I'm starting to think syn blends are mostly syn...

[daves87rs]

now...or at least it seems like it.

I was talking to a real nice car guy today, and we were talking about oil. He likes his kendall syn blend, which he tells me is a 60/40 blend (syn/dino), like it's sister oil Motorcraft. While I knew about the MC oil %, I've never heard of Kendall's numbers before.
One one the reasons that he mentioned to be was he said it seems to be very close to their synthetic in flow properties, as he used to drive a lot, where it got real cold (but dino does the same

) . For a guy who did not even know about BITOG, he did pretty good on some stuff.....anyways, getting off track here.....


Between this and examples like Penn's dexos 50/50 blend, I'm starting to wonder if they are going to push these blends like a poor man's synthetic or something...to fill GM's dexos spec or those 0w20 needs.....


Just makes me wonder why they just do not go full syn.

And I would really like to find the proof of Kendall's mix. Might be true, since CP's branded oils can take quite a beating....

 

[901Memphis]

Even a full synthetic is mostly group 3 which isn't terribly impressive considering how much group 3 is available globally. I'm not surprised they are using more in blends to meet more stringent specifications and approvals.

The kicker is that the flagship oils get the better additives such a Tri nuclear moly.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3157372

 

[KB2008X]

I've often wondered what the ratio of synthetic to dino was in synthetic blends. I've searched for quite awhile for a definitive number from oil companies and have come up empty.

Is there a source that you have for the 60/40 ratio of Kendall synthetic blend ?

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs

Just makes me wonder why they just do not go full syn.

It's still cheaper to use group II in large quantities. When we're talking about millions of bottles of oil, saving a dime per bottle adds up.

 

[Brule]

The percentage of synthetic oil in a "syn blend" is zero.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: Brule
The percentage of synthetic oil in a "syn blend" is zero.



Huh?

 

[GaleHawkins]

The last I saw in print stated dino today that meets the latest specs from API is about 25% synthetic. I have no idea how they computed that but I guess it comes from the additive package to some extent.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: Brule
The percentage of synthetic oil in a "syn blend" is zero.



Huh?


+1

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: Brule
The percentage of synthetic oil in a "syn blend" is zero.



Huh?


+1


+2

Seeing the word "synthetic" obviously gives people a warm and fuzzy feeling, but means very little in reality. Petro Canada's conventional oils have had the pour point very comparable to most today's "synthetics" years before synthetics and Semi Synthetics became even remotely popular. Now some of those oils are labled Semi Synthetic or even full synth.
The word "synthetic" means nothing today, without other certifications such as some manufacturer's specs and European standards.

 

[charbaby]

After joining BITOG, syn/blends seemed to be more about marketing than anything else due to there being so little syn in the blend and the % being a complete unknown.

Today, this may have changed, IDK! This is why I would prefer to blend my own, e.g., 2 qts PP/3 qts PYB(or visa-versa). At least I know what I'm getting

And in my particular climate/driving style, it may not even matter!

 

[Flareside302]

just FYI Motorcraft uses a G-II base and a small portion of PAO G-IV as a carrier.

 

[Falken]

I'll have to agree with Brule.

The only reason Group III synthetic oil is called "Synthetic" is because Castrol's lawyers said so.

What I would consider a Synthetic would be more like PU GTL process.

There has to be a certain amount of Unicorn Tears and effort on the part of the oil company, and solid NOACK and film strength before I'll agree that it should be called "synthetic" or not.

From what I have read on here, if base stock is important to you, Pennzoil conventional seems to be using GTL leftovers with their 5% NOACK.

 

[Garak]

Since when does Group IV make a good additive carrier?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
I'm starting to think synthetic blends are mostly syn..

That's definitely not the norm in the industry.

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: Flareside302
just FYI Motorcraft uses a G-II base and a small portion of PAO G-IV as a carrier.


The quart bottles of Motorcraft oils that I have read the labels, mentioned only using their Hydro Processed oils in their Synblends meaning, Group III(GRP II/III Mix).

Am I wrong here?

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
That's definitely not the norm in the industry.

Agreed. This is the problem we're running into lately here. The minute something seems "good" about a certain oil, it's automatically because they loaded it with synthetic bases, be it Group III, IV, esters, GTL, or whatever fits the agenda at hand. After all, why wouldn't BP sell Castrol Edge in Castrol High Mileage bottles and at a lower price? And SOPUS sells Ultra in Pennzoil Conventional bottles and at Pennzoil Conventional prices, too.

 

[dlundblad]

Im not saying i disagree with you, but if this is the case, you'd think they'd either bring down the price of a full name brand synthetic or raise the prise of a synthetic blend.

Pennzoil synthetic dexos approved blend is 17 and some change. Only a few more $$ than Pennzoil conventional. PP is 25 and some change.

The blend is an exceptional value IMO.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Originally Posted By: Flareside302
just FYI Motorcraft uses a G-II base and a small portion of PAO G-IV as a carrier.


The quart bottles of Motorcraft oils that I have read the labels, mentioned only using their Hydro Processed oils in their Synblends meaning, Group III(GRP II/III Mix).

Am I wrong here?

AFAIK, the only liquid petroleum derived basestocks that aren't hydrocracked are Grp Is.

 

[charbaby]

Hmmmm!

 

[salv]

Our bulk oil is Gulfpride Advanced Fuel Efficient Synthetic Blend 5w30. It is 20-30% synthetic base oil blended with a hydro-processed, solvent de-waxed Group II. The MSDS lists the synthetic portion as "proprietary".
It is a great value for us and for our customers. We buy it at $7.19/gallon and sell it at $2.32/quart. The Formula Shell 5w30 we were buying before cost us a dollar more per gallon.