I don’t use Mobil 1 for the most part, but most certainly would if I found a good price on it. Like almost all right-thinking folks, I have utmost respect for this superb oil brand. Also would note the brand’s incredible historic contribution in marketing to make the world aware of synthetics.
Mobil 1 Undeserved Bad Reputation?
- Thread starter ChrisD46
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I can confirm Mobile 1 is good stuff also. But it’s spelled “Mobeel”.
#1 selling PCEO oil in North America, by volume. And holds that title by a lot. I’m talking tens of millions of gallons.
Arguably the bar all other oils need to meet or exceed.
Yeah, that’s a bad rep if I ever heard one.
Arguably the bar all other oils need to meet or exceed.
Yeah, that’s a bad rep if I ever heard one.
@Triple_Se7en Just curious ... why would you recommend three different oils for the same vehicle and, I assume, the same driving environment?
Do you have sales figures for this? Tens of millions of gallons seems like it could be a huge amount of oil.
I have a jug of Mobil 1 European Car on tap. I usually pick up Pennzoil with rebates but picked this up on a Walmart Black Friday sale. Not too worried.
That's a tough oil to beat imo.
I have sales figures from Chevron, that states the size of the market place and the general players, as of 2023.
Considering the PCEO market is somewhere between ~465 million and ~500 million gallons a year. Add in Mobil 1’s general brand “size” - and Mobil being the #1 supplier of PCEO. It’s not hard to come to the conclusion that Mobil 1, sells tens of millions of gallons. I would venture to guess Mobil 1 is probably used in at least 1 in 10 oil changes between the DIY market and such. At 10% of the market place, that’s on the low side 43 million gallons. On the high side 50M+.
Heck, my own house brand is in the millions of gallons.
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
So we just attack people now?
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No one's attacking anything, good grief.
The math easily works. There are around 290,000,000 registered vehicles in the country, and they generally hold a gallon or more in the sump. Say the cars last 10 years and get 15 oil changes in that time, you have 290 million, times 15 gallons whatever that number is. Even assuming a low market share, you have many, many, tens of millions. Sorry for not doing the actual math, but the point concerns thinking in scale for 30 seconds to get to a sensible place.
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When you say this, do you mean in quality/performance, marketing, or both?
Both. It’s consistently good. And if you’re blending a full synthetic, it will absolutely get compared to Mobil 1. So you best be at least as good as what people “think” of Mobil 1 is. While maintaining a much, much cheaper price point.
If you’re trying to be at the same price as Mobil 1, you’re doing it wrong unless you have the marketing to support it - see Pennzoil and Valvoline.
Maybe this has been discussed in some other threads but I like to know what's so special about the Costco generic Mobil 1 (or Mobile 1 in South).
It is not Euro with any approvals and it's not EP or ESP and cost about $7 / qt.
I've bought LOTS of oil from Costco over the years mainly Chevron Supreme 5/10W-30 for ~ $2/qt on sale (proof that with shorter OCI, even dino or blend will do
) or Kirkland Syn 5W-30 for ~$3/qt on sale. But when it comes to M1, I buy it at walmart. The EP and Euro are much cheaper than the generic Costco M1. I can always get the Euro for under $5 / qt same as Castrol Euro, I don't see the EP on sale as much but it's still ~$5.50 / qt and cheaper than Costco M1.
I currently have a $6 / qt (e.g. Valvoline EP) budget for engine oil.
Mixed with using some cheaper Syn like Kirkland, Havoline, QS, etc. All with shorter OCIs. Every other oil change, the engine may get a nicer treat. 
It is not Euro with any approvals and it's not EP or ESP and cost about $7 / qt.
I've bought LOTS of oil from Costco over the years mainly Chevron Supreme 5/10W-30 for ~ $2/qt on sale (proof that with shorter OCI, even dino or blend will do
) or Kirkland Syn 5W-30 for ~$3/qt on sale. But when it comes to M1, I buy it at walmart. The EP and Euro are much cheaper than the generic Costco M1. I can always get the Euro for under $5 / qt same as Castrol Euro, I don't see the EP on sale as much but it's still ~$5.50 / qt and cheaper than Costco M1.I currently have a $6 / qt (e.g. Valvoline EP) budget for engine oil.
Mixed with using some cheaper Syn like Kirkland, Havoline, QS, etc. All with shorter OCIs. Every other oil change, the engine may get a nicer treat.
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Great approvals, HT/HS and lots of selection of grades.
On another note considering most major chains like Pepboys, Firestone, and Jiffy lube use Pennzoil, think about how many vehicles live their entire life on Pennzoil platinum?
On topic to the thread, with a few exceptions here and there I almost always use Mobil 1 and I've got over 237,000 miles on a Hyundai no less. Anecdotally I think Mobil 1 is some of the highest performing non boutique oil you can get, their use of AN, esters, PAO and a healthy additive package make for a very high quality oil. So long as they keep offering 40 and 50 fully synthetic grades they'll continue to be my go to oil.
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Are Wally's prices not good enough?
What do you consider a good price?
If you have the "utmost respect for this superb brand" might it not be worth a buck or two more for a 5-quart jug compared to lesser oils?
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I agree Shel. Tens of millions of gallons over Pennzoil, Castrol, Valvoline etc? Might be a stretch.
