Mobil1 ESP question

[GlenPratov]

I know this is bait too, but I have a foreign vehicle which explicitly requires API SN. Japanese carmakers seem especially lenient on the minimum standards, I think Honda is the only one I've seen with their own spec.

Not bait. I was refering to European automobiles. Japanese brands are Americanized and therefore specify oils similarly to domestic brands.

 

[Dimitrius James]

Why does the API license matter for a motor oil designed for foreign vehicles? API means American Petroleum Institute and we only have it in America. Owner manuals for American vehicles specify the API donut and Starburst. The oil above doesn't have the Starburst. Or are people purposely using the wrong oil in their vehicles?

I'll take a stab. I'm still learning about his stuff myself, so anyone please feel free to correct anything I get wrong (@OVERKILL ?). I look for SP rated because I want to ensure I get oils that have the correct additive package/chemical composition for our cars. As I understand it, oils that have a high SAPS content, or high ZDDP content can be damaging to the catalytic converters. Our two cars also happen to have GDI engines, one of which is a Turbo GDI. As I also understand it, if an oil has too much calcium, it can pre-ignite in the combustion chambers, leading to catastrophic damage, particularly in the Turbo car. For those reasons, I follow the recommendation in the owners manuals as to what spec/certs to look for in the oil. The Turbo car is a little older. SN was probably the standard when it came out, but it's also a European car, so I go off the European standard when looking for oil for that car, specifically ACEA A3/B3 or A3/B4.

With regard to API being only an American standard, it is also listed in Japanese, Australian, and European owners manuals. I believe the intent is that if you are, for example, in Belgium and drive a car that calls for an oil that meets the ACEA A3/B4 standard, but you can't find one, the owners manual will also state an API spec that meets that same standard so that you have more options in finding the right oil for your car.

 

[Blagoje]

I'll take a stab. I'm still learning about his stuff myself, so anyone please feel free to correct anything I get wrong. I look for SP rated because I want to ensure I get oils that have the correct additive package/chemical composition for our cars. As I understand it, oils that have a high SAPS content, or high ZDDP content can be damaging to the catalytic converters. We have two GDI, cars, one of which is a Turbo GDI. As I also understand it, if an oil has too much calcium, it can pre-ignite in the combustion chambers, leading to catastrophic damage, particularly in the Turbo car. For those reasons, I follow the recommendation in the owners manuals as to what spec/certs to look for in the oil. The Turbo car is a little older. SN was probably the standard when it came out, but it's also a European car, so I go off the European standard when looking for oil for that car, specifically A3/B3 or A3/B4.

With regard to API being only an American standard, it is also listed in Japanese, Australian, and European owners manuals. I believe the intent is that if you are, for example, in Belgium and drive a car that calls for an oil that meets the ACEA A3/B4 standard, but you can't find one, the owners manual will also state an API spec that meets that same standard so that you have more options in finding the right oil for your car.

I'm pretty sure Mobil 1 ESP 0W20 is considered low saps

 

[Dimitrius James]

I'm pretty sure Mobil 1 ESP 0W20 is considered low saps

Agreed. I think it would have to be if they are stating that it "protects" catalytic converters.

 

[Hohn]

D they really protect the cats any better than say a full saps oil though? I thought the ESP targeted protecting DPF/GPF?

That’s my understanding also. regular cats aren’t poisoning by SAPS so much as DPFs/GPFs get face plugged by ash.

At least that was the rationale when we went from a 1.4% SAPS limit for CI-4+ diesel oils to 1% SAPS limit for CJ-4 and later. I never heard of any issues with SCR catalysts being at risk from additive packs, it was always about the DPF.

 

[Hohn]

Not bait. I was refering to European automobiles. Japanese brands are Americanized and therefore specify oils similarly to domestic brands.

At least within America they are…

Lots of Toyota and Honda engines spec different oils for markets outside the USA.

 

[OilUzer]

You have to have at least some min standard or a baseline for everyone's protection. I think that's what eventually allowed people to say oil is oil ... and since it's a biz world, there is nothing wrong with not exceeding it.

 

[ChrisD46]

I have a 2020 Silverado with the 5.3L (whew!) engine, I live in South Texas so I currently run M1 0W-30 AFE since it has the DEXOS rating for what it's worth. I'm curious if I should switch to the European formula since I know DEXOS isn't exactly mandatory in the real world, especially after warranty.
Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I do want to use the best option available.

You may wish to consider M1 0W30 ESP then . This is a top notch , stout oil from Mobil that should do well in your 5.3L .

 

[Dborch41]

You may wish to consider M1 0W30 ESP then . This is a top notch , stout oil from Mobil that should do well in your 5.3L .

I'll probably use that next time. I'm sure the AFE will be fine for now, that's what I was using previously with the 0W-20 while it was still under warranty.