SM vs. SL for extended drains

[novadude]

Will an SM conventional oil hold up better than a SL oil in an extended OCI (say 5-6k miles?). I was impressed with how well Chevron Supreme SL did on 5k mile OCIs, and I am wondering if SM will be even better.

I switched to Castrol Blend because it was ACEA A5 rated, and I figure it may hold up better over a 5500 mile OCI. If SM Chevron Supreme is even better than SL, maybe I am wasting money buying the Syntec Blend?

 

[Ray H]

At least one petroleum company - ConocoPhillips - has already reformulated its "conventional" GF-4 oils to stated synthetic blend in the 5W-20 and 5w30 viscosity ranges - 10w30 to follow no later than next spring. I just wonder how many other refiners have quietly done or plan to do likewise... If you have a stock of Castrol syn-blend SL laid in, don't obsess. It's certainly still good stuff.

 

[vvk]

quote:

---

Originally posted by novadude:
I switched to Castrol Blend because it was ACEA A5 rated, and I figure it may hold up better over a 5500 mile OCI. If SM Chevron Supreme is even better than SL, maybe I am wasting money buying the Syntec Blend?

---

Funny you should mention this. I looked at API SM Castrol Syntec Blend and it had no mention of ACEA on the label

 

[TheFuror]

quote:

---

Originally posted by vvk:

quote:

---

Originally posted by novadude:
I switched to Castrol Blend because it was ACEA A5 rated, and I figure it may hold up better over a 5500 mile OCI. If SM Chevron Supreme is even better than SL, maybe I am wasting money buying the Syntec Blend?

---

Funny you should mention this. I looked at API SM Castrol Syntec Blend and it had no mention of ACEA on the label

---

The stores have supplies of both the older packaged oil and the newer formulation. Indeed, the new formulated Syntec blends are, funny enough, A5 rated.

Bob W.

 

[novadude]

I believe only the 10w30 is ACEA A5... the 5w30 bottles that I have seen have only said A1.

 

[Blue99]

quote:

---

Will an SM conventional oil hold up better than a SL oil in an extended OCI (say 5-6k miles?).

---

Good question. With the lower volatility of the new GF-4 oils, this may be a realistic option.

5w30 oils meeting SM & GF-4 more than likely will be Grp II/Grp III blends or all Grp II+.

The 10w30 grade is going to produce a real mixed bag, including Grp I/PAO and Grp I/Grp III base oil blends.

My guess is most labels on the back of the bottles will have some reference to "synthetic".

 

[Ken2]

5-6k is not extended. It is the normal oil drain interval of modern oil. Folks with the GM oil life monitor report good results often with double this oil mileage on conventional oil.


Ken

 

[novadude]

OK... I see the new SM Syntec Blend no longer has the A5 rating. What gives?

 

[Starbreaker666]

I will also be curious to see how well these SM's hold up to shearing. Seems like no matter what SL oil I use in my truck it shears to a 20wt.

 

[dropitby]

I picked up another

new oil from Castrol at least new to me Syntec Blend Truck 4x4 API CI-4.I bet this one will help your sheer problem. It is a 15w40 and $1.75 qt at Walmart.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

That Castrol T & SUV 15-40 Blend seems like an interesting oil to use, but is only rated at CH-4, unless their web site is out of date...

 

[Starbreaker666]

I need to keep the weight in the 5w/10w-30 range until my warranty wears out. Yes, im one of the paranoid warranty guys. Not really worried the shearing since I do OCI's in teh 3k - 4k range. My used oil analysis on my '02 4.7l dodge ram 1500 show excellent wear numbers. it just kills the oil to a 20 in that 3k miles. I hope the SM's are a bit stronger in that respect.