Synthetic Shootout

[ProfPS]

Now that almost all of the retail synthetics are group III and sell for ~$5, how would you rank them in both 5w20 and 5w30 weights:

M1
Syntec
PP
QS
SynPower
SuperTech
+ any other national synthetic brand sold in most auto stores.

Thanks.

 

[Titan]

I rate them as follows:

Mobil 1
Pennzoil Platinum
Quaker State
Supertech
SynPower

The reason for ranking them way is simple....alphabetically.
Syntec

 

[SargeGTO]

Cannot be done. Depends on the motor/driving habits/geography/ so many outside variables determine the "best" oil for your specific motor. If there were a "best" then you would only find one brand on the shelf as nothing could compete with it. Regardless of cost.

 

[farrarfan1]

What proof do you have that Mobil 1 5W20 or 5W30 is group 3?

 

[TallPaul]

You forgot Maxlife Synthetic, which may be the best deal of all listed.

 

[Boomer01]

Valvoline SynPower at Checker's for .99 cents thru tonight. Whatever their next .99 cent syn deal is next becomes my next #1. All the others are distant 2nd's till then.

 

[Blue99]

It continues to amaze me how the average Bitog member will spend $20+ thousand on a car/vehicle, $1500+ annually in fuel, and recommend a specific motor oil based on saving a measly $20 bucks over the course of 4 oil changes!

I think the focus should be what provides the best lubrication performance, regardless if a "deal" is involved.


- And forgive me for posting such negative comments!

 

[BrianWC]

Quote:

---

It continues to amaze me how the average Bitog member will spend $20+ thousand on a car/vehicle, $1500+ annually in fuel, and recommend a specific motor oil based on saving a measly $20 bucks over the course of 4 oil changes!

I think the focus should be what provides the best lubrication performance, regardless if a "deal" is involved.


- And forgive me for posting such negative comments!

---

Yeah, but is there any way to tell which IS the best? I mean, come on, how many of us do extended drains? We obsess over 5 ppm difference in wear metals.

 

[Dad2leia]

Probably not as there are so many ways to put together a fantastic oil. I'm sure that bruce381 will concur with that statement, or slam me for it!

 

[Buzzsaw]

It's PP for me as long as Advance Auto Parts has their BOGO sales several times a year.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Out of all the synths I`ve tried (Mobil 1,Royal Purple,Castrol Syntec,and Valvoline),I rate Mobil 1 the best,and Castrol Syntec the worst.

 

[1sttruck]

I just finished using up some older Havoline 10W30 that I had and was going go back to the Mobil 1 10W30 extended drain that I was using previously in the older Taurus, but that stuff has gotten pretty expensive, heading towards $7 a qt even at Walmart. Looking at what else was available I noticed that regular Mobil 1 5w30 was only A1/B1, while the Castrol Syntec 5w30 and Mobil 1 Truck and SUV 5w30 were both A5/B5, and both $23 for the 5qt jugs. I'll take the extra extended drain/higher performance oil, even if I don't need it, if it's lower cost.

Why not use dino like the maker recommends and have a trouble free engine as long as want to own the car ? Because it didn't work for me on the 87 Civic (blue smoke at 120k miles) or the 93 Taurus (big spike in oil consumption at less than 180k miles).

 

[06VtecV6]

Quote:

---

Now that almost all of the retail synthetics are group III and sell for ~$5, how would you rank them in both 5w20 and 5w30 weights:

M1
Syntec
PP
QS
SynPower
SuperTech
+ any other national synthetic brand sold in most auto stores.

Thanks.

---

PP..hands down.. Screw Big Oil EM-M1, and all of their obtuse obfuscation about GRP IV. Save you the hazzle and money and just go Pennzoil..cuz you know, it's not just oyel, its pennz-oyel..seriously no perceptible diff between M1 and PP but more potential for protection with the better GRP III per Shell's directive of 'not all grp IIIs are the same"

 

[Lonnie]

Is there any proof that there is difference between the listed oils. Every uoa is an experiment in one, that is they can not be compared. Everyone drives differently, has different weather and cars with different mileage. A better survey would be which one is cheapest, without regard to sales and coupons.

 

[Cutehumor]

Quote:

---

It continues to amaze me how the average Bitog member will spend $20+ thousand on a car/vehicle, $1500+ annually in fuel, and recommend a specific motor oil based on saving a measly $20 bucks over the course of 4 oil changes!

I think the focus should be what provides the best lubrication performance, regardless if a "deal" is involved.


- And forgive me for posting such negative comments!

---

the average bitog member? I thought the average BITOG member stockpiles huge oil stashes to satisfy their 3k/3 mo oil change fetish. Of course, those who buy expensive boutique full PAO syns and change every 5k miles with a used oil analysis. Or those who trade in cars every 3-4 years but run synthetic in the engine. (I would be tempted to put in vegatable oil if I didn't keep a car at least 10 years)

 

[lalamax]

why syntec is the worst?

 

[Thatwouldbegreat]

Quote:

---

Now that almost all of the retail synthetics are group III and sell for ~$5, how would you rank them in both 5w20 and 5w30 weights:

M1
Syntec
PP
QS
SynPower
SuperTech
+ any other national synthetic brand sold in most auto stores.

Thanks.

---

Hard to rank since both M1 and Syntec have some baggage about what they are made of and how some of us as consumers feel about their conduct.

I never had a problem with M1 or Syntec.


Lately with Pennzoil Platinum and valvoline Synpower on sale for $0.99/qt after rebate or Buy One Get One Free for Pennzoil Platinum which equals $2.78/qt.....I have to give the nod to these two oils.

Especially the Synpower 5W-40 which has many German car manufacturer approvals.

I must have over 150 quarts of these two synthetics...for less than the cost of most conventional oils how can I resist?

 

[Thatwouldbegreat]

I forgot the BOGO on QS. I just never bought any, but it is probably also a good value Shell group III product.

 

[aquariuscsm]

why syntec is the worst?


Syntec gave 3 completely different cars of mine lifter tap and piston slap. There`s just something not right about that oil. When I tried RP in my Z,it did the very same thing. I read on a Mustang forum that RP gets its base stock from BP,the same company that supplies Castrol with theirs. Makes me wonder if there`s a co-relation between the 2?

 

[BrianWC]

Lots of companies are just blenders and get base stocks from somewhere else. What's more, it can change from time to time and they aren't really obligated to say much about it. Formulation change seems to be a rule rather than an exception.