quote:
Originally posted by TC:
"...the oil companies set the standards in the US..."
By all accounts the U.S. auto manufacturers have very HEAVY influence on upcoming oil classifications and performance standards. With upcoming GF-4 and SM, for example, Ford has performed extensive testing with fleets using a lighter viscosity, low-phosphorus oil meeting the above specs. Evidently part of the delay in GF-4 and SM has been players' (including auto firms') concerns that the new oils both perform sufficiently and provide reasonable backwards-compatibility.
I suspect the fact the European oil change intervals are much longer than ours, coupled with so many high-tech, big-bucks engines to protect (BMW, Merdedes, Porsche, etc.), make for more robust -- and more costly -- European lubes. In comparison, perhaps an "SL" Ford Taurus V-6 motor oil, changed every 6,000 miles, has the easy life...
Bull.
The EPA CAFE has a VERY heavy influence on what type of oil to use. Thanks to their theoretical "gain" in fuel economy running a water thin oil, the car maker earns CAFE "credits" which are used to minimise or eleminate gas guzzler fines.
This still leaves us with a giant SUV that gets 10 MPG and rated as a "green" vehicle.
They really don't care how long the car lasts, as long as they make it through warranty, good enough.
We pay the same price per barrel of crude as the Europeans do, thanks to OPEC.
Most of the higher price in oil is reflected in the fact that the Europeans build-in the environmental cost of oil changes. We have this fiction here that you should change the oil every 2,000-3,000 miles.
Though I suppose if you use a 69 cent a quart "Starburst" oil, maybe you had BETTER change the oil that often.
Have you ever compared ACEA specs to API/SAE "Starburst" specs? An oil here passes the test with flying colors if:
Oil thickens +275% (Used to be +375% under SH), 25% of the oil can vaporise (Used to be 35% under SH), you're allowed cold stuck rings, and the test technician is allowed to add 6.5 liters of makeup oil during the 96 hour test.
In contrast, ACEA A3/A5/B4-02 oils are run +200 hours. Oil can only thicken 50%, less than 15% is allowed to vaporise, no stuck rings allowed. And the test technician is NOT allowed to add makeup oil.
So when gasoline shoots up to $3-$4 a gallon like it is in other parts of the world, and we have to get rid of our 10 MPG giant SUV and drive a little 1 litre 3 cylinder economy car, wonder how well that cheap "Starburst" oil will protect it?
In the meantime, if a "Starburst" oil protects your motor well, especially some overpowered thing that loafs along, then keep using it. Also keep changing it every 2,000-3,000 miles to keep the local Qwicke Lube While You Wait happy.
On the subject of lighter oils, wonder why the Europeans all don't use xW-20 oils to gain that theoretical 0.6% in fuel economy? After all, their fuel costs 3X-4X what it does here.
Jerry