cut just because the company can't make enough of it at the right price. Also, the factory fill will have to balance protection with fuel economy. You might not agree with the balance they struck.

On the subject of base stocks: The most reasonable opinion I've heard is that Mobil has a few different formulations of Mobil 1 with roughly the same performance, and they switch from one to another depending on how the supply chains look. If the PAO plants are running happily, they'll use more PAO; if PAO supplies are limited, they'll use more Group III; and so on. Whatever the case, again, you'd have to be a Mobil insider to know for sure, and you can bet good money that such a person won't be posting that info here. However, IMO, fretting about base stocks in Mobil 1 is not really productive. We know it's good stuff no matter what's in it. They have enough manufacturers depending on them that they won't slack off too much.


If you're looking for oil recommendations for you, tell us what you have, how you drive it, whether it's under warranty, and whether you want something off-the-shelf or are willing to order it. We'll come up with plenty for you. :]

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: BertWhitaker

I'm worried that I've fallen prey to Mobil 1's hype, and that I have failed to provide the best protection I can for my Ridge. I can see the tons of industry specifications passed by Mobil 1, but cannot seem to find so extensive and explicit a listing from Castrol. I want my valvetrain to never need adjusting, and to never wear out.

What's the best oil on the planet to use? It's impossible to find clear test results comparing oils.

?
You have fallen for the hype.

NO OIL will prevent your valve train to NEVER need adjusting or NEVER wear out.

There are hundreds of thousands of Honda 3.5l V6 which are running perfectly using conventional oils (as much as a 5w-20 oil is conventional) for millions of miles with NO problems.

Don't over think or worry about oil for your engine. Just use what is recommended for the OLM and you will be just fine.

My Dad has 80k on his 3.5l and it runs great, as clean as it was when new using whatever 5w-20 was on sale (mostly GTX).

Here is a shot of the oil filler..

Anyone who says an oil will prevent you from NEVER having to adjust valves or preventing ANY wear is NOT telling you the TRUTH.

No matter what TYPE or brand.

Take care, bill

PS:

 

[demarpaint]

Nice clean engine Bill!

OP as far as using the word "Never", pertaining to wear and adjustment of valves it doesn't exist! They'll wear, and need adjustment sooner or later. Proper care, using the oil the mfg suggests, and changing the oil and filter at the suggested intervals will help prolong the engine's life.

 

[Newtonville]

Those numbers .090" and ,010" aren't right, that would mean mobil 1 is actually abrasive in a can, rather than their best oil. I don't think Mobil 1, as presented by competitors, is good enough to oil my scissors.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: Newtonville
Those numbers .090" and ,010" aren't right, that would mean mobil 1 is actually abrasive in a can, rather than their best oil. I don't think Mobil 1, as presented by competitors, is good enough to oil my scissors.


Yes, the competitors say that with jealousy as they see M1 poured into race engines, and FF in the worlds finest cars from Europe to America to Asia.

 

[zoomzoom]

Originally Posted By: BertWhitaker
I'm just going to break down and ask this.

I'm totally confident in my decision to use Mobil 1 oil filters, mostly because of the results of testing clearly described by this guy on the net.

But, as pertains to oil, I have been using Mobil 1 full synthetic since I got my 07, but then I saw this stuff about Castrol Edge outperforming Mobil 1 synthetic by 8X. The deal is apparently that two identical engines were assembled after careful measurement of their camshafts (IVA test). Then they were both run under identical conditions, but one had Castrol Edge, while the other had Mobil 1 full synthetic. After the running, the camshafts were again measured. The Mobil 1 shaft had lost 0.090", while the Castrol Edge camshaft HAD ONLY LOST 0.010". I had always thought Mobil 1 full synthetic was the best thing to use, since Vettes and Ferraris use them as factory fill, but the results of this test have me worried. My initial game plan was to switch to Castrol Edge when they come out with 5W-20 (they only have Edge in 5w30 at the moment), but, in the meantime, to use Castrol Syntec.

I've also heard that Mobil 1's base stock is ALL polyalpha olephins, but Castrol will only say that Edge contains SOME PAO, which may mean way less than 100%. And Syntec sounds like it may be a hydrocracked, Class III, which is an additionally refined natural base oil, from what I've been led to believe.

I'm worried that I've fallen prey to Mobil 1's hype, and that I have failed to provide the best protection I can for my Ridge. I can see the tons of industry specifications passed by Mobil 1, but cannot seem to find so extensive and explicit a listing from Castrol. I want my valvetrain to never need adjusting, and to never wear out.

What's the best oil on the planet to use? It's impossible to find clear test results comparing oils.

?


Interesting, that would make edge oil perfect candidate for short trip/never get oil up to temperature crowd.

 

[Fester]

My mobil 1 keeps my frying pan from sludging up.
Vintage Mobil 1 commercial

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: Fester
My mobil 1 keeps my frying pan from sludging up.
Vintage Mobil 1 commercial



Also this guys BMW.

http://www.mobil1.co.nz/performance/miles.aspx

 

[Big Jim]

To the OP.

You have fallen for the hype alright, Castrol's hype. This is from the same oil company that pitches their oil as non sludging by dumping sludge on cars waiting in line at a fast food drive through.

Castrol's advertising is leveled at the grade school intelligence level (if that). This includes the sludge ads, the syntec ads showing cars on dynos breaking down with conventional oil while syntec keeps protecting, to the latest round of "think with your dipstick, Jimmy" ads for Edge. None of the ads have any substance and even reach deep into ridiculousness.

Either Mobil 1 or Edge (as well as any other synthetic or so called synthetic) so far exceeds the needs of your car that you should really just settle on an oil and quite loosing sleep.

If it were me, I would stick with Mobil 1 over Edge if for no other reason than I don't like Castrol as a company based on the banality of their ads.

 

[buster]

Originally Posted By: Big Jim


If it were me, I would stick with Mobil 1 over Edge if for no other reason than I don't like Castrol as a company based on the banality of their ads.


+1.

 

[tig1]

I agree about their adds. Why would you try to sell oil by using monkeys and old guys beating every one with a dip stick.

 

[lexus114]

the only good monkey commercial i`ve ever seen was, "the trunk monkey"

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
the only good monkey commercial i`ve ever seen was, "the trunk monkey"


+1 LOL

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: Big Jim
To the OP.

You have fallen for the hype alright, Castrol's hype. This is from the same oil company that pitches their oil as non sludging by dumping sludge on cars waiting in line at a fast food drive through.


Anyone else remember the commercials they ran way back when they first introduced Syntec? It was a room full of engines set up on hot stands. Then they said "we drained the oil from them" (showed a hand unscrewing a drain plug) "and started them." One by one, to the accompaniment of loud bangs like a ping-pong paddle being swatted on a leather sofa, the engines "seized." EXCEPT for the one that allegedly had Syntec drained out of it (of course.)

That [censored] soured me on Castrol pretty severely. I've used some of their oils since because some of them are indeed quite good. But as for their ethics in advertising... sorry. No sale.