I'm thinking about changing the oil on my '03 Accord V6 myself, using one of the cheaper oils available in 5 quart jugs from Wally world. Which is better, Motorcraft 5W-20 semi-synthetic or Supertech Synthetic 5W-30? Keep in mind that the car calls for 5W-20 only.
Motorcraft 5-20 semi-synth vs Supertech Synth5W-30
- Thread starter Throckmorton
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The Motorcraft 5W-20 semi-synthetic gets my vote.
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+3 for the 5W20
+4; 5w-20 is the correct grade and Motorcrafts 5w-20 is one of the best money can buy......................at any price!
The Motorcraft is $4 cheaper. Can it be that semi-synth > synthetic?
Trop-Artic Synthetic Blend 5W-20, it's $1.68 at WM and pretty much the same as MC 5w20
"The next generation of all-weather protection. The new GF-4 standards require levels of fuel efficiency and emissions control that will force oil manufacturers to make critical decisions about how they will achieve the desires results. At Phillips 66 our decision has already been made. While some may attempt to continue to squeeze performance out of conventional mineral oils we have decided to go a different route now our standard oil is a synthetic blend.
Synthetic blends offer a number of performance benefits over conventional oils and make it possible to meet and exceed the GF-4 requirements without having to make major sacrifices in other performances areas. Benefits include better hot and cold protection, faster lubrication at start up, improved fuel economy reduction of emissions and cleaner engines with reduced wear.
API SM,SL, Energy Conserving, ILSAC GF-4, DaimlerChyrsler MS-9395M, MS-6395L, Ford WSS-M2C929-A(SAE 5W-30), WSS-M2C930-A (5W-20), GM 6094M, GM 9986231 (SAE 5W-30) GM 9986202 (SAE 5W-20)"
"The next generation of all-weather protection. The new GF-4 standards require levels of fuel efficiency and emissions control that will force oil manufacturers to make critical decisions about how they will achieve the desires results. At Phillips 66 our decision has already been made. While some may attempt to continue to squeeze performance out of conventional mineral oils we have decided to go a different route now our standard oil is a synthetic blend.
Synthetic blends offer a number of performance benefits over conventional oils and make it possible to meet and exceed the GF-4 requirements without having to make major sacrifices in other performances areas. Benefits include better hot and cold protection, faster lubrication at start up, improved fuel economy reduction of emissions and cleaner engines with reduced wear.
API SM,SL, Energy Conserving, ILSAC GF-4, DaimlerChyrsler MS-9395M, MS-6395L, Ford WSS-M2C929-A(SAE 5W-30), WSS-M2C930-A (5W-20), GM 6094M, GM 9986231 (SAE 5W-30) GM 9986202 (SAE 5W-20)"
I love TropArtic, but you can't hardly find it in 5W-20. That's why I'm using MC 5W-20 in my '07 Accord V6. Besides, it's probably as good if not better than TA, and in the 5qt jugs, it's only about $.40 more per quart, so why not?
Now if I could find the TA in 5W-20...
Ask the store manager if he/she can get you a 12 Qt Case if you take the whole thing. Dont be suprised if its more though. In most cases the wholesale is higher on 5W-20. Dont know if its the research/formulating, volume, or ingredient cost. A combination of all three I imagine.
Are there any reasons why a synthetic 5W-30 wouldn't be better?
Depends on the length of OCI and Construction of the Synthetic.
A Group IV or Group V synthetic would almost certainly be better at -40*F Starting Temperature or 300*F oil temperature.
While it certainly may be possible to construct a Group II+ conventional oil to run 20,000 mi OCI it would likely be cost prohibitive.
The concern of many with SuperTech Synthetic is that it may be a minimal Group III (120 VI) with the minimal additive package to pass API/SM certification standards and not designed for extended drains.
In the case of 5W-30it be no better if as good as a Motorcraft Synthetic Blend 60% Group II+ (114 VI) + 40% Group III (130 VI) with a better additive package or Pennzoil Group II+ (114 VI) with Premium Additive Package.
Bottom line is buyer beware. There is a lot more to it than a label ie "Synthetic".
In the case of Motorcraft 5W-20 its 60% Synthetic with a Premium Add Pkg vs a 100% (possibly lower grade) Synthetic with at least appears from a cheap VOA to be a reduced add pkg.
A Group IV or Group V synthetic would almost certainly be better at -40*F Starting Temperature or 300*F oil temperature.
While it certainly may be possible to construct a Group II+ conventional oil to run 20,000 mi OCI it would likely be cost prohibitive.
The concern of many with SuperTech Synthetic is that it may be a minimal Group III (120 VI) with the minimal additive package to pass API/SM certification standards and not designed for extended drains.
In the case of 5W-30it be no better if as good as a Motorcraft Synthetic Blend 60% Group II+ (114 VI) + 40% Group III (130 VI) with a better additive package or Pennzoil Group II+ (114 VI) with Premium Additive Package.
Bottom line is buyer beware. There is a lot more to it than a label ie "Synthetic".
In the case of Motorcraft 5W-20 its 60% Synthetic with a Premium Add Pkg vs a 100% (possibly lower grade) Synthetic with at least appears from a cheap VOA to be a reduced add pkg.
Last time I checked the ConocoPhillips Base Oil website, CP offers a 95 VI index Grp II and a 123 VI index Grp III from S-Oil, suitable for blending a 5W motor oil.
In your statement, what are you indicating is the source of Grp II+ in the Motorcraft synblend?
Blue99 it was a hypothetical. Trying to explain the concern many have with SuperTech Synthetic. I was not claiming I know the exact composition of either oil.
So Motorcraft Semi-Synth is ~ 60% synthetic. That's interesting. I had no idea whether "semi-synthetic" meant 60% synthetic or just 6% synthetic.
There is no universal standard for using semi- or syn-blend. I don't even think it's regulated or specified by the API or anyone else. You won't get any of the major oil companies to specify for certain what the % blend is...heck, most of them won't even tell you what *group* they are, much less in what percentages they're blended.
I think most of the speculation comes for the MSDS's with the various CAS#'s for the different types of oils, i.e. syn or dino.
I believe there is a FTC ruling of minimum 15% Group III or higher in Synthetic Blend.
Consensus is MC 5W-20 is 60% Group III and MC 5W-30 is 30-40% Group III.
Some of the basestocks have been figured out through the MSDS, Some through statements by manufacturers, and some because people know what basestocks are available to each manufacturer to blend a 5W oil.
Consensus is MC 5W-20 is 60% Group III and MC 5W-30 is 30-40% Group III.
Some of the basestocks have been figured out through the MSDS, Some through statements by manufacturers, and some because people know what basestocks are available to each manufacturer to blend a 5W oil.
I would pick Motorcraft due to the better additive package. I would suspect the base oil is better in the Motorcraft..
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