havoline 5w20 SL or SM

[LC]

I made a trip down to my local store were Havoline is on sale. They have several cases of both SL and SM 5w20 oil. The SL oil cases were dated 4/20/05 and the SM were date 5/28/05
Which would be the best to buy? The oil is going in a 05 ford 3.0 Duratec.

 

[Titan]

SM!

 

[sdude2k2000]

I'd go SM... I'm running it in my '05 2.3L Mazda (basically ford...) right now and my car is LOVING it.

 

[LargeCarMan]

Any thoughts on using a SM oil in a pre-90's engine? SF is what the engine manufacture is requiring? Any issues with the new SM oil types in an older engine

 

[ShotGun429]

We are see lots of problems here (Engine Rebuild Shop) with pre 1990's engines (Any Make) with the SL,or SM oils with the pre roller camshaft and lifters (Flat Tappets) With cam and lifter wear of engines that been assembled 40 years ago, or 2 months ago. Pre Roller Tappet engines need the additive package that SL,or SM just dont contain. SH rated oils seems to be the Best of all worlds,upon Teardowns. After SH became obsolete things just went downhill. SJ oils would be (seems) OK. Gregg/Oh.

 

[Blue99]

Ray, Chevron has a concurrent license for both SL & SM thru 6/6/06.

http://eolcs.api.org/DisplayLicenseInfo.asp?LicenseNo=0090

Same with various Formula Shell grades earlier this year, date codes from April & May since the SL license did not expire until end of July.

 

[Ray H]

An "SL" 5W-20 viscosity motor oil bottled after 12/31/04? Something doesn't sound right.

 

[PandaBear]

ShotGun,

Are you sure about the SL & SM not containing enough additives for non-roller cam/lifter engine? A lot of Japanese engines (civic, corolla, etc) uses that design well into the late 90s and they would have gotten the same problem too.

 

[Leo]

ShotGun429, I'm seriously suprised that a SH rated oil would out perform a SL/SM forumulation when it comes to antiwear.

 

[mechtech]

Shotgun - Are you saying that you have experience with rebuilding engines after SM oils came out? That would mean that engines are being rebuilt after only several months.

 

[blupupher]

I would bet the SL labeled oil is SM spec, just not labled as such.