Honestly, does it really matter?

[Bryanccfshr]

Syn oil is better in some ways. In my opinion it is not better enough to make a difference for most applications. I have used synthetic and almost pulled the trigger again to use synthetic through a sponsor.
But then I really like my reutine and the simplicity of just buying based on spec and changing when it is suppossed to be changed. No need to try and outthink that.

 

[ericthepig]

I just looked again at the OP - he qualifies it as "within spec" and then is just asking about the comparison issue "between brands". Given the above I doubt (but I'm not 100% confident) it matters.

 

[PandaBear]

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?


It depends on your car and you more than the oil.

I think unless you own a sludger (i.e. some Camry V6) or a turbo, any oil is good for at least 5k today. Now if you are going to push for more, then yeah, it matters.

Now if you are talking about which oil is the bang for the buck winner, well, it matters too. IMO that's where all the fun is, not the oil, but the deal.

 

[StevieC]

Sure if you want average life out of your vehicle then use an oil that meets the specs... BITOG is all about finding the best oil for your application that helps you squeeze as much as possible out of the application you are using it in. That's why we talk it all to death. For your average Joe consumer, regular changes with any recent spec. oil will more than get him his monies worth.

We just want more than that!

 

[buster]

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?


It honestly does not matter in all but the rarest cases. Usually in engines that run excessively hot or have design flaws that were not addressed by the OEM.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: tig1
Not sure about the psychological benifits for me, but my engines sure have lasted well on Mobil 1 oils.


And mine have lasted VERY long with oil changes. ANY oil brand.

Most of the members posting here with their favorite brand is totally psychological.

I'd say close to 100% unless like Pabs said, extending the OCI or you have a serious engine that REQUIRES something different.

It matters that you CHANGE the oil. What type or brand does not (unless you have a problem child or the manual states WHAT type you have to use. If the manual says a brand, any oil meeting the spec is fine. The brand listed is marketing)

Bill

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: tig1
Not sure about the psychological benifits for me, but my engines sure have lasted well on Mobil 1 oils.


And mine have lasted VERY long with oil changes. ANY oil brand.

Most of the members posting here with their favorite brand is totally psychological.

I'd say close to 100% unless like Pabs said, extending the OCI or you have a serious engine that REQUIRES something different.

It matters that you CHANGE the oil. What type or brand does not (unless you have a problem child or the manual states WHAT type you have to use. If the manual says a brand, any oil meeting the spec is fine. The brand listed is marketing)

Bill


Dr. Phil, I mean Dr. Bill,
Psychological analysis can only be performed by a licensed Psychologist.

 

[Jaymus]

I don't care about the brand of the oil. Before I ever came to BITOG, I was just like your average American. I had a favorite oil brand, and hated another without ever trying it or knowing why.

Now, I've ran things in different vehicles that I would have never chosen before just because of personal preference. Now, I go by the numbers. I pick an oil for an engine based on the viscosity and additives. What brand it is that has these doesn't matter to me.

 

[panthermike]

Change your oil at a reasonable OCI, drive your car, and be HAPPY!

 

[TooManyWheels]

Originally Posted By: 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).


What is keeping you from having peace of mind at current intervals? Similarly, how do you KNOW you will have peace of mind at longer intervals?

If I were you, those questions are what would keep me from having peace of mind...

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: tig1
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: tig1
Not sure about the psychological benifits for me, but my engines sure have lasted well on Mobil 1 oils.


And mine have lasted VERY long with oil changes. ANY oil brand.

Most of the members posting here with their favorite brand is totally psychological.

I'd say close to 100% unless like Pabs said, extending the OCI or you have a serious engine that REQUIRES something different.

It matters that you CHANGE the oil. What type or brand does not (unless you have a problem child or the manual states WHAT type you have to use. If the manual says a brand, any oil meeting the spec is fine. The brand listed is marketing)

Bill


Dr. Phil, I mean Dr. Bill,
Psychological analysis can only be performed by a licensed Psychologist.


Yeah, don't respond to the comments. Just drink the koolaid.

I stand by what I said.

The FACT is more people go MORE miles on normal oil, change brands more than not and go hundreds of thousands of miles.

There is NO MAGIC oil.

Sorry guys, also no Easter bunny or Great Pumpkin.

Bill

PS: Still not sure about Santa...

 

[Nickdfresh]

I don't think it matters with the new SM-rated oils on most engines - with a reasonable OCI...

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

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?



Yep, with 3 or 4k OCIs.

 

[tig1]

For a fact modern conventional oil is a good choice for most engines. Few people drive a car out to it's end from from new. IMHO Bill is right about conventional oils are good for long engine performance, if the oil is not abused. Many people do run conventional far longer than they should so Synt. is a good choice for them.

 

[sprintman]

OP is correct. It doesn't matter which brand of 40W70 you are using, your engine will last forever.

 

[scoobie]

It doesn't make any difference, as long as it's certified SM, and it's the right grade. What will make a difference is prewarming the engine. Prewarming by plugging it in on a timer for a couple hours drastically improves fuel efficiency while it's warming up, and the oil is at a much more suitable temperature, meaning it will
flow much much better. The end result is you use less fuel,
there is less stress on the oil and less engine wear.

 

[deven]

When I talk to my family members and ask them what kind of motor oil they are running, they just shrug their shoulders and say they dont know. All they do is go to the dealer or quickie lube and say they want an oil change. Like the average american person they can not be bothered with brand name or the viscosity and many cars owned by the general population in America lasts a long time so I have come to believe that it really does not matter what oil you use. As long as you keep up with reasonable maintenance the car will rust before you have an oil related engine problem.

 

[Pablo]

The other thing I will add is that people going 6-8K on conventional oil, could very well be varnishing up their rings, and not really know it for awhile. Some engines, larger sumps, etc may be OK with this this, others, not so much.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
The other thing I will add is that people going 6-8K on conventional oil, could very well be varnishing up their rings, and not really know it for awhile. Some engines, larger sumps, etc may be OK with this this, others, not so much.


Carbon, most often from too long of OCI with dino, does cause ring sticking. I saw this once in an Escort diesel engine. Every piston had the rings completely stuck to the pistons and oil was blowing through the engine.

 

[Drivebelt]

Originally Posted By: vsssarma
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.

Welcome to the forum vsssarma. Always nice to have more people on board with actual blending experience for motor oils. Someone was just complaining the other day about not having enough people here of the forums with actual Tribology experience to answer some of the more techical questions. If you post here regularly, we might start asking about what's on some of those blending sheets.