Synpower?

[Z_ombie]

Hi all, I'm new. I've been some what of a "lurker", as I am trying to learn as much as possible before any discussions. My question is, why is Valvoline Synpower rarely talked about on this forum? I like the Valvoline company to an extent, and I'd like to know more about the company, and more about their Synthetic line of oils. Is it really group III? Does Valvoline have profit motives? Anyone who uses it? I'd prefer to use it over QS, PP and M1. For 5.69 a quart I can't really complain about the price. Let the discussion begin...(I hope)

 

[Fordiesel69]

I cannot give advice on valvoline, but I can say for the price you just can't beat PP.

 

[TallPaul]

I am a Valvoline nut (not really a qualification to speak on Valvoline oils, but just thought I would throw it out). I believe Maxlife Synthetic is better than Synpower. Synpower is Group III, but Maxlife Synthetic is Group III with some Group IV.

 

[BrianWC]

Valvoline IS talked about here. It's just overshadowed right now by the M1 contraversy and cheap Pennzoil Platinum. There's nothing special about Synpower to distinguish it from the group III crowd and most importantly to many of us, it's rarely if ever on sale. Maxlife, on the other hand, and Maxlife synthetic, seem to be great oils. Maxlife is discounted or rebated every now and then. Maxlife synthetic, however, is not on as many shelves as other synthetics. Maxlife synthetic meets all the Euro qualifications, a rarity among 30 weight oils (a la Castrol Syntec 0W30). I have some at the ready for my SAAB. Ashland (parent company of Valvoline) no doubt is motivated by profit. How many businesses are not? But that doesn't preclude them from putting out a good product. People shy away from Valvoline ALl-Climate dino given its apparently average additive package. But it meets API SM, so who cares?

 

[flux]

Quote:

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I cannot give advice on valvoline, but I can say for the price you just can't beat PP.

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I cannot give advice on PP, but for the price you can't
beat Valvoline.

 

[moribundman]

I'm using Synpower 5W-40. At $5.99 a quart it's less expensive than Pennzoil Platinum 5W-40, which is locally almost $7 a quart. Synpower 5W-40 meets some pretty impressive specs. I can't yet say how it will hold up or how it affects oil consumption in my engine. Click the link for my thread on Synpower 5W-40.

 

[Z_ombie]

Thank you all for responding. It's intresting that regular maxlife even contains PAO, I figured it was a full bodied group II+ with some beefed up additives.

 

[Gene K]

The only Valvoline product I would not use is 10w30 All-Climate.... Just cant bring myself to use a Group I/I+ Oil when there are so many cheaper Group II/II+ oils out there.

 

[Challenger71]

Just recently switched over the Neon (108k) to Valvoline MaxLife Synthetic 5w30. Although too early to tell conclusively, I can feel some slight improvement while idling. What really sold me on the product besides the additional 'maxlife' additives is the euro spec qualifications as mentioned previously. So initial observations on Valvoline is very good in my particular case.

 

[buster]

Synpower specs are on par with many of the high end oils.

 

[moribundman]

Based on oil consumption, I'm not convinced Synpower 5W-40 is really a Group III oil. Oil consumption with it is in line with full synthetic oils in my engine. Oil consumption below is always in reference to consumption with Syntec 5W-50.

Syntec 5W-50: lowest oil consumption
Mobil 1 0W-40: double oil consumption
Chevron Delo 400 15w40: half the consumption of Mobil 1 0W-40
Mobil 1 5W-40: 1/3 lower oil consumption than with Mobil 1 0W-40
Red Line 5w30: like Mobil 1 0W-40
Pennzoil Platinum 5W-40: like Mobil 1 0W-40
Valvoline 5W-40: consumption same as with Mobil 1 5W-40

 

[Merkava_4]

Could it be that your lowest oil consumption with 5W-50 is because it's the thickest oil on your list? Therefore less apt to get passed the low tension piston rings?

 

[moribundman]

I don't know. I'd have to compare the viscosity of all these oils at 100°C, but I'm too lazy.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Quote:

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Quote:

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I cannot give advice on valvoline, but I can say for the price you just can't beat PP.

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I cannot give advice on PP, but for the price you can't
beat Valvoline.

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Huh?

 

[FowVay]

People on this forum don't seem to be impressed by Valvoline based on some simple VOA's. We know that the inexpensive analysis doesn't paint the whole picture but this seems to be the reason Valvoline isn't a favored product.

My personal experience with Ashland Chemical, the company that produces Valvoline, has been less than favorable. They recommend for my VW diesel the use of their 15w40 mineral based diesel oil. Volkswagen recommends differently. For the Volkswagen PD TDI the recommendation from Ashland is the use of their 15w40 mineral based diesel oil. Volkswagen once again recommends the 505.01 oil exclusively. I have mailed service bulletins and research data showing the effects of mineral oil on the TDI engine with regard to oil coking in the upper piston ring areas and they refuse to even review the data.

It is for this reason that I question their practices. I do believe that they produce a great oil but they could use some mind opening at their customer service offices.

 

[moribundman]

FowVay, I read and hear lots of things -- things that for a good part may be blatantly ignored with extreme prejudice. When it comes to laymen criticizing VOAs, it's background noise to me. I'd rather hear what a pro has to say. If I remember correctly, one such resident pro's, who shall remain unnamed because he doesn't like his name smeared across the headlines, view of Ashland and especially of their extensive testing facility was rather favorable.

I can't say what oil Ashland recommends for the PD diesel, obviously it should be a VW 505.01 oil like their 5W-40.

My gasser runs very smooth with the Valvoline at hot and cold idle and all the way up to and at extended high RPM (>6,000) driving. My only concern is once again oil consumption, which is high, but still within specs. UOA will be performed after 8k miles.

 

[FowVay]

I'd love to see your analysis. I think MaxLife synthetic is one of the best OTC products we can buy from the common retailers. It is even priced better than the SynPower and possibly the better product of the two.