synthetic blends questions?

aztec12 · Nov 29, 2004

Im getting ready to change the oil in my 1998 f150 4.6 I want to put in a synthetic blend in the engine since winter is here(easier flow)my choices are pennzoil truck van and suv,valvoline durablend,and castrol synthec-blend(5w30 for winter)Now witch one gets the most votes? wich ever oil gets more votes i'll put it in tks...

pitzel · Nov 29, 2004

Make your own. 1 quart of your favourite manufacturer's 'Synthetic', and 4 quarts of the dino from the same manufacturer usually turns out to be more economical than purchasing their pre-mixed 'blend' oil.

There are absolutely no standards whatsoever in terms of what does or doesn't quality as a 'blend'. Even a 95% dino, 5% synthetic 'blend' could very well carry the label 'blend'.

Hirev · Nov 29, 2004

If you want to get better cold weather oil flow go to a true Group IV/V synthetic.

Synthetic blends are just dino oils with a small % of synthetic thrown in that seem to have the same cold weather flow as dino oils.

pitzel · Nov 29, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Hirev:
Synthetic blends are just dino oils with a small % of synthetic thrown in that seem to have the same cold weather flow as dino oils.

It is often a huge matter of debate whether there is any 'synthetic' oil at all in some of the 'synthetic blends'.

medic · Nov 29, 2004

I would go with one of the cheaper group III oils, such as Motorcraft 5w-20. If this is too thin for your liking, get one quart of a synth 5w-40 and mix with it.

Shadohh · Nov 29, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by aztec12:
Im getting ready to change the oil in my 1998 f150 4.6 I want to put in a synthetic blend in the engine since winter is here(easier flow)my choices are pennzoil truck van and suv,valvoline durablend,and castrol synthec-blend(5w30 for winter)Now witch one gets the most votes? wich ever oil gets more votes i'll put it in tks...

They are all right pretty much.

You could mix a quart or two of M1 synthetic with some mobil drive clean.

You could mix some german castrol with some GTX.

I know I will be crucified for brand mixing but I would mix up some Penzoil 5w30 (for its moly) with some M1 synthetic (for its ester ).

But on another note. I am using 5w30 motorcraft with 1/2 bottle of valvoline synoil treatment.

My engine loves this

I think MC is a good brand. And it is a Blend.

twentynine · Nov 29, 2004

Motorcraft Synthetic Blend, 5w-20 or 5w30. Cost $1.42 at Wally World.

Patman · Nov 29, 2004

Two of the best synthetic blends we've seen on here (according to wear numbers in oil analysis) have been Schaeffer Supreme 7000 and Castrol Syntec Blend.

tmorris1 · Nov 29, 2004

I have used Durablend in MN and it seemed to start and run well in my engines. A lot of people knock Valvoline, but I think that the Durablend and MaxLife are pretty good oils, and their are a few UOA that were good using Durablend.

Blue99 · Nov 29, 2004

quote:

Synthetic blends are just dino oils with a small % of synthetic thrown in that seem to have the same cold weather flow as dino oils.

Group III base oils, while not at the same level as PAO's, have very good cold flow properties.

The Conoco/Motorcraft 5w30 syn blend has 50-60% Grp III and has an impressive cold crank rating of 4500 @ -30C, as compared to a standard dino at around 6200 cP.

The GF-4 Valvoline 5w30 Durablend has a rating of 4800 cP which probably indicates a sizeable percentage of Grp III base oil.

The Havoline, all Grp III, 5w30 synthetic has a cold crank rating of 3700 cP.

So any of the "blends" with a good % of Grp III would be a good choice for cold weather.

Right now, the Motorcraft or Durablend GF-4 5w30's are my favorites and the Durablend free/rebate offer is tough to pass up!

427Z06 · Nov 29, 2004

I third the motion for Conoco/Motorcraft 5W-20/5w30 syn blend. At a $1.42/qt at Wally World a bargain to boot.

Meets Ford specs WSS-M2C929-A,WSSM2C930-A too.

Make sure it says GF-4 on it so you don't accidently buy old stock.

haley10 · Nov 29, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Patman:
Two of the best synthetic blends we've seen on here (according to wear numbers in oil analysis) have been Schaeffer Supreme 7000 and Castrol Syntec Blend.

That pretty well covers it based on bitog data. Of the 3 oils named, all would be fine. I haven't seen much on the other two, but the Syntec Blend has shown some good results. That would get my vote out of the three.

Hirev · Nov 30, 2004

I guess I'm somewhat surprised how excited some are about getting a bone thrown to them. In the foam of some Group III base oil mixed in and calling it a synthetic blend.

Only under the API regime would we be happy with that. They could not call a synthetic blend in Japan or Europe with Group III thrown in. Because they don't recognize Group III as a true synthetic.

It was not that long ago The words semi synthetic was used in place of synthetic blend most of these actually used some (10-30% IV/V base oils. Just my 2 cents worth.

TallPaul · Nov 30, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Blue99:

The GF-4 Valvoline 5w30 Durablend has a rating of 4800 cP which probably indicates a sizeable percentage of Grp III base oil.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

The Valvoline phone tech folks have told me on several different occasions that Durablend (all grades) has about 30% synthetic. From the MSDS sheets (2002 update) it appears the narrower spreads (10w30 and 15w40) have the balance as Group I, but the wider spreads (5w30 and 10w40) have the balance partly in Group II). Not sure if this changes for SM/GF-4.

mikemc · Nov 30, 2004

If you have access to Conoco products, their new syn blend dino oils with the SM/GF4 ratings have some nice cold cranking numbers. 3,500cp@-30C for 5w20 and 4,500cP@-30C for 5w30. If you cannot find these, the Motorcraft 5w20 and 5w30 blends should be a good choice.

Ray H · Nov 30, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Blue99:
The Conoco/Motorcraft 5w30 syn blend has 50-60% Grp III and has an impressive cold crank rating of 4500 @ -30C, as compared to a standard dino at around 6200 cP.

Absolutely!

The rest of the base oil content is Group II (not counting whatever small percentage is present as the additive carrier oil). My vote is with you - a VERY good motor oil for under a buck and a half per quart. I'd sooner go with a properly blended and additized oil from a major refiner than mix up a witch's brew of unknown strengths and weaknesses. But, then, I'm trying to make my car last...

medic · Dec 1, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Hirev:
I guess I'm somewhat surprised how excited some are about getting a bone thrown to them. In the foam of some Group III base oil mixed in and calling it a synthetic blend.

Only under the API regime would we be happy with that. They could not call a synthetic blend in Japan or Europe with Group III thrown in. Because they don't recognize Group III as a true synthetic.

It was not that long ago The words semi synthetic was used in place of synthetic blend most of these actually used some (10-30% IV/V base oils. Just my 2 cents worth.

Most of us were just giving aztec12 an answer for what he wanted. You can't deny that Motorcraft 5w-20 is an excellent oil for the price. If I wasn't so hard on my engine's oil, I wouldn't have any problem running 5 quarts of this stuff with a quart of Mobil1 5w-40 mixed in for 5000 miles.

Would I pay $4.99 for a group III? NO.

synthetic blends questions?

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