Supertech and other value point oils

[Brian123]

Just want to share the 8k miles OCI with cheapest approved 508/509 Oil at 115k miles. No varnish so far. The first 60k miles was Toyota Oil, 10k miles OCI. Afterwards, mainly Mannol 7722 5-8k miles OCI.
I think Mobil 1 ESP X2 also has VW approval. VRP is too expensive to be shipped to Europe. Fortunately, I do not need it for this Prius gen 3 or Corolla hybrid engine.

View attachment 291300

What am I Looking at?

 

[rondhol]

Just what I can see besides dipstick (like new) and without opening valve cover. It is the filling hole and buffle. I see no trace of varnish or dirt that typically observed when one used Group II, non synthetic oil. ESP or european ACEA C6 oils probably have more detergent because they must handle diesel engine too.

 

[rondhol]

To add to this. Even within group 3 base stocks there’s different quality/performance. Not to mention other ingredients like viscosity modifiers. IMO the more severe the service the more quality base stocks/ingredients matter.

I agree with this statement. That's why I probably will switch to Shell Ultra platinum if I do >10k OCI. It has low base stock/ratio, fewer additives, relies more on the robustness of the GTL. In Germany/Europe, Fully synthetic labels are only on GTL or PAO oil. Others just stated Synthetic, HC synthetic, Synthetic technology, etc.
Oil self life is about 4-5 years regardless PAO, GTL, HC, or Cow/Beef fat (Green Earth Oil). It is the additives that are degrading much faster than the base oil.

 

[KenshinHimura]

My motor oil must have a bountiful
fruity bouquet to assure its authenticity and freshness and a crisp crack of the sealed cap.

you may be able to find that in Japan. Either Apple or Peach scented

 

[tired]

It is about Bang for your Bucks. That is why I prefer cheapest certified DexosD, or VW 508/509 0w-20 oil for my hybrid. The price difference from expensive brands, I believe is just Moneterizing strategy, that people willing to pay.

VW 508/509 spec PAO Ravenol VSE or Amsoil costs €70+, value brands like Mannol 7722, Adinnol, Eurolube, Fuchs or Total Ineo for ~35€. Mobil1 ESP X2 or Shell Ultra costs ~50€.

My hypothesis is 1/2 price same spec Oil, and do 5-10k miles OCI is better than 10-20k miles OCI with more expensive oil.

I am willing to pay a bit for something like Valvoline RP, instead of stupid additives or unnecessary flush engine products if I have engine with observable varnish.

See this post on why more frequent oil changes with a lower quality oil can actually be worse.

 

[tired]

Amsoil specifically tests for this at 3X+ test intervals

Which test is this again? One of the Sequence tests?

 

[Pablo]

Which test is this again? One of the Sequence tests?

Yes Sequence IIIH Engine Test (ASTM D8111).

 

[Glenda W.]

Which test is this again? One of the Sequence tests?

This one is my favorite for obvious reasons with my oil burner.

 

[lovcom]

Pour a few ounces of your oil into a glass, and swirl it around...hold the glass up to a light, and examine its "legs" on the side of the glass, and consider its bouquet of aromas...only then will you know it's good oil...

 

[rondhol]

This one is my favorite for obvious reasons with my oil burner.

View attachment 291504

The problem with marketing post is always the baseline. I am not even sure what "Industry Standard" here means. It is probably cheapest group II mineral oil. Just like the old days when Amsoil using 4 wear balls test as comparison. There is no single component in the engines have such situation, and calcium sulfonate additives is known to reduce wear in ball bearings was used by Amsoil that days, but tells us nothing about engine wear.

Amosil makes a great engine oil, but the marketing and pushy MLM mindset of the seller are the one I do not like. I prefer to get it from Ravenol for PAO oil, or just simply robust GTL oil from Shell, Pennzoil, or Quaker State that perform more less the same, and available in Walmart or Amazon at reasonable price. Even any group III oil are not far performance wise for <20k miles interval.

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

The problem with marketing post is always the baseline. I am not even sure what "Industry Standard" here means. It is probably cheapest group II mineral oil. Just like the old days when Amsoil using 4 wear balls test as comparison. There is no single component in the engines have such situation, and calcium sulfonate additives is known to reduce wear in ball bearings was used by Amsoil that days, but tells us nothing about engine wear.

Amosil makes a great engine oil, but the marketing and pushy MLM mindset of the seller are the one I do not like. I prefer to get it from Ravenol for PAO oil, or just simply robust GTL oil from Shell, Pennzoil, or Quaker State that perform more less the same, and available in Walmart or Amazon at reasonable price. Even any group III oil are not far performance wise for <20k miles interval.

Couldn’t agree more on several of your points!

 

[Glenda W.]

Even any group III oil are not far performance wise for <20k miles interval.

I agree this works in some engines and conditions, but not all.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

Smell isn't indicative of refinement. It's from an additive.

View attachment 290430

Dare ya to open one of these.

That Ford Friction Modifier is so bad an empty bottle and rags stunk my garage up for weeks and those were in a sealed garbage bag! LOL, The single most stinking thing I have ever smelled! Does it have spoiled fish oil or something in it?

Carpro ironX ( Car paint Rail Dust Iron remover ) is also stinky and will linger in the garage for weeks...

 

[Pablo]

The problem with marketing post is always the baseline. I am not even sure what "Industry Standard" here means. It is probably cheapest group II mineral oil. Just like the old days when Amsoil using 4 wear balls test as comparison. There is no single component in the engines have such situation, and calcium sulfonate additives is known to reduce wear in ball bearings was used by Amsoil that days, but tells us nothing about engine wear.

Amosil makes a great engine oil, but the marketing and pushy MLM mindset of the seller are the one I do not like. I prefer to get it from Ravenol for PAO oil, or just simply robust GTL oil from Shell, Pennzoil, or Quaker State that perform more less the same, and available in Walmart or Amazon at reasonable price. Even any group III oil are not far performance wise for <20k miles interval.

The baseline here is the specification. Not sure what the 4 ball test has to do with this situation.

You will never get pressure or pushiness from me. Hard for me to judge such things from my perspective but oil marketing from more than just Amsoil can be very silly.

 

[rondhol]

I agree that 20k miles is stretching too far for goup III alone. I am sure lubricant bottlers mix different ratios of PAO, group III, etc. to make their oil rated for 20k OCI. For me, it is easier to find VW approved 20k oil, and use it at max 10k OCI. Their longlife interval is confusing, because most VW owner change oil at 10k miles. Only a few long distance diesel owners do 20k OCi. Most diesel has 6q or more oil sump.
Sorry if I said badly about Amsoil distributor @Pablo , It is not personal. Just my opinion about Amsoil marketing and what I observed.