How/what additive package?

[joel95ex]

What should you look for in an oil's content/additive package? Shouldn't we have a FAQ's, "sticky", or "university" section for a crash course? What type of virgin OA would indicate a good package?

 

[Mark888]

I would not be looking at the additive package specifically because you may come to some false conclusions. An oil with a better base stock may need less additives than one with a poorer base stock. The additives wear out faster than the base stock.

 

[FrankN4]

 Originally Posted By: Mark888

I would not be looking at the additive package specifically because you may come to some false conclusions. An oil with a better base stock may need less additives than one with a poorer base stock. The additives wear out faster than the base stock.

This probably does not get stressed near enough. Also, you need to determine what you want the oil to do for you. Your expectations for a vehicle have to come into play. Do you expect the vehicle to be in active daily use at 200,000 miles? Will you get tired of it before then? How do you drive? What are your maintenance habits? You might want to look for an oil with a base, GP III or GP IV, or III/IV blend. Next, consider the HTHS. That is more important to me than the ZDDP level. Look at the 100C cSt. The higher it is, per grade, the better the protection, viscosity wise, at temperature, it doesn't thin out. Look for the oil in the UOA section to see how well it stays in grade, does not shear. Then, look for calcium, sodium, magnesium, boron, moly, and other add pack components. As said above, if you are not sort of, kind of, a little bit comfortable with what add pack components actually do(many have dual roles) the base oil is the first/main thing to look for. Oil makers like soap makers can make the most ordinary sound extraordinary.

 

[Pablo]

You can look all you want. But you will be fooled like everyone else on the site. Then even after you chose, how will you know it's actually better? Take, say Valvoline for example. Study the additive package.

 

[jorton]

 Originally Posted By: Pablo

You can look all you want. But you will be fooled like everyone else on the site. Then even after you chose, how will you know it's actually better? Take, say Valvoline for example. Study the additive package.

Previous Valvoline formulations had a poor reputation because in uoa, even though they performed well they appeared to have a weak add pack. There are additives that are not detected on oil analysis and that's how oil reports can fool folks.

 

[Pablo]

 Originally Posted By: jorton

 Originally Posted By: Pablo

You can look all you want. But you will be fooled like everyone else on the site. Then even after you chose, how will you know it's actually better? Take, say Valvoline for example. Study the additive package.

Previous Valvoline formulations had a poor reputation because in uoa, even though they performed well they appeared to have a weak add pack. There are additives that are not detected on oil analysis and that's how oil reports can fool folks.

Exactly. People attacked Valvoline VOA's like a fat kid on a cupcake.