Honestly, does it really matter?

[Liquid_Turbo]

After spending a lot of time here I've come to think.. As long as it's in the recommended spec.. does it honestly MATTER which brand of oil one selects? Has anyone had a personal experience where the brand actually mattered?

I seriously am starting to think, after sorting through used oil analysis, that we could use any average joe oil thats certified for our cars.

The rest is just psychological and a "feel-good" factor?

 

[hal]

I disagree wholeheartedly. After reading specifications on oils regarding their chemical properties, flash points, additive packs, initial TBN's, and otherwise, I am 100% convinced that all oils are NOT the same. If I believed that all oils were the same I would not be running synthetics or high-mileage or HDEO's in my vehicles. Furthermore, I would not spend any time on this website if I thought all oils were the same.

Some people are convinced that buying what's on sale is the best thing to do, and sure some oils at some time may be a great price, but this does not rule out the fact that a lot of times you do get what you pay for.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: hal
I disagree wholeheartedly. After reading specifications on oils regarding their chemical properties, flash points, additive packs, initial TBN's, and otherwise, I am 100% convinced that all oils are NOT the same. If I believed that all oils were the same I would not be running synthetics or high-mileage or HDEO's in my vehicles. Furthermore, I would not spend any time on this website if I thought all oils were the same.

Some people are convinced that buying what's on sale is the best thing to do, and sure some oils at some time may be a great price, but this does not rule out the fact that a lot of times you do get what you pay for.

True, but do you really need the added benefits from those high-end oils?

 

[hal]

sure! the high mileage oils are consumed slower by older engines, synthetics are good for city and/or higher-load driving, and the HDEO's are good for both of these things and more.

being someone who enjoys working on cars and making them run good, i can tell the difference in the way an engine sounds depending on what oil is used. im starting to think that used oil analysis aren't very useful because someone's babied Accord procuded very low iron on 75 cent dino and someone's hard-driven supercharged cobra did the same on something better like Mobil 1 or Royal Purple. all examples of course, but it seems like there are too many variables to be able to build any kind of database built on used oil analysis.

 

[DragRace]

In 90% of vehicles on the road today, as long as you use the recommended oil spec and change the oil when your supposed to,and follow the rest of your maintenance routine,it's not gonna make a [censored] bit of difference what color the bottle is.

The body of the particular vehicle you own, will rust off the very frame it was built upon,before it matters what color of oil bottle you use.

 

[vsssarma]

Dragrace is absolutely right. As long as you are using the recommended specification oil, use the cheapest. Don't worry.

I know. I am a Petroleum Engineer who started career in 1979 in a Lubricant Blending plant and continue to do the same work even now. Don't worry. Buy the cheapest oil that meets the essential specn recommended by the engine manufacturer.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
I am 100% convinced that all oils are NOT the same.


You're right, but he asked if it will make a difference.

There is no such thing as magic oil (thank you, Doug Hillary). When you decide to step out of bounds in service length or dip into severity of service ..then the distinctions may be something to look at.

 

[Bambam]

Seeing the severity of use, buying via low bid and the lack of "following manuf. intervals" with fleet vehicles and the lack of engine failures ,I'd say it doesn't really matter what oil it is.

 

[Pablo]

For short intervals, no difference.

Start extending the interval (or pushing the envelope), yes difference.

Magic oil? Only Synlube!

 

[tig1]

Not sure about the psychological benifits for me, but my engines sure have lasted well on Mobil 1 oils.

 

[hate2work]

Originally Posted By: DragRace
In 90% of vehicles on the road today, as long as you use the recommended oil spec and change the oil when your supposed to,and follow the rest of your maintenance routine,it's not gonna make a [censored] bit of difference what color the bottle is.


Dragrace is correct, except I'd say it's closer to 99.9% of the time given these parameters.

 

[D189379]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
For short intervals, no difference.

Start extending the interval (or pushing the envelope), yes difference.

Magic oil? Only Synlube!

+1.

 

[defeated]

Originally Posted By: DragRace
In 90% of vehicles on the road today, as long as you use the recommended oil spec and change the oil when your supposed to,and follow the rest of your maintenance routine,it's not gonna make a [censored] bit of difference what color the bottle is.


I know this is true, but I still agree with hal, too. I don't care what y'all say about the butt dyno I know that using an oil that a particular car doesn't "like" (for lack of a better word) isn't going to cause that motor to crater, but I am reading a forum about motor oil, so it stands to reason that I'm going to pick around and obsess maybe just a li'l. I know I could dump 5w30 conventional in either one of my cars and change it every 5k, easy peasy, but I'm just not built that way.

 

[FrankN4]

Originally Posted By: hal
I disagree wholeheartedly. After reading specifications on oils regarding their chemical properties, flash points, additive packs, initial TBN's, and otherwise, I am 100% convinced that all oils are NOT the same. If I believed that all oils were the same I would not be running synthetics or high-mileage or HDEO's in my vehicles. Furthermore, I would not spend any time on this website if I thought all oils were the same.

Some people are convinced that buying what's on sale is the best thing to do, and sure some oils at some time may be a great price, but this does not rule out the fact that a lot of times you do get what you pay for.

I use one brand of synthetic engine oil in our vans, trucks, and cars, another brand of synthetic transmission fluid in our cars and vans, and another brand of synthetic grease, axle lube, and motorcycle/lawn tractor oil.

 

[carwreck]

According to the Pennzoil Website, the decision to use full synthetic or regular oil has nothing to do with you engine or oil properties.
The decision (per Pennzoil website oil search recommendation) should be based solely on trim level of the car...

With Olds GLS coupe, they recommend 5w30 Pennzoil Conventional Conventional.
Same car, same 3.4L without GLS trim level, they recommend 5w30 Pennzoil Platinum synthetic.

 

[Pablo]

 

[tropic]

Originally Posted By: Liquid_Turbo
After spending a lot of time here I've come to think.. As long as it's in the recommended spec.. does it honestly MATTER which brand of oil one selects? Has anyone had a personal experience where the brand actually mattered?

I seriously am starting to think, after sorting through used oil analysis, that we could use any average joe oil thats certified for our cars.

The rest is just psychological and a "feel-good" factor?

This is just a symptom of your mind's self-preservation instincts. They can be triggered if you spend time obsessing over increasingly smaller distinctions that may have little bearing on a larger picture.

I think that most any oil that meets your vehicle manufacturer's specifications will serve well enough in the manufacturer's eyes. If your needs differ from those of the manufacturer, perhaps you're not wasting time comparing viscosity curves, filtration beta ratios, TBN depletion, tear-down results, etc.

 

[ericthepig]

Does it matter... ?

If it doesn't matter, then I should be able to put any SM oil in any gas engine and take it to 12k mile & 1 yr OCI and have complete peace of mind.

When they come up with a new spec that enables all oils to accomplish the above, then it will no longer "matter" (to me). Until then, it matters (to me).

 

[Bryanccfshr]

Nope, Meet the recomended specs and intervals and it is rare that you can go wrong

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: Bryanccfshr
Nope, Meet the recomended specs and intervals and it is rare that you can go wrong
Unless you sell syn oil... then syn oil is better.