Slickest oil?

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All API (or other spec) oils that meet the specification that your vehicle calls for are equal and none can be proven to be better at everything, at any price.
So pick any oil from Walmart or any other retailer that meets those specs at any price.

Ex. your asking for the best oil for less friction which is one objective out of dozens. What if the best oil at reducing friction (which can not be proven) allows rust to build up in the engine while the vehicle sits around during the winter? Would you still want that oil?

Just go with the proper spec the manufacturer of the engine recommends, trust them, then know a heck of a lot more what is required and its not the oil that saves an engine, its engine design that makes it last, so again, choose based on your owners manual.

I know we ALL think we know better or want to do better for our engines BUT we are only motivated to use a specific oil by oil company marketing and not reality.
Decades ago it was a different story, new oils that need to meet a spec are all the same, only a handful of companies now make these additive packages for all the oil brands.
 
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Originally Posted by PimTac
This ought to be a interesting thread.


Yes, it has the potential to become very interesting.
wink.gif
 
All the oils that have the energy conserving logo on the jug is probably as slick as possible. Oils with the same ratings are about the same as each other.
 
Calculating the coefficient of friction of a fluid is actually quite easy and is usually covered in a first year university physics class using a metal block and a sheet metal inclined plain. However, it's not a measurement the lubricant companies post.
 
Originally Posted by PimTac
This ought to be a interesting thread.

It really should. I know 3 petroleum scientist that carry a "slick-o-gauge" in their pocket protector! There's also one kept in the night-stand next to the rubbers.

This is an Official Oil Slippery Tester.

oil test.webp
 
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I used M1 0-20 in my 2007 Focus with 175K until it was totaled by a family member last year. Used M1 0-20 at 10K OCIs, and the engine performed great up to the day it was wrecked.
 
If horsepower gain is an indication of slickness than some of the boutiques advertise a few percent gain in the same engine being dynoed with their oil over whatever was in it before. Since polarity is superior I would think a lower weight PAO/POE could be used in place of the recommended fill and this may fulfill what you are trying to achieve. Probably not worth the extra cost in most cases. BTW the most slippery substance I have ever touched was a polymer used in paper making, think STP but a 100 times more slippery. Once you got some on your hands it was hard to get off unless you used something akin to dirt and rubbed it on your hands. Soap wouldn't touch it and you could still feel it for days. Nasty stuff.
 
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Originally Posted by BrocLuno
OK, so minimizing friction comes in two basic forms. Keeping metal parts from rubbing against each other, and minimizing the internal friction within the oil (shear). They can be opposing goals which is one reason BITOG exists. To argue this to death ...
Members certainly do that!
How 'bout a third "basic form" of minimizing friction (as well as wear) between metal parts that are "'rubbing against each other"? The semi-official term used to be "oiliness," not "slickness."
 
Originally Posted by slacktide_bitog
Nobody said Slick-50 yet?
lol.gif
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Someone did, but the add-in moly is slicker.
 
For friction modification, you're not going to find any significant difference within the same SAE grade and specification regime. An ILSAC 5w-30 will be much the same as any other ILSAC 5w-30 in that regard. If any one consumer grade oil could claim statistically significantly better friction modification (and then, therefore fuel economy) than the competition, they'd do so, and everyone would flock to them for factory fill duties.
 
Check out Schaeffer oil. They have 2 proprietary additives that reduce friction immensely!

www.schaefferoil.com

After choosing the finest base stock they start adding two friction modifiers; Micron Moly and Penetro. Micron moly is oxidized molybdenum that is magnetically attracted to ferrous metals. It is five times stronger than steel and has a melting point that is twice as high as steel. Even under the heaviest loads Micron Moly will not pound out. And Schaeffer has the highest content of molybdenum among all major brands. Along with Moly Schaeffer adds a proprietary product that is exclusive to Schaeffer oil called Penetro. Penetro reduces friction by adding what is like microscopic ball bearings in the oil. This is especially good since most engine parts contain metals that are non-ferrous along with ferrous metals. Non-ferrous metals do not attract magnetically so they need lubrication to protect the surface other than metal alloys, such as molybdenum. Penetro and Micron Moly stay on the parts even during cold starts to offer the best protection at all times.
 
So you are a sales person for the oil or have some other interest?

Originally Posted by Schaefferbest
Check out Schaeffer oil. They have 2 proprietary additives that reduce friction immensely!

www.schaefferoil.com

After choosing the finest base stock they start adding two friction modifiers; Micron Moly and Penetro. Micron moly is oxidized molybdenum that is magnetically attracted to ferrous metals. It is five times stronger than steel and has a melting point that is twice as high as steel. Even under the heaviest loads Micron Moly will not pound out. And Schaeffer has the highest content of molybdenum among all major brands. Along with Moly Schaeffer adds a proprietary product that is exclusive to Schaeffer oil called Penetro. Penetro reduces friction by adding what is like microscopic ball bearings in the oil. This is especially good since most engine parts contain metals that are non-ferrous along with ferrous metals. Non-ferrous metals do not attract magnetically so they need lubrication to protect the surface other than metal alloys, such as molybdenum. Penetro and Micron Moly stay on the parts even during cold starts to offer the best protection at all times.
 
Originally Posted by Schaefferbest
My interest is to inform the crowd, thats it.



You've been doing that since joining.
 
I think it's important to understand your goals for this product selection, these would be the primary ones I'd guess:

1) fuel economy
2) power
3) longevity

For #1, an added 5 psi in your tires probably overwhelms any difference between commonly available oil brands.
For #2, It's unlikely you can find real measurable differences at the vehicle level.
For #3, given proper maintenance, I wouldn't expect any oil related failures out to expected vehicle life using mfgr spec'd oils.
 
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