Supertech and other value point oils

[dnewton3]

I’m just telling you all, it was noticeable when I took the cap off and was pouring it. It smelled like a dirtier, less refined product. This was the Supertech Synthetic 0w20 marketed as 10k miles. I didn’t even know ST had an”advanced” 20k indicated synthetic. Oil might test out just fine, but I’m betting it would leave more deposits than a Mobil 1 or Valvoline Extended Protection. Any concrete tests to back that up? Nope. But next time you need an ultra cheap Dexos oil (in this case for a rental car) get you some ST regular synthetic and see if it doesn’t make you think its a lesser quality product.

You've been here more than a decade, and your takeaway after all that time is judging virgin oil on smell?



Look - it's time for some tough love ...

Lubricants have a job to do; that of reducing wear. This is achieved in many ways:
- reducing friction
- controlling contamination
- managing thermal loads
There are many, many industry tests to see how well a lube does these things. NONE of them involve a sniff test.

Further, the lube in question (any lube, for that matter) is just one consideration of several when it comes to controlling wear. These must also be considered:
- application (what equipment is it? engine? trans? gearbox? sliding door hinge?)
- specifics of the equipment as a known history (does the equipment have a known good or bad reputation well earned? Is is sensitive to anything?)
- environmental concerns (is it hot or cold where the equipment is operated, as a generality?)
- operational norms (short cycles? long cycles? intermittent cycles?)
- what is the OCI plan? (you can either underutilize or overuse a lube relative to its capabilities)


Simply put, don't judge a book by its smelly cover. For the unwashed masses, they follow the OE manuals and that will suffice well. But for the BITOG faithful, you ought to know better by now.

 

[circuitsmith]

When something smells bad most times sulfur is involved.
Matches, sulfuric acid, natural gas & propane odorants, skunk spray, digestive "toots".
Gear oils (older version of Valvoline MaxLife comes to mind) can smell terrible, due to abundant sulfur compounds.

So maybe SuperTech just contains more of a (beneficial) sulfur based additive than other brands.
So what!

 

[CheezWhiz]

Seriously? We're judging lubes on aroma now?
Show me a license, VOA or UOA that includes a sniff test and then I'll give a crap ...

i shot havoline up my nose once giving it a sniff.

 

[ATex7239]

I've seen quite a few posts talking about the unique smell of Valvoline Restore and Protect.

It kinda smells like caramel covered popcorn to me.

 

[Urshurak776]

I see it working like this analogy: Walmart sells Walmart brand Naproxen for $3/bottle. They also sell Alleve for $9/bottle. Both do the same thing, both are 'approved', both work fine.

Some people, me included, buy the Walmart brand. Other people will insist on nothing but the name brand.

If the oil meets the specifications advertised on the bottle what's the worry? I use Supertech, DG, Rural King, Traveller, etc unless I can get a sale or a deal on name brand oil.

In the back of my mind the 'extra $$ does buy you something' thought pops up but that does not stop me from buying the discount product if it works.

Funny you should say that. My Father-in-Law, before he passed, REFUSED to take generic aspirin, tylenol, etc. My mother in-law would buy a small bottle of the brand name, then kept refilling them with the generics! LOL

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

Changing oil on a rental is pure comedy imo. Not taking anything seriously from the OP