Rank these synthetics in order....

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

Cooper

Joined
Mar 2, 2006
Messages
1,527
Location
Mid-West, USA
I know some of you hate these types of threads....so don't reply if you don't like it. For the rest of us who like to see what others think.

Lets asume they are all xw30 weights you can buy off of any auto parts store shelf. Rank these synthetic oils in order from what you think is best to what you think is worst. If you want, list why.

Here is my order.


1. Pennzoil Platinum
2. Q Synthetic
3. Castrol Syntec, (mostly because of GC)
4. Mobil 1
5. Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic
6. Valvoline Synpower
7. Royal Purple
 
1. Pennzoil Platinum*
2. Mobil 1*
3. Q Synthetic
4. Castrol Syntec
5. Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic
6. Valvoline Synpower
7. Royal Purple

*I would personaly use either one of these with confidence
 
Last edited:
1. Mobil 1/PP
2. Valvoline Synpower
3. Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic
6. Castrol Syntec
7. Royal Purple
 
Best/worst is subjective depending on use, vehicle, OCI, and a couple other variables. Since the first two are hard to pin-down for what I think you are looking for, so I'll ask about the third one: What's the OCI?
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: ProfPS
Best/worst is subjective depending on use, vehicle, OCI, and a couple other variables. Since the first two are hard to pin-down for what I think you are looking for, so I'll ask about the third one: What's the OCI?


Doesn't matter, just general opinion.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Vincent_Vega
Why is RP getting the s... end of the stick. Just curious.
Chad


For me, is at the bottom for price point.
 
Originally Posted By: Vincent_Vega
Why is RP getting the s... end of the stick. Just curious.
Chad


Because it really doesn't make much sense to use oils that lack certification and show consistant shearing problems. If RP is truly certified to meet particular specs (do they??) than it would be just another choice on the shelf that may or may not offer any performance advantage over M1/PP. Both Mobil 1 and PP meet more specifications than any other PCMO's on the retail market AFAIK. I've seen no indication at all that RP is better than anything readily available on the market.

You either meet specifications, or you don't. When Amsoil or any other boutique oil has to make a true licensed API product, the specifications change. Just look at Amsoil's XL line vs their regular oils.

If you want to venture outside the realm of the API, then other options are available such as Amsoil/Redline/RP/etc. In some cases you will see benefits, some cases you will not. More than likely you won't.
 
I'd rank them either:

1. Castrol Syntec
2. Mobil 1
3. Penzoil Platinum
4. Q Synthetic
5. Royal Purple
6. Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic
7. Valvoline Synpower

or

1. Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic
2. Valvoline Synpower
3. Pennzoil Platinum
4. Castrol Syntec
5. Royal Purple
6. Q Synthetic
7. Mobil 1

or

1. Mobil 1
2. Pennzoil Platinum, Q Synthetic, Castrol Syntec, Royal Purple (tie)
6. Valvoline Synpower
7. Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic

Those rankings are based on either alphabetical order, most letters, or fewest syllables, whichever you prefer. Without an application specified or a defined criteria given for "best", there really wasn't much else to go on.
 
Originally Posted By: jpr

Those rankings are based on either alphabetical order, most letters, or fewest syllables, whichever you prefer. Without an application specified or a defined criteria given for "best", there really wasn't much else to go on.


Good point. Very true. My rankings fwiw were based on UOA's and just info I've obtained over the years reading about these brands.
 
Out of these that I`ve used:

Mobil 1
Valvoline Syn
RP
Syntec (US)



Valvoline conventional ran just as smooth as M1 in my car. That`s the oil I`ll be going back to on my next oci. My oil choices have no scientific basis though,just purely layman`s observation.
 
Please refer to top line of first post....

Originally Posted By: jpr
I'd rank them either:

1. Castrol Syntec
2. Mobil 1
3. Penzoil Platinum
4. Q Synthetic
5. Royal Purple
6. Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic
7. Valvoline Synpower

or

1. Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic
2. Valvoline Synpower
3. Pennzoil Platinum
4. Castrol Syntec
5. Royal Purple
6. Q Synthetic
7. Mobil 1

or

1. Mobil 1
2. Pennzoil Platinum, Q Synthetic, Castrol Syntec, Royal Purple (tie)
6. Valvoline Synpower
7. Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic

Those rankings are based on either alphabetical order, most letters, or fewest syllables, whichever you prefer. Without an application specified or a defined criteria given for "best", there really wasn't much else to go on.
 
1. Castrol Syntec (German variety only)
2. Mobil 1
3. Pennzoil Platinum
4. Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic
5. Q synthetic
6. Valvoline Synpower
7. Royal Purple

1. Mobil 1
2. Pennzoil Platinum
3. Castrol Syntec ( non german made)
4. Valvoline Maxlife syn
5. Q synthetic
6. Valvoline synpower
7. Royal purple
 
I've always been under the impression that Royal Purple was top notch stuff. I did a few searches and I'm surprised to not find much info at all, and what is is negative.

Really surprising. The stuff is praised endlessly on some other forums I've visited.
 
Quote:
The stuff is praised endlessly on some other forums I've visited


There is a lot of hype in the synthetic oil market and a lot of misinformed people.

The only boutique oils IMHO that offer good value are Amsoil and maybe RL for certain racing applications otherwise M1/PP are as good as any IMO.
 
1) Royal Purple by a margin
2) PP
3) Valvoline Maxlife Syn.
4) Valvoline Synpower
5) Syntec
6) Mobil1
 
Originally Posted By: buster
Quote:
The stuff is praised endlessly on some other forums I've visited


There is a lot of hype in the synthetic oil market and a lot of misinformed people.

The only boutique oils IMHO that offer good value are Amsoil and maybe RL for certain racing applications otherwise M1/PP are as good as any IMO.


I'm new to this site and new to really putting any thought into my oil, and I've been using PP for a really long time thinking I was cheaping out.

Funny.
 
Originally Posted By: Cooper
I know some of you hate these types of threads....so don't reply if you don't like it. For the rest of us who like to see what others think.

Lets asume they are all xw30 weights you can buy off of any auto parts store shelf. Rank these synthetic oils in order from what you think is best to what you think is worst. If you want, list why.

Here is my order.


1. Pennzoil Platinum
2. Q Synthetic
3. Castrol Syntec, (mostly because of GC)
4. Mobil 1
5. Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic
6. Valvoline Synpower
7. Royal Purple


1 - Royal Purple
2 - Penzoil Platinum
3 - Castrol Syntec
4 - Quaker State Synthetic( Q ... )
5 - Valvoline Synpower
6 - Mobil1

Valvoline Maxlife synthetic really doesn't go with these others. It is designed specifically for high mileage engines whereas these others are normal use. It is very good oil but IMO you can't compare it to the others here. Different use.

I still can't get over the hate so many on here have directed at Royal Purple oil? It is one of the top oils( actually all fluids )out there. I would take it in a second even over Amsoil and Redline. The company is even top notch unlike Mobil1 as an example. Just because they have chosen not to pay for certification by various mfg's( they are API certified to SL )does not make them a poor oil. That is so ludicrous I don't know where to even begin. All you have to do is look up the oil standard in question to get the spec's and then compare it to how RP tested. If it meets or exceeds those test standards what difference does it make if it is officially certified or not. Legally it is safe to use for warranty purposes and the new car mfg can't do squat about it. If it were certified it does not make the oil any better because the company has a piece of paper or the bottle has a note saying certified. RP is better than most of the oils that meet most of these standards.

I rated Mobil 1 dead last because it is owned by ExxonMobil and I refuse to use any of their products. I would probably stick it at #3 or #4 if based solely on quality/value for cost. However, we were allowed to rate them where we wanted for any reason so I put it last because of the parent company.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Carlostrece
5w-30 Synthetic High Mileage Oil questions
2
Replies
31
Views
4K
Carlostrece
Hohn
The perks of ordering Valvoline direct from their website
Replies
10
Views
1K
Hootbro
Delta
WRX Oil Choices
2 3
Replies
54
Views
2K
Wheel366
R
1960-ish Engine-Wear Protection
Replies
12
Views
878
Cujet
N
Switching to synthetic oil with exisiting leak - OK?
2
Replies
32
Views
3K
TomYoung
Back
Top Bottom