GM 6094M, GM 4718M

[Yellowdog]

I was looking at Valvoline Synpower and noticed it meets GM4718M, but no mention of GM6094M. My manual recommends spec 6094M. Does 4718M supersede 6094M, therefore making it safe for me to use the Synpower? I'd like to try the 5w30 Synpower in my next oil change in my Vibe for its Winter fill when I change it around November.

Thanks!

 

[ThirdeYe]

According to this: http://www.valvoline.com/pdf/SynPower.pdf

SynPower does meet the GM 6094M spec in 5W-20, 5w30 and 10w30.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Originally Posted By: Yellowdog
I'd like to try the 5w30 Synpower in my next oil change in my Vibe for its Winter fill when I change it around November.

Thanks!
My recent experience has my engine hating this oil. Its a toyota motor 1nzfe. Do you have 1.8 or 2.4? Since your on PP now I would just use the 5w30 PP year round.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: Yellowdog
I was looking at Valvoline Synpower and noticed it meets GM4718M, but no mention of GM6094M. My manual recommends spec 6094M. Does 4718M supersede 6094M, therefore making it safe for me to use the Synpower? I'd like to try the 5w30 Synpower in my next oil change in my Vibe for its Winter fill when I change it around November.

Thanks!


GM6094M and GM4718M are two totally different standards. Neither one relates to the other. GM6094M is GM's base oil standard. GM4718M is their hi-performance standard.

The only thing GM6094M deals with is an oil's cold temperature flow ability. It has to flow below a certain rate at a set temperature below 0( F ). That rate depends on what oil weight we are talking about. Both conventional and synthetic oils can meet this standard.

GM4718M however is used in GM's hi-performance vehicles as well as many of their luxury vehicles from Cadillac. This standard deals with an oil's ability to withstand heat and oxidation. Originally developed for the Corvette as the engine bay was too small for an oil cooler and the oil was really put through the mill( heat wise ). The standard specifies the oil must be synthetic so even if a conventional oil could handle the heat tests it still could not be certified to this standard.

Here is the newest GM list of certified oils I can find. GM4718M as of Sept 08 and GM6094M as of Oct 08. Synpower is GM6094M certified.

http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/environment/maintenance/gm_approved_engine_oils.pdf

Valvoline Synpower is an excellent oil. Use it with confidence.

 

[Yellowdog]

ARCOgraphite,
I have the 1.8 16v w/VVT-i. Which engine size did you try it in and what is it that your engine did to say it didn't like this oil?

Thanks!

P.S.
This past winter after a cold start I noticed a light ticking sound during the cold winter months for a couple of minutes until things warmed up . Around here it got as low as 0*F. I'm looking for something that might help quiet that down. I'm not completely convinced its all engine related. I've tried 5w30 Mobil 1 with a purolator plus one filter (blue) and 5w30 PP with a purolator premium filter (white). It can be a little colder out with the PP before I hear the ticking. I'm wondering if it was the filter as I've always used AC Delco and never noticed the problem. I'm going to use an
AC filter again this winter, but thought I would try another kind of oil as well. I have about 52,000 miles on my Vibe and it will be out of warranty this August.

 

[steve20]

""" Originally developed for the Corvette as the engine bay was too small for an oil cooler """

I don't think so----cost was the reason behind the decision to not install oil cooler at the factory

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: steve20
""" Originally developed for the Corvette as the engine bay was too small for an oil cooler """

I don't think so----cost was the reason behind the decision to not install oil cooler at the factory


No, it was because an oil cooler would not fit in the engine bay. At least for the Vette. The info is out there about it. An oil cooler cost the mfg all of $20. The cost of an oil cooler, if it was needed, would not be a deciding factor in a vehicle like a Vette.

 

[zulu]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Originally Posted By: steve20
""" Originally developed for the Corvette as the engine bay was too small for an oil cooler """

I don't think so----cost was the reason behind the decision to not install oil cooler at the factory


No, it was because an oil cooler would not fit in the engine bay. At least for the Vette. The info is out there about it. An oil cooler cost the mfg all of $20. The cost of an oil cooler, if it was needed, would not be a deciding factor in a vehicle like a Vette.


NHHEMI, I was under the same impression. All the tech articles I've read indicated that oil coolers are a weak link in an oil system and that's usually a trigger-point for leaks. GM decided if they could get away from having to plumb a cooler by using an oil that would withstand high track temps it would be better for all parties. Surely cost savings are an added bonus, but on the flagship of GM's vehicles, cost is not normally a big stumbling block.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Originally Posted By: Yellowdog
ARCOgraphite,
I have the 1.8 16v w/VVT-i. Which engine size did you try it in and what is it that your engine did to say it didn't like this oil?

Thanks!

P.S.
This past winter after a cold start I noticed a light ticking sound during the cold winter months for a couple of minutes until things warmed up . Around here it got as low as 0*F.
Thes engines have solid lifters and will tick when cold and a little when warm. NO way to get around that - its NOT a problem. The fuel injectors can tick too. Unless you have 1 real loud tick when fully warm - dont sweat it at all. On the Valvoline - the engine just ran terrible on the oil - no power, not real smooth. It did run fairly cool though. On the toyota forum the PP and a purolator or wix or napa select are the only way to go with many fans of this combo. You can try Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w30 in the winter too many like this stuff. I do -20deg F cold , ungaraged starts in the winter; think I'll get an electric sump and/or block warmer this year - OTW sub zero starts are not nice to the car and asking too much from the oil.

 

[Mike_dup1]

GM4718M is General Motors' High Performance engine oil specification. Oils which meet GM4718M tend to be made from synthetic base stocks, so it is often referred to as a "synthetic" specification.

However, not all oils, synthetic or otherwise, are capable of meeting the stringent requirements of GM4718M.

You could use a GM4718M spec oil where is calls for GM6094M but not the other way around. All the GM cars that carry this spec come with Mobil 1. Switching to Mobil 1 reduced warranty claims on engines.

On the subject of oil coolers, I doubt that was the prevailing reason. The reason was that the mineral oil was not good enough in the Corvette engines. To many engine problems traced to the oil not holding up.

 

[RiotGrip]

The synthetic standard has not always been the case for GM4718. I used to use Castrol syntec blend in the early to mid 90's and it did meet the 4718 spec at that time. Interestingly enough, it went away in the late 90's or early 00's. Now regular syntec doesn't meet the spec. My guess is the criteria for that spec has evolved over time.