If every SM is good...

[Jaymus]

Well, today we borrowed a friend's car while my wife's car gets a little body work done to it. I'll have to find the year out later, it's not the whole point of the post. Some mid-90's Nissan Sentra with some 4 banger. LOTS of top end noise. I had to add over 2 and a half quarts to put the oil to the 'full' mark. I had guessed it'd take at a minimum of 2 quarts, so I was going to get 3. Went into a Family Dollar store, and they had Quaker state for $3.25 a quart, or American XT for $2.50. It's not my car, and apparently they don't care about their oil, so I got the thinnest American XT they had in stock, which was some 10W-40, lol. I didn't feel too bad because it says it is SM rated.

So here comes the question. If every SM oil is good, who would feel comfortable running this oil for 5k mile OCI's for their whole engine's life? I'm not saying it wouldn't do it, just curious. I know I wouldn't really want this stuff in my vehicle, that is, if it didn't have a consumption problem. Oddly, on the back, it says it is "Excellent for TURBO-CHARGED gasoline and moderate duty diesel engines". Wow, kind of sounds like a good oil. At least a pretty stout oil. I reckon it can't be too bad if what I've read on here is true. All SM oils are at least Group II+.

Some pictures of it:

 

[addyguy]

If this oil REALLY is API-SM rated, and not falsly labelled, I wouldn't hesitate for a SECOND to run it to 5k miles, period. API testing is stringent enough that if the oil really passes the tests, it is a good oil.

 

[bepperb]

Oh yeah, that stuff is great. But make sure you get the premium, the regular American XT is junk.

I'm sure it's relabeled somthing. I agree that it's probably not that bad, assuming the SM designation is legit, but still wouldn't use it in anything not consuming oil, or considered disposable lawn equipment.

Anything on the bottle to show where it came from?

 

[SnakeOil]

SM does not make it a Group II+. That is usually applied towards a 5w20 SL/SM. I'm sure many SL/SM oils that are 30 through 50 weight contain sizable quantities of group I.

 

[ArcticCat]

Originally Posted By: Jaymus
All SM oils are at least Group II+.


I wouldn't go as far as saying that....SM 5W-20 and 5w30 are likely group II or better, but SM 10W-40 still likely has a good wallop of cruddy group I base oil.

 

[peterdaniel]

Better that putting uh.. ahem.. used oil in

 

[rg200amp]

I would not run it in my car.

 

[Jaymus]

Originally Posted By: bepperb

Anything on the bottle to show where it came from?


Warren Oil Co., Inc. I forgot to mention that, sorry.

 

[ArcticCat]

Originally Posted By: Jaymus
Oddly, on the back, it says it is "Excellent for TURBO-CHARGED gasoline and moderate duty diesel engines".


Really? How about someone give this a try in a VW 1.8T or a BMW 335i

 

[Jaymus]

Don't worry, I wasn't planning on being one to try it, but it made me think it'd be somewhat shear stable. I'd like to see a VOA and UOA of this stuff out of curiosity. My main point is, a lot of people state that any SM oil is good. Even I stated this. By that I had meant things like SuperTech was probably safe for 5k miles, lol. But, then I saw THIS cheapo oil and it actually had an SM rating on it, and I saved the extra bucks and got this instead of the Quaker State. If I'm gonna cheap out, I'll cheap out properly, lol. But, again, I put it in a vehicle that sounds like it is about to explode and was nearly 3 quarts low (on a small 4 banger, wow). I wouldn't willfully choose it for my own vehicle, to be honest.

 

[yannis]

Don't laugh.
This is what you get if you visit valvoline's europe lub advisor.
They recommend durablend 10W40 ...

http://www.valvolineeurope.com/english/products/for_consumers/cars_and_vans/finding_the_right_oil

Category : Cars
Make : Audi
model : 100, S4 (1986 - 1994)
type : 100 quattro 2.2 Turbo (1987 - 1990)

Engine
· Capacity : LubeCap 3 liter
: FilterCap 0,5 liter
· Use condition : Normal
· Service intervals : Change 15000 km / 12 months
· Recommendation : SynPower XL-III 5w30
: DuraBlend 10W-40
: Turbo 10W-40

Differential, rear
· Use condition : Normal
· Service intervals : Check 15000 km / 12 months

 

[J_Myler]

On a off note, thats a good looking dog!whats his name?

 

[SuperDave456]

Does it just SAY it is SM oil, or does it have the little donut on the back?

I know here in North Dallas at the Dollar General stores there is an oil that is a dime cheaper per quart than Supertech, however it isn't SM.

There is some scary stuff out there when it comes to oil that isnt rated. That bottle reminds me of the oil that is "For cars made before 1988".
I wouldent run THAT stuff in a old lawnmower.

 

[Jaymus]

Originally Posted By: J_Myler
On a off note, thats a good looking dog!whats his name?


Thanks, it's my Pit Bull named Rex. There has been a baby laying beside him since I took that picture. He is the most gentle, calm dog I've ever owned.

Originally Posted By: SuperDave456
Does it just SAY it is SM oil, or does it have the little donut on the back?

I know here in North Dallas at the Dollar General stores there is an oil that is a dime cheaper per quart than Supertech, however it isn't SM.

There is some scary stuff out there when it comes to oil that isnt rated. That bottle reminds me of the oil that is "For cars made before 1988".
I wouldent run THAT stuff in a old lawnmower.


That's interesting. Yes, there is a donut on the back. There was ONE bottle of 10w30 there, and it actually had the Energy Conserving star burst on it, but yes, this one has the donut on the back with "API Service SM" in it.

 

[drivewaytech]

So does the donut prove the oil to be SM rated? What exactly signifies the oil is a SM rated oil?

 

[Jaymus]

Mainly the fact that if they claim to be SM rated, they BETTER be, because if someone finds out, I'm sure a nice lawsuit could entail.

 

[javacontour]

http://eolcs.api.org/FindBrandByViscosity.asp?Viscosity=10W-40

This says it's SL, but I don't know how current is the info.

I went back and looked again, the American XT is SM by Warren
http://eolcs.api.org/DisplayLicenseInfo2.asp?LicenseNo=0510

Yet the American XT Premium is SL by Amalie Oil Company

http://eolcs.api.org/DisplayCompanyInfo.asp?CompanyID=226436

 

[Jaymus]

It is on down to the bottom. There are 2x American XT's. It's the ones made by Warren Oil. There is an SL and SM version.

 

[peterdaniel]

if you really wanted to cheap out, they still sell SA rated oil at the same place you bought that stuff.... lmao..

 

[javacontour]

But doesn't your bottle say American XT Premium? Look towards the top of that page.