I was looking around the shelves of a local truck stop at the different oils and additives available. One additive was a radiator coolant additive marketed by Caterpillar, presumably to promote a cleaner, rust free cooling system. I asked why they just didn't put that in their radiator fluid.
"Because they have to price their anti-freeze competitively with other brands. If they included this chemical the anti-freeze would cost more than most folks would want to pay. For those willing to pay more for the better protection, there is the additive."
A helluva good answer I though, and very possibly the same with engine oils. Maybe not with the high buck synthetics, but certainly possible with under 2 buck a bottle dinos. No?
We do often hear that we really don't need to add anything to a good oil to make it better. "If there was an additive that would improve good old Pennzoil 10W30 then the company would put it in there" goes the mantra. But what if that "good oil" lacks a beneficial additive or two simply because the manufacturer is trying to get the cost of production under a certain number. In other words, the oil can be "good enough" for 1.75 per quart. It could be much better with additive "X" but that would make it cost 2.25 per quart. And people might buy a competing brand due to price concerns--especially if the competing brand uses marketing hype designed to make customers think it's just as good as the other oil.
Another thing of concern. I don't like paying eight dollars a quart for "motorcycle oil." Currently I can get more than enough protection from redcap Mobil 1 (15W50) for my Harley. In the future, however, the zinc/phosphorus will likely be reduced to a point where it wouldn't have enough of those additives to give the same level of protection that I'm now getting. If/when that day comes I'll either have to cough up the eight bucks for "motorcycle oil" or come up with a ZDDP (or equivalent)_additive to put into my oil.
I wonder if I could use a certain amount of STP in a 10W30 oil and end up with a 20W50 oil with high ZDDP.
Your thoughts?
Dan
"Because they have to price their anti-freeze competitively with other brands. If they included this chemical the anti-freeze would cost more than most folks would want to pay. For those willing to pay more for the better protection, there is the additive."
A helluva good answer I though, and very possibly the same with engine oils. Maybe not with the high buck synthetics, but certainly possible with under 2 buck a bottle dinos. No?
We do often hear that we really don't need to add anything to a good oil to make it better. "If there was an additive that would improve good old Pennzoil 10W30 then the company would put it in there" goes the mantra. But what if that "good oil" lacks a beneficial additive or two simply because the manufacturer is trying to get the cost of production under a certain number. In other words, the oil can be "good enough" for 1.75 per quart. It could be much better with additive "X" but that would make it cost 2.25 per quart. And people might buy a competing brand due to price concerns--especially if the competing brand uses marketing hype designed to make customers think it's just as good as the other oil.
Another thing of concern. I don't like paying eight dollars a quart for "motorcycle oil." Currently I can get more than enough protection from redcap Mobil 1 (15W50) for my Harley. In the future, however, the zinc/phosphorus will likely be reduced to a point where it wouldn't have enough of those additives to give the same level of protection that I'm now getting. If/when that day comes I'll either have to cough up the eight bucks for "motorcycle oil" or come up with a ZDDP (or equivalent)_additive to put into my oil.
I wonder if I could use a certain amount of STP in a 10W30 oil and end up with a 20W50 oil with high ZDDP.
Your thoughts?
Dan
