Interested in views on Red Line & Neo

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O

oil newbie

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Hi there -

I work for a market research company currently working on a project on synthetic motor oils. Broadly speaking, we're interested in whether there is potential for generating interest in synthetics among the general consumer market.

I've been assigned research relating to Red Line & Neo. Notwithstanding the nature of the project, it would be great if I could get views/comments relating to those 2 companies to embellish my research (and keep my boss happy!).

I have looked through prior postings on this site (which appears to be fantastic resource) and I'm aware that there are several posts on both companies. However, if you could spare some time to post your thoughts on Red Line & Neo - anything from general experience with the companies, views on their products, personal preferences, I would be much obliged.

Thank you for your time.
 
I can't add much more to what has been discussed in many older threads. Redline is very highly regarded among those that race or have high performance cars. Neo is almost unheard of.

I would also add that Redline/NEO for every day driving is considered overkill. Off the shelf oils have proven to be all you need for moderate drain intervals.
 
I use Redline as an additive. I use one quart to oil changes requiring 4 or 5 quarts total. I feel it has given me better results (as evidenced by UOA's) I use it in 3 different cars.
 
Red Line is probably overkill, but I've been using it in my Escort (shut up! quit laughing!) for 200,000 miles and have been impressed with engine cleanliness and overall performance. The car has nearly 310,000 miles on the original bottom end (head was replaced earlier this year, not oil related).

Neo is really obscure. There is/was a website, but the last time I checked it seemed not to be all that helpful on specs, testimonials, etc. The racer and performance supply outfits all carry Red Line or Royal Purple; virtually no one seems to carry Neo. I have several recent catalogues from the likes of Jeg's, Behrent's, Speedway, and so forth. Generally Neo is just not there.

I agree with SXG6's comments. BITOGers are oil fanatics, not representative of the great unwashed, or unlubricated as the case may be.
 
quote:
Originally posted by oil newbie:
Hi there -

I work for a market research company currently working on a project on synthetic motor oils. Broadly speaking, we're interested in whether there is potential for generating interest in synthetics among the general consumer market.
Click to expand...
If you want my general opinion. The general consumer market is not willing to pay $8-$12 a quart for higher end "botique" oils that you mention. Hence the reason you have a "flood" of lower end price pointed synthetics like mobil 1, penzoil, havoline, castrol etc. The folks that "want" a synthetic oil change are running probably between 5 and 6 thousand miles.

There is an army of salesmen out there right now selling high end "botique" oils (namely Amsoil) and market penetration has not even scratched the surface. I don't even know if the new Mobil 1 "extended performance" is making a dent.

I think oils like Redline, Neo, Amsoil, etc fill a niche for folks that want the best of the best, but for most it won't happen.
 
According to Redline's web page, they fomulate oil to be the best possible, not to meet a particular price point; thus their products are incompatible with the general consumer market.
 
I use RL in my bike and I think it is the best oil for an air cooled HD based motor. I justify the price based on its superior ability to handle heat and wear. I change it every 2500 miles which is likely overkill.

Having said that, I use M1 in my BMW 328i. With 7 qts a $9 per qt. I don't see the need for RL in a car that doesn't face the heat and wear issues of my air cooled bike.

Hey, I could be wrong. M1 0-40 is $6 a quart also, so I may just be deluding myself on the issue.

I change the oil in the BMW every 5K miles by the way.
 
Redline is a great company with integrity, a commitment to quality, and an honest 'no nonsense' approach to customer service, marketing, and product development.

They have a fairly wide range of products and I've found all street use products to be outstanding...there are no gimmick products in the lineup.

I haven't used their race products, but I think that they are very popular and highly respected.

I've use Redline for a very long time and the reason is that their products work, and work better than nearly every other product I've tried.

---------------------

NEO made some gear oils that helped some Formula 1 teams solve their gear box problems.

I've never used their products, and I think that they were biased towards racing and they may still be popular in that market.

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Given the cost of new vehicles and the potential for very long service life with the right maintenance;

- I think that there may be a market for highest quality fluids that are carefully formulated to meet or exceed the quality of specified fluids,

- and offer some advantage in terms of the quality of base stocks and additives used should have a place in the market,

- using an honest educational marketing program ,

- and distribution among service professionals and enthusiast focused retailers.

The biggest probelm I see is that the quality of factory fluids or approved fluids has greatly improved and narrowed the difference between the OEM fluids and the best of the best. Now even an enthusiast can do a little research and buy mass marketed products based on price and find some exceptional products out there.
 
NEO used to use Pb as an AW agent. That could have turned into a marketing nightmare.

Redline has "Water Wetter" which a pretty gimicky product when used with street AF. (It seems to be a great product when used with pure H2O

To be honest Redline doesn't move much product on the shelves of my local shops. I think most are shocked by the high initial price of synthetics.

So which one of your workmates was assigned Amsoil? They could watch the the life of Al Amatuzio and learn about the first marketing of synthetic lubricants in the USA. It was NOT an easy road. I know some here would struggle with this, but Redline and NEO may not be in existence without Amsoil, or at least they would have had it harder as well.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pablo:


Redline has "Water Wetter" which a pretty gimicky product when used with street AF. (It seems to be a great product when used with pure H2O

Click to expand...
It increases the cooling capacity of a 50/50 AF mix to about the same as straight water. That's not gimicky.
 
oil newbie,

If you are interested in the "general consumer market" you need to research in places like Target and Walmart.

The people hanging out here are oil "fans", "fans" meaning short for fanatics.

You wouldn't want to interview Christian or Muslim "fanatics" to get a view of how "regular" Christians or Muslims felt about a religous subject.
 
Thank you to everyone who posted! This is great stuff (and will hopefully keep my boss off my back for a while!).
cheers.gif


At the risk of "pushing the envelope," I wanted to follow up with a couple of questions in response to the postings. Any further replies/comments would, again, be much appreciated:

quote:
LargeCarMan
Member
Member # 9493

posted August 12, 2006 07:23 AM
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With the correct marketing.....Neo has great potential....buy the company!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click to expand...
Interesting view, given that most of the comments on this thread and other postings I've seen were less positive on Neo's products and customer service. I understand that Paul Baker, Neo's founder, sadly passed away a couple of years ago and wondered if there was sense that the company was beginning to decline in his abscence? I've noticed that the company doesn't seem to be as active in sponsorship and the like in recent years. I haven't been able to locate much information on the company's current operations, although it seems like the Baker family is very much still involved in running the company.

quote:
Pablo

Amsoil Sponsor
Member # 512

posted August 12, 2006 08:24 AM
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NEO used to use Pb as an AW agent. That could have turned into a marketing nightmare.

Click to expand...
I'm not entirely sure what this comment is getting at (as my moniker would suggest). Could anyone add to this a little?

quote:
sxg6
Member
Member # 4140

posted August 11, 2006 07:06 PM
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I don't think BITOG is a good representation of the general consumer market.
Click to expand...
quote:
biomed_eng_2000
Junior Member
Member # 13265

posted August 12, 2006 08:48 AM
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oil newbie,

If you are interested in the "general consumer market" you need to research in places like Target and Walmart.

The people hanging out here are oil "fans", "fans" meaning short for fanatics.

You wouldn't want to interview Christian or Muslim "fanatics" to get a view of how "regular" Christians or Muslims felt about a religous subject.
Click to expand...
Agreed, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to pick your brains before I head out and canvass the "unlubricated" (if the project gets that far - being a lowly researcher
frown.gif
, I'm not entirely sure what the next step is).

Thanks again for all the comments!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Steve S:
XS650 was the 6v92TIA the engine used in the Coast Guard surf rescue boats? Just wondering.
Click to expand...
That particular version was developed for an Army ground vehicle in the early 1990s and was one DDC develped for private contractor in the mid 1980s. A version of it did end up used in marine applications later, I don't know which marine applications.

Ours was rated at 580 hp, usually put out over 600 hp. IIRC, the marine versions was rated at around 620hp. Unlimited cooling lets you do more with a highly turbocharged engine.
 
offtopic.gif
XS650 - it does not. In the one test engine it lowered the temp a bit (has not been reproduced outside of Redline) But look at the graph - nearly identical curves. Now - Look at the Redline graph scale. Very gimicky IMHO.
 
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