Mobil 1: Noiser Engine = More Wear or Just More Annoying?

[goodvibes]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gary Allan:

quote:

---

Buster, It's the second time you've said that EP has more PAO.

---

(envision crusty/dusty western type getting cranked up with an evil little smile and one of those looks in his eyes)

Let's string him up!! That'll fix `im!

---

I only mentioned it because it implies that regular M1 is something else and would confuse newbies. I did let it go the first time so don't buster my chops

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Quote:
Mobil 1 PCMO produces more engine noise, a symptom of possibly more wear and tear. It's also prone to producing more Fe in UOAs, a symptom of more wear and tear (film disruption aside). If using the stuff what evidence does one have that it's not producing more wear and tear ?
==================================================

I take no chances with Mobil-1 in my newish Chevy Colorado 4X4. In my six quart crankcase, I pour....

5 Mobil-1 5w-30
3/4 quart Mobil-1 15W-50
One bottle (15-16 oz) of Valvoline Synpower Oil Treatment.

Very-Very quiet 3.5 L5 engine

 

[bbcmat]

"Mobil 1 PCMO produces more engine noise, a symptom of possibly more wear and tear. It's also prone to producing more Fe in UOAs, a symptom of more wear and tear (film disruption aside). If using the stuff what evidence does one have that it's not producing more wear and tear ? "

Simple answer - EXPERIENCE. Pull off a rocker and inspect the pushrod / rocker / valve tip. It may involve prying one's a double s off the computer chair - but you will learn something.

That application is running no cam, no compression, and no rpm - will live forever on regular changes of Mobil 1.

IMO

MAT

 

[buster]

I've never had a "loud" engine due to Mobil 1. In fact, the opposite. If your engine is prone to piston slap, or other noises, to me that is a sign that the engine is the problem, not the lubricant. What do you think so many engines become quiet after switching to a heavier oil? I also don't see an indication via oil analysis that wear is a problem with ANY brand of oil these days. All seem to get the job done and some shine better then others in certain engines.

Mobil tested the EP oils in 130 cars in various climates and all engine types. I don't really think their is any problem. NY/Las Vegas and in 4cyl/V6/V8 engines.

 

[farrarfan1]

I dumped the factory fill in my 05 Uplaned 3.5L at 3500 miles and replaced with M1 5W30 and can't tell a bit of difference in noise. It sounds exactly the same.

 

[Big O Dave]

quote:

---

Originally posted by bbcmat:

That application is running no cam, no compression, and no rpm - will live forever on regular changes of Mobil 1.

IMO

MAT

---

True about the cam (stock Vortec hyd roller) and the compression (9.5:1), but not the rpm (sometimes to 6,300 rpm, and often 3,500 at cruise on freeway), based on tire size, gearing and math.

It's my F250 that has never exceeded 3,300 rpm since I've owned it... and it, too, has the stock cam and whatever the oem low compression was in '83. I'm happily running Rotella 5W-40 in it.

[ June 23, 2005, 04:17 PM: Message edited by: Big O Dave ]

 

[goodvibes]

Buster, I think engines with timing chains generally make more noise with M1. I know my 2zz Toyota does and it's a very high tech and well designed motor. It also doesn't have a balance shaft or a heavy flywheel to dampen things out. I prefer timing chains and less rotating mass for this application with the extra noise that brings and don't think it's a design defect. I just prefer not to hear more of it. Now if I was absolutely getting BETTER protection then I'd live with it but there are ways that I can have my cake and eat it too. On the my Accord the M1 works great for a once a year change.

 

[Chimay]

My Toyota V8 4Runner is really quiet with M1 5W-30 in it. Sometimes I can't tell it's even running it's so quiet.

 

[MAT]

Stock 350 shortblock with a careful rebuild will take short burps to 6500 rpm like nothing - 4500 rpm for days.

Thousands of 350 shortblocks are running around in pleasure boats - often with cast crankshafts!

You will not go wrong with Mobil 1 in this application.

IMO

MAT

 

[Losiho]

Mobil 1 seems to be copping a bum rap from certain quarters in this forum, so let me add some balance to this conversation :

Currently, there is Mobil 1 10W-30 in my father's Lexus LS400. There is absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in engine noise compared to what the Lexus workshop used before (Caltex/Chevron 10W-30).

There is also Mobil 1 5W-50 in my sister's Jaguar X300 (shock horror, a huge viscosity spread, it can't possibly work) and there is NO DIFFERENCE in engine noise compared to the Castrol 5W-30 TXT Softec that was in there previously, even though it has a timing chain.

Furthermore, Mobil 1 has also been accused of being too thin, causing oil consumption and burning. I have not added a single drop of oil to either car filled with M1 SS.

I'm not trying to start an argument, just presenting my experience with M1. Like some other oils, I think M1 is just suited to certain types of engines more than others.

 

[buster]

I think if you rephrased the question to "Mobil 1 = makes engines smoother?" You'd find many that would agree. I've heard people say RL makes their engine sound rough. Go figure...dense oil with a very low friction.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
Losiho - great stuff!

M1 does seem to react differently in various engine families
M1 10w-30 and M1 0w-40 were noisy at startup (for about 3 seconds) in my BMW (M52 VANOS) and Subaru (EJ25). Delvac 1 5w-40 made them quiet and oil consumption was the same in each case over years and distance
My supercharged M271 Benz engine is noisy (for about 3 seconds) on M1 0w-40 at startup
My V8 Porsche had Castrol Magnatec 10w-40(semisynth)for years then Shell Helix Ultra synthetic 15w-50 and now Delvac 1 5w-40 - it has sounded the same on all but is smoother on Del 1
Oil consumption has been the same with all - nil!

Engine noise at startup can be caused by a variety of actuators etc - it is usually harmless! Well, unless you have no oil pressure etc of course!
And yes M1 does tend to be noisy in some engines at startup - in a healthy engine the noise is harmless!

I was an early user (1996-7) of GC 0w-30 in a number of US, German and Japanese engines - it was noisy in most at startup

Many heavy diesel engines are also noisy (not fuel combustion related) and tend to become quiet after about 10 seconds or so

Regards
Doug

 

[Crashbox]

I run M1 15W-50 in my '77 Chev Camper Special 454. The engine always makes some noise but it's unavoidable

Seriously, though, I wouldn't run anything less than 10W-XX in a pickup. Ever. But that's just my opinion.

 

[moribundman]

quote:

---

And yes M1 does tend to be noisy in some engines at startup - in a healthy engine the noise is harmless!

---

Doug, in my Audi M1 0W-40 sounded fine on start-up. It was at hot idle when I feared for my engine due to all sorts of unsettling noises.

 

[Big O Dave]

quote:

---

Originally posted by moribundman:
Doug, in my Audi M1 0W-40 sounded fine on start-up. It was at hot idle when I feared for my engine due to all sorts of unsettling noises.

---

M-man, this is exactly when my 350 is noisiest with M1 - at hot idle, especially after a long freeway run.

Having said that, the point brought up by buster is a good one - despite the noise, the engine is VERY smooth; at idle and at any engine speed. Good observation, buster!

An interesting dichotomy: using M1 it is as smooth as can be, but noisy.

I suppose bbcmat/mat is right; I really can't go wrong with M1 in this application, it really is just a matter of understanding the noise and factoring it out.

Maybe it's more of a pride issue, in the sense that my friends say, "what's that clacking sound?" and I don't like trying to explain it.

 

[moribundman]

If only it had been nothing but clacking noises, but it was more of a rattling, accompanied by chafing and grinding noises, interspersed with random, high-pitched squeals. I ended up topping off with 1/4 qt GC and the noise went pretty much away, so it couldn't have been a trapped elf either.

The engine is comparatively whisper-quiet with M1 5W-40 under all conditions.

 

[jsharp]

I don't buy into the "increased noise = increased wear" statement anymore than the opposite. You could pack an engine with heavy grease or some type of foam and have it be very quiet - right up until it seized from inadequate lubrication.

I was using M1 15W-50 in air cooled motorcycle engines in the early 80's. One thing I noticed then was that without exception, every one I tried it in had more noise than the common 10W-40 or 20w-50 dino oils used at the time.

I really doubt it was showing increased wear vs. the dino oils of the day. Quite the opposite in fact. In one case I know of in highly tuned Honda 400 4 cylinder engines you could almost bet on having trashed bottom ends in a few weekends of endurance racing, yet the same engines would run all season using M1 with no problems.

Some fluids are better at dampening noise than others. I just don't believe it has anything to do with which is a better lubricant...

 

[Bryanccfshr]

I have had this 0w30 M1 in the crankcase of my tacoma since february. I just don't hear any difference, feel any difference in this motor oil. Previous fill was mototcraft 5w30 and before than a life of Valvoline All Climate at 6 month intervals(sometimes longer but I was doing the 3k mile thing).

Not much to report on the oil other than it doesn't seem to matter for this engine, next february when it is drained I will know more. I think the best improvement was by using a fuel additive to lubricate the injectors..those and the clutch pulleys in the engine bay make all the noise can't here any internal noise over that.

Mobil 1 also was consumed in the first few hundred miles and I added about 1/3 of a quart.. since then the level has stayed the same.
then again some engines are prone to mechanical noise and the M1 seems to amplify the effect.

 

[jsharp]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bryanccfshr:
I have had this 0w30 M1 in the crankcase of my tacoma since february. I just don't hear any difference, feel any difference in this motor oil. Previous fill was mototcraft 5w30 and before than a life of Valvoline All Climate at 6 month intervals(sometimes longer but I was doing the 3k mile thing).

Not much to report on the oil other than it doesn't seem to matter for this engine, next february when it is drained I will know more. I think the best improvement was by using a fuel additive to lubricate the injectors..those and the clutch pulleys in the engine bay make all the noise can't here any internal noise over that.

Mobil 1 also was consumed in the first few hundred miles and I added about 1/3 of a quart.. since then the level has stayed the same.
then again some engines are prone to mechanical noise and the M1 seems to amplify the effect.

---

I've got fuel injector noise in my Toyota 3.4L and the pully noise you talk about. Other than those, I can't hear the engine running whithout being outside the vehicle or parked by a hard surface like the wall at a drive up with the window down.

It's a non-issue IMO. Every oil I've tried in that engine seems to run the same and sound the same to me...

 

[goodvibes]

quote:

---

Originally posted by jsharp:
I don't buy into the "increased noise = increased wear" statement anymore than the opposite. You could pack an engine with heavy grease or some type of foam and have it be very quiet - right up until it seized from inadequate lubrication.

I was using M1 15W-50 in air cooled motorcycle engines in the early 80's. One thing I noticed then was that without exception, every one I tried it in had more noise than the common 10W-40 or 20w-50 dino oils used at the time.

I really doubt it was showing increased wear vs. the dino oils of the day. Quite the opposite in fact. In one case I know of in highly tuned Honda 400 4 cylinder engines you could almost bet on having trashed bottom ends in a few weekends of endurance racing, yet the same engines would run all season using M1 with no problems.

Some fluids are better at dampening noise than others. I just don't believe it has anything to do with which is a better lubricant...

---

I agree with both the wear/noise statement and that M1 can be noisey regardless of weight in the right motor. At least today we have other fine choices if we feel it's objectionabley loud in a given motor.