"Regular" Mobil 1 vs. Mobil 1 Extended Performance 10w-30

[DaveInLA]

I was at WalMart the other day to pick up a 5 quart jug of Mobil 1 10w30 for my 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 when I noticed that they had the old Mobil 1 as well as Mobil 1 Extended Performance. I didn't realize that the old stuff was still available, but there it was, about 5 jugs on the shelf, at $5-6 cheaper than the EP stuff. Both are labeled as fully synthetic. The EP is supposed to go 15K miles, the old stuff doesn't say. I ended up buying the regular Mobil 1.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[nobadges]

I think they are keeping the regular stuff available.
I haven't seen the EP available in my area yet...probably because of low turn around on the stock.
Its near 35 bucks canadian here for a 4.4 liter jug of regular M1....I would hate to imagine what a jug of EP would sell for...over 40???

 

[Triple_Se7en]

The only thought is the length of your extended use. The EP is longer lasting.

 

[ruking77]

I have run Mobil 1 5w30 for a few years (19)and a few miles, (765,000 miles) at 15,000 mile OCI's. I also understand that given "most" folks experience this OCI is way off the charts!

In my view, the EP is not worth the premium if all you do is run less than 15,000 mile intervals. Specifically if you run 3/5/7.5k even normal Mobil 1 is overkill.

 

[youngbuck]

Is lasts longer, but does it protect BETTER?

 

[ruking77]

quote:

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Is lasts longer, but does it protect BETTER?

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There could be many meanings to this. However to put only one spotlight on it: how many conventional oils or hydrocracked synthetics would you run at 15,000 mile OCI's?

(Yes, I am totally aware of the bang for the buck equation)

How would the used oil analysis stack up against each other at that OCI? How about 20,000 OCI's? I think most folks already know the answers

In my humble opinion, there is only one major reason why synthetics cost more, they want to sell more (higher profit also) of the hydrocracked synthetic and conventional oils. Not that they would not like to sell bigger boatloads of higher priced group IV synthetics. But keep in mind for example that however good Mobil 1 group IV is, ExxonMobil also manufactures hydrocracked synthetic AND conventional oil. To wit it is a FAR bigger % of the overall business and in fact provides more of the % and volume of profit and by a lot!! So while ExxonMobil lost the arbitration concerning a stricter and the more traditional intrepretation of the synthetic definition, in favor of Castrol, ExxonMobil have always been free to put hydrocracked synthetic in the NON group IV brews!!! This of course supercharges their product line!! They just don't call it "synthetic" So in that case, even though they apparently lost: they won!?

The curious thing is if you compare used oil analysis and even VOA's there is only one Castrol product that is marginally better than Mobil's offerings and that is GC Castrol. I have used the 5w40 version as oem fill in my TDI and I was UNDERWHELMED compared to Delvac One 5w40 aka Mobil 1 Truck and SUV 5w40 and the Mobil Products COST LESS!!!!??? Not only that used oil analysis show GC (while good) tapping out at 10,000. Shoot I run 25,000 on Delvac One 5w40 aka Mobil 1 Truck and SUV 5w40 and used oil analysis show it is still GOOD!!?? As high a premium as Castro GC goes in the USA, keep in mind that in Euro they get 12-15 per quart for the Castro GC product!!?? So why would they want to flood the USA (our) market with $5/6 per qt oil, when they can sell all day, everyday, 24/7 in Euro for 12-15 US and not have to pay a second shipping charge!!!?????

[ December 14, 2005, 04:15 PM: Message edited by: ruking77 ]

 

[Triple_Se7en]

There is no GC in 5W-40. It's Belguim-made & inferior to GC.

 

[ruking77]

Since I did not buy it on the market and put it in myself, I took/am taking the word of VW and the VW dealer. But this was 65,000 miles ago. They sell/sold Castrol 5w40 in quart containers. At the time they stated it was the same stuff as oem fill and the bottled stuff was from the German supply line. (I did ask why it costed so much over the aftermarket Castrol products). I really had no reason to disagree with what they told me.

So if your take is true, that is another good reason to stick with the Mobil 1 5w40 products aka Delvac One 5w40.

[ December 14, 2005, 10:44 PM: Message edited by: ruking77 ]

 

[Alex P.]

Probably not. Just a stronger add-pack for longer runs, I would think. Then again, how does the regular M1 of today compare to the last couple of formulations, as far as additives and longevity? Anyway, we sell Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 Extended Performance (limited weights on the EP) side by side at my store. For most people it is not worth the extra money.

 

[Alex P.]

Uh, I guess you just weren't "clear enough", youngbuck.

Ruking: The thread was about M1 vs Mobil 1 Extended Performance. It seems to me youngbuck and Dave were asking about M1 vs Mobil 1 Extended Performance protection. Youngbuck specifically was asking about how they stack up performance wise, *without* considering longevity and OCI. How'd we get to that particular rant on Castrol and Delvac?

 

[ruking77]

quote:

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Uh, I guess you just weren't "clear enough", youngbuck.

Ruking: The thread was about M1 vs Mobil 1 Extended Performance. It seems to me youngbuck and Dave were asking about M1 vs Mobil 1 Extended Performance protection. Youngbuck specifically was asking about how they stack up performance wise, *without* considering longevity and OCI. How'd we get to that particular rant on Castrol and Delvac?

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I stated from the git go there could be many meanings. Also in line with his more amorphous "better question",I asked what was "better" OCI's of 10,000 miles or 25,000 miles? I was replying with my already stated post, that (EP) EXTENDED PERFORMANCE was over kill over the overkill of Mobil 1, if one was only going to do 3.4.5.7.5k OCI's!!!??? So did he really mean does the EP give dramatically lower engine byproduct emissions or numbers such as silicon in Mobil 1 8 vs 4 in EP? So in an attempt to really see what he was asking, I tried to put it in context. Better than Mobil 1? Overkill! In fact you responded with EP for most folks not being worth the money. So...what say you? Or what question do you have of me?

[ December 15, 2005, 05:13 PM: Message edited by: ruking77 ]

 

[DaveInLA]

I only drive the Nissan 3-5K miles/year, so I think I'll stick with the cheaper Mobil 1, and continue doing oil changes every 8 months or so. I used to use Mobil 1 5w30, but after some consideration regarding the temperature here in SoCal, and the fact that the dealer uses 10w30 (even though the manual says "5w30 is recommended, 10w30 is acceptable in warm weather"), I'm going to make the switch to 10w30.

I also drive a 1989 BMW 325is that I use Mobil 1 15w-50 EP in, only because the regular Mobil 1 isn't available at WalMart anymore. I used to run Castrol GTX 20w-50, but got tired of doing oil changes every 4-5 months or so. Now, it's staying in there for a year (only about 3-4K miles for me).

 

[JohnnyO]

Not exactly apples and oranges, maybe grannie smith vs. red delicious, but here you go. Mobil 1 10w30 @ 8k and Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 @ 11.2k, same car.

used oil analysis

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

I find it interesting that the cost per quart of Mobil 1 Extended Performance when packaged in the 5qt jugs is actuall a bit *less* than the regular M1 price in single quarts nowadays. Sure, EP is overkill for a 10K OCI, but if the price is almost the same, why not use EP exclusively?

 

[DaveInLA]

JohnnyO--

I'm ashamed to say that I don't know how to read used oil analysis. When you compared the Mobil 1 10w30 to the Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30, what exactly did you find? From the sound of the responses, it seems like the 5w30 EP was superior. Is that a safe conclusion? Should I return my 10w30 in exchange for the EP?

I do want to note that the weather here in Los Angeles is quite different than it is in Pittsburgh, though. How much does that change?

 

[Alex P.]

Ruking: It just seemed to me that regarding M1 vs Mobil 1 Extended Performance protection, you read too far into it. I didn't say you were wrong, but maybe just answering the wrong question. I'd say that longevity aside, M1 protects just as well as Mobil 1 Extended Performance. Wouldn't you agree? Saying it is overkill is true, but one could argue M1 is overkill in many cases to begin with.

 

[JohnnyO]

The metals numbers are in "parts-per-million", so a lower number for iron, lead, copper, etc. means less engine wear by comparison. In this case, one was 10w30 with 8000 miles and one was 5w30 will 11,000, but for going 11,000 miles the wear numbers were very good. My opinion is that if you're going to run the oil for 10,000 miles or less it won't matter if you use plain M1 or Mobil 1 Extended Performance, although the EP is somewhat better.
I'd say in L.A. you have heat and here you have cold, my guess is the heat takes less of a toll than all the cold starts (it's all frozen and white outside right now) but then it may be a wash.
To know what your oil is really doing, a used oil analysis is the only way to know for sure. I use Blackstone Labs.

 

[DaveInLA]

But as far as 5w30 vs. 10w30, I should be okay with either one, you think? Thanks for the info.

 

[vad]

quote:

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I'd say in L.A. you have heat and here you have cold, my guess is the heat takes less of a toll than all the cold starts (it's all frozen and white outside right now) but then it may be a wash.

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In genearal the cold conditions are much harder on oil than heat. There is no comparison.

 

[JohnnyO]

quote:

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But as far as 5w30 vs. 10w30, I should be okay with either one, you think?

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In L.A. it won't matter but you may get a smidge better gas mileage with the 5w.

quote:

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In genearal the cold conditions are much harder on oil than heat.

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That's kinda what I thought. I've never lived anyplace where it was warm all year, although I hope to some day.