Somewhat Level Retail Synthetic Playing Field

[ProfPS]

I don't know if this has been discussed - now that all brand name synthetics are now group IIIs (or at least in part), how would you rate/order them:

M1
PP
Valv Syn
Syntec
Hav/Chev
etc.

I am looking at ease of availablity and cost, that's why I am not including RP, Amsoil, RL, etc.

Thanks.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

On a value -vs- performance and availability scale this is my current perception.

PP(price -vs-performance and excellent ditribution of product)
Syntec(again easy to find but the formulations seem to work)
M1 (expensive, rarely goes on sale and their reputation has taken a hit in my eyes)
Valv Syn(a good oil I suppose but unless I am finding Maxlife Syn at AZ for 2 bucks a bottle I don't seek it out due to it's high retail)
Hav/Chev syn (availabity is limited so it really is not going to be well sought)

I can see how SOPUS is taking market share from EM and Castrol USA now.

 

[buster]

I agree with Bryan's assessment.

*Ordering Amsoil can be less hassle then going to "Wally Wolrd". More safe too.

I live about 2.5 hours from beautiful Lancaster County, which is where one of Amsoil's distribution centers are. (Where the Amish live too).

 

[Steve S]

To add the sopus GP.III seems to be the way to go via uoas especially well the Rotella syn.

 

[Fordiesel69]

You forgot to mention Quaker State Q Advanced. Where would that be on the list?

 

[jorton]

Quote:

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M1 (expensive, rarely goes on sale and their reputation has taken a hit in my eyes)

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Except for 0w-40. I don't think any synthetic on this list can beat it on value or performance.

 

[Lonnie]

Why would any of these GIII synthetic oils be better than any other similar GIII oil. You don't have to be better and it costs more to be better. You have to create the image that you're better. It's easyer to charge more if the perception is that you're better. It does not matter if what is inside the bottle is better (hard to prove) or not. This thread is proof that the image of better is all that counts.

 

[trixman]

Lonnie, it's more than perception, at least here,

We have empirical data in the form of UOAs.

Also the add packs are a meaningful variable in these G3 oils.

 

[JAG]

Precisely trixman. In addition to additive differences, there can be more basestocks than just Group 3 in oils containing Group 3 that make a significant improvement like esters, alkylated napthalene, and PAO. Different grades within the same brand can even be quite different, for example M1 0W-40, Valvoline Synpower 5W-40, and GC.

 

[Lonnie]

What I was getting at is that getting into the mind is more important than what's in the bottle. Once you get something into your mind it's harder to change it later. Many of these GIII synthetic oils may be different in the bottle, but it's more important to be in the consumer's mind, first. These GIII oils are so good that the difference between them may be more a case of nit picking, then differences in the end result of using one oil vs another. Cars are so good today, that the difference between oils on a car by car basis could easly be confused but driving habits and weather. One could probably take a 0w-30 GIII based oil and use it anywhere in the world, in any kind of reasonable temp from a little below zero to over 100F and that one oil will have the situation covered. How a quart of GIII 0w-30 oil performs today, in combination with any new car is a marvel of the industrial age. Given equal situations there is no need to fret over the differences between any current GIII oil, just pick one. The Playing Field is level.

 

[flatlandtacoma]

Quote:

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Syntec(...)
M1 (expensive, rarely goes on sale ...)

---

Interesting. Around here M1 is ~$4.60/qt every day (~$23/5 qts at WM in 5w30, 10w30, and now 5w20.) Individual quarts are in the $5.50 to $6.25 range but go on about every other week it seems for $4.75 to $5.00.

Syntec on the other hand, seems to be priced in the $5.50 to $6.25 range and almost never goes on sale.

At least that's what I see around here.

 

[Lonnie]

Has Pep boys put the coupons in their calendar this year for the Mobil 1 deals, this year?