Some general motor oil questions

[HarblongCassidy]

Hey everyone, I just have a couple of questions. I've been more or less lurking for around two years, posted occasionally, but I'd like some expert input on some things.

1) What's the major reason "high mileage" additives aren't a standard "just in case" kind of deal? Cost, conflict with the average additive pack, or just "don't fix it if it ain't broken"? And, obviously, "etc." with explanations is a valid answer!
2) Is GTL oil likely to become a mainstay or remain a niche for a reasonable amount of time ("reasonable" admittedly being a VERY flexible timeframe)?
3) A personal opinion question for you guys and girls: what atom, element, chemical compound, snake oil, or witchdoctor medicine should be in every quart, liter, jug, or nonstandard denomination of oil?

Please don't mind the lighthearted nature of my post. I'm currently using 3.5 quarts of Pennzoil Conventional and just shy of a quart of MMO in my 2006 Ford Focus ZX5. Have a jug of Motorcraft 5w20 semi and a Motorcraft filter waiting in the wings. I was hoping to cure an odd engine noise, but I did some research and found a very likely culprit to be a very odd choice on Ford's part when it comes to their intake system. I'm just looking to get an array of answers to further my own knowledge.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: HarblongCassidy
Hey everyone, I just have a couple of questions. I've been more or less lurking for around two years, posted occasionally, but I'd like some expert input on some things.

1) What's the major reason "high mileage" additives aren't a standard "just in case" kind of deal? Cost, conflict with the average additive pack, or just "don't fix it if it ain't broken"? And, obviously, "etc." with explanations is a valid answer!


I'd like to believe that today's vehicles are made with precision machining so swelling the seals on a new vehicle is not necessary.


Originally Posted By: HarblongCassidy

2) Is GTL oil likely to become a mainstay or remain a niche for a reasonable amount of time ("reasonable" admittedly being a VERY flexible timeframe)?


Gas to liquid? Oil companies have been cracking heavier oils into lighter ones for years; it only makes sense that they would be able to combine lighter compounds into heavier. I hope they'll start using all the super light stuff they currently burn off to make propane or something else, rather than wasting it.

But to answer your question, IMO as the processes are improved, and other sources get more expensive, we will see an increase of GTL, and it is here to stay.



Originally Posted By: HarblongCassidy
3) A personal opinion question for you guys and girls: what atom, element, chemical compound, snake oil, or witchdoctor medicine should be in every quart, liter, jug, or nonstandard denomination of oil?.


Hard to say, since most formulations are proprietary and we only get a partial view with a VOA. Start with a great base stock; beyond that we'll need someone with more chemistry background.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
I'd like to believe that today's vehicles are made with precision machining so swelling the seals on a new vehicle is not necessary.


The seal swellers are there to offset the natural tendency for rubber seals to shrink with age.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: Kuato
I'd like to believe that today's vehicles are made with precision machining so swelling the seals on a new vehicle is not necessary.


The seal swellers are there to offset the natural tendency for rubber seals to shrink with age.


Maybe so, but I have taken vehicles up to 200k, and never had a seal that required a sweller. But OP's question was why we don't use High Mileage oils from the get go, not what happens later. Or did I read it wrong?

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
Maybe so, but I have taken vehicles up to 200k, and never had a seal that required a sweller. But OP's question was why we don't use High Mileage oils from the get go, not what happens later. Or did I read it wrong?


A perfect example would be the rear valve cover gasket on my 3800. It started leaking first because it's exposed to more heat back there than the front valve cover is. What's strange though is the gasket looked perfectly fine visually.

If I'm not mistaken, all oils come with a certain amount of seal swellers already, but the High Mileage oils have more.

 

[901Memphis]

A normal motor oil contains seal conditioners but high mileage oils may contain roughly double the dose iirc.

GTL is here to stay I would imagine, althoughsa better process could make it obsolete, (unlikely).

Every good motor oil should have a healthy dose of Tri nuclear moly with a good calcium based additive package, but you did ask for opinions.

Take a look at a VOA of Pennzoil Platinum or Ultra and you will see a good well rounded additive package, although some additives are organic and won't show up on these.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: HarblongCassidy
1) What's the major reason "high mileage" additives aren't a standard "just in case" kind of deal? Cost, conflict with the average additive pack, or just "don't fix it if it ain't broken"? And, obviously, "etc." with explanations is a valid answer!

High Mileage oils are changing, at least in some respects. Some of them are SN/GF-5, rather than using an old spec or no spec. So, if they claimed that they couldn't be certified before because of additives, but they can be certified now, it would seem that there have been some reformulations along the way.

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: HarblongCassidy
2) Is GTL oil likely to become a mainstay or remain a niche for a reasonable amount of time ("reasonable" admittedly being a VERY flexible timeframe)?
3) A personal opinion question for you guys and girls: what atom, element, chemical compound, snake oil, or witchdoctor medicine should be in every quart, liter, jug, or nonstandard denomination of oil?



I think GTL oil will likely become a mainstay for base stocks. With all of the fracked natural gas we have in this country, I'd like to see it produced here.

ZDDP is very nearly a universal additive to every oil except for one Fuchs Zinc-free blend that I know of. Does anybody know of any others?

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: HarblongCassidy
Hey everyone, I just have a couple of questions. I've been more or less lurking for around two years, posted occasionally, but I'd like some expert input on some things.

1) What's the major reason "high mileage" additives aren't a standard "just in case" kind of deal? Cost, conflict with the average additive pack, or just "don't fix it if it ain't broken"? And, obviously, "etc." with explanations is a valid answer!
2) Is GTL oil likely to become a mainstay or remain a niche for a reasonable amount of time ("reasonable" admittedly being a VERY flexible timeframe)?
3) A personal opinion question for you guys and girls: what atom, element, chemical compound, snake oil, or witchdoctor medicine should be in every quart, liter, jug, or nonstandard denomination of oil?

Please don't mind the lighthearted nature of my post. I'm currently using 3.5 quarts of Pennzoil Conventional and just shy of a quart of MMO in my 2006 Ford Focus ZX5. Have a jug of Motorcraft 5w20 semi and a Motorcraft filter waiting in the wings. I was hoping to cure an odd engine noise, but I did some research and found a very likely culprit to be a very odd choice on Ford's part when it comes to their intake system. I'm just looking to get an array of answers to further my own knowledge.


You are not doing yourself any favors by using the MMO.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: HarblongCassidy

Please don't mind the lighthearted nature of my post. I'm currently using 3.5 quarts of Pennzoil Conventional and just shy of a quart of MMO in my 2006 Ford Focus ZX5. Have a jug of Motorcraft 5w20 semi and a Motorcraft filter waiting in the wings. I was hoping to cure an odd engine noise, but I did some research and found a very likely culprit to be a very odd choice on Ford's part when it comes to their intake system. I'm just looking to get an array of answers to further my own knowledge.


In my experience and the experience of many other long time users of the product, MMO is great for cleaning up an engine, and cleaning up lifter related ticks in engines where dirt is causing them to stick. MMO will not help with the odd noise you're describing unfortunately. Also you're dose of MMO is a little on the strong side IMO.