I have an 09 CTS 3.6 DI. The oil cap states Mobil 1 and I have used it up to the current 62K miles. I buy it in Walmart but on my last visit I put both brands on the shelf and read the specs. They seem to be exactly the same. The price difference,in that I need to buy a 5 qt jug plus a qt, is $10 an oil change which can add up due to the shortened oil change interval programmed in after a recall. My gut says there is little if any difference but I would appreciate some informed comments.
Super Tech vs Mobil 1 synthetic.
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Is $10 worth having an oil in your engine that may not provide better protection? There's a lot of oils that "meets specs" but that doesn't mean they offer the same protection
Right, the only measure of quality is price.
Stay with Mobil 1
Mobil 1
ST Syn for 5k in that DI V6 is more than adequate.
I've used ST syn, NAPA Syn, Mobil 1, Castrol Edge, etc.....
Stick with what your wallet allows. I've never noticed any difference for 5000 mile oil changes.
Stick with what your wallet allows. I've never noticed any difference for 5000 mile oil changes.
Originally Posted By: bustednutz
I've used ST syn, NAPA Syn, Mobil 1, Castrol Edge, etc.....
Stick with what your wallet allows. I've never noticed any difference for 5000 mile oil changes.
You can better determine the quality of an oil and it's effect on an engine over a long period time, say 150-250K. Half a normal 10K OCI doesn't mean much.
I've used ST syn, NAPA Syn, Mobil 1, Castrol Edge, etc.....
Stick with what your wallet allows. I've never noticed any difference for 5000 mile oil changes.
You can better determine the quality of an oil and it's effect on an engine over a long period time, say 150-250K. Half a normal 10K OCI doesn't mean much.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Right, the only measure of quality is price.
Which has spent billions in R&D, offering a complete and diverse range of finished products for all kinds of industries, and which is merely a lowest-bidder rebadged generic lube?
Someone is paying for actual R&D versus slapping a label.
The question really is what are the specs required for the oil, especially given DI, and how do they relate to the offerings on the market. Similarly, how do the market offerings perform in similar conditions (DI) one against another?
If taking the most conservative route of very short OCIs without UOA to verify and ignoring/not correlating UOA to the OLM, then going cheaper may be a sound choice... But not because the lubes are magically equivalent.
Right, the only measure of quality is price.
Which has spent billions in R&D, offering a complete and diverse range of finished products for all kinds of industries, and which is merely a lowest-bidder rebadged generic lube?
Someone is paying for actual R&D versus slapping a label.
The question really is what are the specs required for the oil, especially given DI, and how do they relate to the offerings on the market. Similarly, how do the market offerings perform in similar conditions (DI) one against another?
If taking the most conservative route of very short OCIs without UOA to verify and ignoring/not correlating UOA to the OLM, then going cheaper may be a sound choice... But not because the lubes are magically equivalent.
What kind of OCI are you running? Even on a 5k mile interval on 15k miles per year (guess based on your model year and current mileage), you're talking about a difference of $30 per year, or $2.50 per month. I would spare the second guessing and go with the M1. And I'm no M1 fanboy...I have never run M1 in my life. In fact, run any name brand synthetic that meets the required specs (dexos?) and sleep well at night.
The ST may meet or exceed Dexos I. Did you see the Pennzoil synthetic blend at Walmart? It is on the list of approved Dexos I oils and Jugs are only 1 or 2 dollars more than the yellow Jugs are.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Right, the only measure of quality is price.
Which has spent billions in R&D, offering a complete and diverse range of finished products for all kinds of industries, and which is merely a lowest-bidder rebadged generic lube?
Someone is paying for actual R&D versus slapping a label.
The question really is what are the specs required for the oil, especially given DI, and how do they relate to the offerings on the market. Similarly, how do the market offerings perform in similar conditions (DI) one against another?
If taking the most conservative route of very short OCIs without UOA to verify and ignoring/not correlating UOA to the OLM, then going cheaper may be a sound choice... But not because the lubes are magically equivalent.
So what you're saying is that Warren Distributing is selling inferior products. And just labeling bottles.
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Right, the only measure of quality is price.
Which has spent billions in R&D, offering a complete and diverse range of finished products for all kinds of industries, and which is merely a lowest-bidder rebadged generic lube?
Someone is paying for actual R&D versus slapping a label.
The question really is what are the specs required for the oil, especially given DI, and how do they relate to the offerings on the market. Similarly, how do the market offerings perform in similar conditions (DI) one against another?
If taking the most conservative route of very short OCIs without UOA to verify and ignoring/not correlating UOA to the OLM, then going cheaper may be a sound choice... But not because the lubes are magically equivalent.
So what you're saying is that Warren Distributing is selling inferior products. And just labeling bottles.
there is nothing wrong with super tech it happens to be great oil get a uoa and see for yourself
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Right, the only measure of quality is price.
Which has spent billions in R&D, offering a complete and diverse range of finished products for all kinds of industries, and which is merely a lowest-bidder rebadged generic lube?
Someone is paying for actual R&D versus slapping a label.
The question really is what are the specs required for the oil, especially given DI, and how do they relate to the offerings on the market. Similarly, how do the market offerings perform in similar conditions (DI) one against another?
If taking the most conservative route of very short OCIs without UOA to verify and ignoring/not correlating UOA to the OLM, then going cheaper may be a sound choice... But not because the lubes are magically equivalent.
So what you're saying is that Warren Distributing is selling inferior products. And just labeling bottles.
They probably are just labeling bottles with whatever generic basestock and add packs they can buy for minimal cost to meet whichever specs they must, yes. They may well be inferior, what data do you have to indicate that they are equal or superior? How much does Warren spend in cutting-edge R&D to formulate and design new adds? Just because it meets an API spec or has a starburst doesnt mean its all that great. It may well work perfect for some, in some circumstances, I dont deny that one bit. But it doesnt mean that there isnt something out there better.
For the record, I have toured a number of small-name blenders who buy generic add packs and then slap an API rating on the oil commensurate with the specs and claim all is well. I have seen this with my own eyes, and seen it sell quite well in places such as the Caribbean. I am not implying that Warren is something like that - I am implying that the best in basestocks and especially additive chemistry is coming from the majors who have substantial R&D and production capability, and strive for premium product differentiation... Which Warren/WM is not by virtue of their placement as a lowest-cost value product likely using far more generic stuff. Different from what I saw and mentioned above, and/or the garbage that PQIA tests and warns about.
Are you implying that there is nothing more to brand oils than the color of the bottle and logo of the company selling it? Well why dont we just shut down this site right now... And can the thousands of scientists and engineers at UOP, XOM, COP, CVX and any other petroleum and petrochemical companies that have MAJOR research arms???
Heck, why do we even have an S&T of oils and additives section on this forum? Apparently it has all been solved.
For the OP, again, ST may be fine if youre planning to ignore any OLMs and go by a shorter OCI. But for a DI engine, Id prefer to see a UOA and see both how the oil is holding up, as well as fuel, etc., to help set a proper interval. The results may help select the best oil. If youre just going to stay super short, ST may be a good value move, but Id still be interested in seeing how it holds up - weve seen plenty of "premium" oils destroyed by DI.
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Right, the only measure of quality is price.
Which has spent billions in R&D, offering a complete and diverse range of finished products for all kinds of industries, and which is merely a lowest-bidder rebadged generic lube?
Someone is paying for actual R&D versus slapping a label.
The question really is what are the specs required for the oil, especially given DI, and how do they relate to the offerings on the market. Similarly, how do the market offerings perform in similar conditions (DI) one against another?
If taking the most conservative route of very short OCIs without UOA to verify and ignoring/not correlating UOA to the OLM, then going cheaper may be a sound choice... But not because the lubes are magically equivalent.
So what you're saying is that Warren Distributing is selling inferior products. And just labeling bottles.
They probably are just labeling bottles with whatever generic basestock and add packs they can buy for minimal cost to meet whichever specs they must, yes. They may well be inferior, what data do you have to indicate that they are equal or superior? How much does Warren spend in cutting-edge R&D to formulate and design new adds? Just because it meets an API spec or has a starburst doesnt mean its all that great. It may well work perfect for some, in some circumstances, I dont deny that one bit. But it doesnt mean that there isnt something out there better.
For the record, I have toured a number of small-name blenders who buy generic add packs and then slap an API rating on the oil commensurate with the specs and claim all is well. I have seen this with my own eyes, and seen it sell quite well in places such as the Caribbean. I am not implying that Warren is something like that - I am implying that the best in basestocks and especially additive chemistry is coming from the majors who have substantial R&D and production capability, and strive for premium product differentiation... Which Warren/WM is not by virtue of their placement as a lowest-cost value product likely using far more generic stuff. Different from what I saw and mentioned above, and/or the garbage that PQIA tests and warns about.
Are you implying that there is nothing more to brand oils than the color of the bottle and logo of the company selling it? Well why dont we just shut down this site right now... And can the thousands of scientists and engineers at UOP, XOM, COP, CVX and any other petroleum and petrochemical companies that have MAJOR research arms???
Heck, why do we even have an S&T of oils and additives section on this forum? Apparently it has all been solved.
For the OP, again, ST may be fine if youre planning to ignore any OLMs and go by a shorter OCI. But for a DI engine, Id prefer to see a UOA and see both how the oil is holding up, as well as fuel, etc., to help set a proper interval. The results may help select the best oil. If youre just going to stay super short, ST may be a good value move, but Id still be interested in seeing how it holds up - weve seen plenty of "premium" oils destroyed by DI.
Originally Posted By: JackB1
I have an 09 CTS 3.6 DI. The oil cap states Mobil 1 and I have used it up to the current 62K miles. I buy it in Walmart but on my last visit I put both brands on the shelf and read the specs. They seem to be exactly the same. The price difference,in that I need to buy a 5 qt jug plus a qt, is $10 an oil change which can add up due to the shortened oil change interval programmed in after a recall. My gut says there is little if any difference but I would appreciate some informed comments.
A Cadillac CTS is a $40K+ care. Is $10 every 6 months worth it? Just use Mobil 1 and be happy.
I have an 09 CTS 3.6 DI. The oil cap states Mobil 1 and I have used it up to the current 62K miles. I buy it in Walmart but on my last visit I put both brands on the shelf and read the specs. They seem to be exactly the same. The price difference,in that I need to buy a 5 qt jug plus a qt, is $10 an oil change which can add up due to the shortened oil change interval programmed in after a recall. My gut says there is little if any difference but I would appreciate some informed comments.
A Cadillac CTS is a $40K+ care. Is $10 every 6 months worth it? Just use Mobil 1 and be happy.
One of many lab reports stating the value of WalMarts Super Tech oil.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...;gonew=1#UNREAD
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...;gonew=1#UNREAD
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