Mobil 1 vs. Mobil 1 Extended Performance, API SN

Pennzoil motor oil
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The Critic

The Critic

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I was talking to buster earlier tonight and we noticed that there is not much of a difference in UOA results on long drains between Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 Extended Performance.

It is obvious that both oils are utilizing some sort of organic, non-metallic additive chemistry that is not showing up in the oil analysis results. Mobil 1's starting TBN is about 8.0, while the EP is 9.3.

The behavior of both oils on long drains is that the TBN seems to fall very rapidly to about 3.0 by 5,000 miles, but stabilizes and manages to stay above 2.0 on drains exceeding 10,000 miles. Viscosity and wear appear to be similar as well.

So, what's the difference between Mobil 1 Extended Performance and regular Mobil 1 aside from the possibility of a slight improvement in super long drains (past 10k)? From the information I've gathered so far, you may as well save the $2 and use regular Mobil 1 if your drains do not exceed 10k (or the OEM's normal-service interval).

Thoughts?
 
Mobil guarantee EP for 15k and regular only for manufacturer oci

So your findings seem to validate those usage profiles

If it is the same price, it seems you may want to go with EP for an added safety margin
 
Originally Posted By: MarkStock
Mobil guarantee EP for 15k and regular only for manufacturer oci
So your findings seem to validate those usage profiles
If it is the same price, it seems you may want to go with EP for an added safety margin


The Mobil guarantee is just marketing hype. Firstly even if you use supermarket oil it is very likely that your engine will not be damaged, although it could suffer from increased wear and even some varnish or sludge formation. Secondly your chances of taking legal action for a damaged engine are close to nil, because it would be very hard to prove. They would say the engine was already damaged.
 
Mobil, back in the day (in Oz) stated that M1 had 40,000km protection (25,000 miles, 12 months, just like Amsoil...and could drive from Sydney to Perth, and back again, etc. etc.

But still only recommended the factory OCI.

Like Amsoil, and like the spacebear study...you are on your own when out there. Guarantee, recommendation, or suggestion otherwise.

"Gut Feel", and "what other people have told you" might be how you decide.
 
you cannot tow let say another car that weights 3 times as yours , with your car up hill for 15k miles and be safe. its mostly marketing , probably the EP will last longer but 15k is more of marketing thing than reality.
 
I have always used the regular Mobil 1. No need for the EP based on my used oil analysis and since regular M1 was factory fill in 3 of my vehicles, I just stick with it. I have used Mobil 1 since the mid 1980's.
 
There might be hype or it might be hard to easily claim, but I find it hard to believe that EP wouldn't go further than regular M1

I know others probably have better info than me on the composition, but the product specs except the TBN are close if I recall correctly and The Critic and buster seem to be suggesting the same

So on balance, if the price was the same, and I had a longish oci due to manufacturer eg 10k, I'd go for the EP version
 
I wouldn't go 15K on any oil.
If I was doing a lot of highway driving I would go 10K if my OLM allowed it. It seems that Mobil 1 Extended Performance does have a reserve capacity (TBN) over regular Mobil 1 but I doubt I'd ever need it.

OT: Do most of you feel that SN Mobil 1 is an improvement over SM? I've read some posts which seem to pan the SM version.
(I ask because I still have several bottles of SM).
 
I didnt see any compelling benefit between the two at 10-12k OCIs when I was comparing. If one has a bit more TBN, not a bad thing, but then again, if youre paying a premium for EP, it may or may not be worth it.
 
Rounding up, my Wal-Mart has 5w30 Mobil synthetic, M1, and Mobil 1 Extended Performance, for $20, 22, and 24 respectively. Personally, I would always spend the extra $4 and get the EP.

What is the exact difference in chemistry between the three? We will never know. I do know that the used oil analysis for the EP are great, and the price point for me is acceptable for what they say is their best product.

I agree with the others about the warranty. I don't think it's worth the paper it's written on. The longest I ever ran an oil was 12K and that was using PU.
 
The chemistry among most of the M1 line is similar and the differences between regular M1 and EP are most likely not detectable via VOA/used oil analysis. It could be added AO's for example. I think you'd probably see some differences if you were to run both out to 15k-20k miles and did some tear downs. Otherwise, it's really hard to tell.

For 10k mile drains, regular Mobil 1 is all you need. Beyond that, I'd probably spend the extra $4 and get the EP just for peace of mind.

Both oils have been extensively tested out to 25k miles.
 
2008 Corvette GM recommends Mobil 1. Owners manual states to follow the OLM system. I just went 7000 miles on 50% OLM. If everything went the same for the next 50% it would be 14,00 0n regular Mobil 1. Opinions? I did change oil. 7000 and 10 months seemed far enough for me. I did not use Mobil 1. I use Amsoil in my other three vehicles and needed to order. I used Amsoil XL5w30 in the vette this time. Seems quieter on cold starts.Maybe my imagination but sure seems less 'noisy'
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: hounddog
2008 Corvette GM recommends Mobil 1. Owners manual states to follow the OLM system. I just went 7000 miles on 50% OLM. If everything went the same for the next 50% it would be 14,00 0n regular Mobil 1. Opinions?


Probably, if the OLM says so. I can tell you that GM tests the [censored] out of Mobil 1.
 
Originally Posted By: hounddog
2008 Corvette GM recommends Mobil 1. Owners manual states to follow the OLM system. I just went 7000 miles on 50% OLM. If everything went the same for the next 50% it would be 14,00 0n regular Mobil 1. Opinions? I did change oil. 7000 and 10 months seemed far enough for me. I did not use Mobil 1. I use Amsoil in my other three vehicles and needed to order. I used Amsoil XL5w30 in the vette this time. Seems quieter on cold starts.Maybe my imagination but sure seems less 'noisy'


Does GM "recommend" or "require" the use of Mobil 1 or equivalent full synthetic? I suspect it recommends Mobil 1 but allows anything meeting Dexos1, which could be a synthetic blend. In this case, the OLM would be tuned for the Dexos1 blend, allowing an even bigger cushion if Mobil 1 was used. But as you say, with a car like a Corvette, I can't see many owners pushing the OCI envelope too far.
 
Does the GM OLM have a time override?

7k at 50% might not get to 14k at 100%. You might reach a time limit at say 10k and it will say to change.

Mercedes does mileage to next oil change and then 30 days before the 12 month mark, it changes to days.
 
The testing XM does is far beyond the 10K or 15K OCI they recomend. If XM says EP is good for 15K then there is a reason they will warranty it 5K longer than the reg M1.
 
Originally Posted By: hounddog
2008 Corvette GM recommends Mobil 1. Owners manual states to follow the OLM system. I just went 7000 miles on 50% OLM. If everything went the same for the next 50% it would be 14,00 0n regular Mobil 1. Opinions?


Wow 7000 miles at 50% is really good. Was that mostly highway driving? How many quarts does the Corvette crankcase hold?
 
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