Semi-synthetic: What's the point?

[sangyup81]

Originally Posted By: Spyder7
Originally Posted By: sangyup81
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
I still find it hilarious that most guys here think ISOsyn group iii is equivalent to a good group iv/v blend. What an easy bunch of chumps for the big oil co's

performance/cost, group III is far superior
if you want to beat that, get the M1 flavors that have III and IV blended together


What percentage of each is in M1 and how do you know it isn't mostly GP III?

Just to play devil's advocate, as I disagree with Arco completely on this and see nothing wrong with GP III oils, such as the one I'm using now.

-Spyder

Right, all we can know is that there are both 3 and 4 in some flavors of M1. We can assume the Korean M1 is the same one as here and then go by the Korean MSDS. It's not the best way but it's the only way XOM gives us unfortunately. =(

Castrol EDGE claims to have PAOs in their oils but as of yet I have no way of knowing how much.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: BigJohn
The point of Semi-Syth is......

I just purchased Motorcraft 5w20 in 5 quart jugs for $12 at my local WalMart. Compare that to Synthetics that range from $20.50 to $28.00 at WalMart.

Yep, I will happily spend $12.....for SemiSynthetic.....




This. Explains it all.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Originally Posted By: BigJohn
The point of Semi-Syth is......

I just purchased Motorcraft 5w20 in 5 quart jugs for $12 at my local WalMart. Compare that to Synthetics that range from $20.50 to $28.00 at WalMart.

Yep, I will happily spend $12.....for SemiSynthetic.....

This. Explains it all.
++ 1

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
I still find it hilarious that most guys here think ISOsyn group iii is equivalent to a good group iv/v blend. What an easy bunch of chumps for the big oil co's

Yeah lets just IGNORE the PERFORMANCE of most group III oils (and also Group II) and have a closed mind!

Show me a single poor UOA or post on Amsoil XL oil. PP is an excellent performer. Pennzoil conventional also. How about Chevron with their EXCELLENT ISOsyn oils?

Get back to me when you have some FACTS...

Bill
You too! They would show their superiority under duress and extenuating circumstances. Since most here would use syn for cold weather ungaraged (arctic) starting - what group III oil has a pour point below -60F and MRV better than 15k cP at -40C?
- Plus, group iii are NOT synthetic. I'll carry this banner to my grave.

 

[AEHaas]

I believe that for the best engine wear protection Motorcraft Semi-Synthetic 5w20 is one of the best oils available. This is for the average user where there is no super cold weather nor racing hot conditions. In other words 99.9 percent of users should get the best performance from this oil.

In a way, for this type of user, I believe that the semisynthetic is superior than fully mineral based and better than fully synthetic oils. It is as the combination has the beneficial characteristics of both but not to the extremes.

aehaas

 

[Y_K]

I wonder why Chevron does not make one.

 

[jhenle]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: sangyup81

What makes you think it is working? Most people are still scared to go beyond 3,000. Jiffy Lube marketing > XOM marketing


So do you have the ACTUAL data on the number of people who get their oil CHANGED every 3,000 miles or 3 months?

What percentage of owners in the US fleet?

I'd bet that its a LOT longer than 3000 miles. Very few people that I know get their oil changed that often.


I do 3k OCIs. Why? Because that's what my car manual recommends for my style of driving (a lot of in-town stop-n-go). If most of my driving were highway, I would do 5k OCIs as per the manual.

 

[bigjohn]

I plan to stay with my manual as well.

5k miles and 6 months

used oil analysis on MC 5w20 show really good performance out to 6-7k miles.

No worries.

 

[mark pruett]

Originally Posted By: jstutz
I still dont understand the syn blend anyway. If you take iron balls and mix them with lead balls then start heating them, the lead is still going to melt at ~600F while the iron will sit there completely unharmed to over 2000F.


That's not quite accurate. It's more like adding antifreeze to water; water by itself boils at 212F, but with antifreeze, the boiling point is higher than plain water.

The blend as a whole probably has better properties than just the dino itself, but worse than the syn by itself.

 

[jstutz]

Originally Posted By: mark pruett
Originally Posted By: jstutz
I still dont understand the syn blend anyway. If you take iron balls and mix them with lead balls then start heating them, the lead is still going to melt at ~600F while the iron will sit there completely unharmed to over 2000F.


That's not quite accurate. It's more like adding antifreeze to water; water by itself boils at 212F, but with antifreeze, the boiling point is higher than plain water.



The blend as a whole probably has better properties than just the dino itself, but worse than the syn by itself.


Im not sure. You very well could be right. I have had others suggest this would not be the case for oxidation, but would be for VI. It would be interesting to see some test that would show this.

 

[donz26]

IMO, much of the reason for the blends is marketing. Some people will pay for an upgrade from conventional, but don't want to pay full synthetic prices. So the blends are a mid- grade niche.

 

[lucerne06]

almost the best of both worlds I suppose???

 

[daves87rs]

I really have to agree with this.

Still cheaper, works for most. Pretty much all the automakers would be wise to hop on this...