"The Leading Brand."

[MGregoir]

Leading conventional - Pennzoil
Leading synthetic blend - Castrol Syntec Blend (I would have thought this was Durablend)
Leading synthetic - Mobil 1
Leading high-mileage oil - Valvoline MaxLife

The most popular consumer grades of motor oil are 5w30, 10w30 and 5W-20 in that order from what I have read.

Castrol advertises maximum horsepower longer due to having a HT/HS in 10w30 of 2.92 (IIRC) reducing drag, the only way to beat that is to reduce viscosity and HT/HS to the absolute limits of a 30 weight oil. The sludge busting in GTX is a higher amount of calcium and sodium detergents but it's not really any more than Pennzoil.

 

[buster]

Correct. As you said, the Hp gains are made by lowering the HT/HS. Which is why Mobil 1 0w30 probably is the most fuel efficient 0w30wt on the market with a HT/HS of 2.99.


Pennzoil conventional oil is very good and very common in the NJ/PA area. All stores carry it around here it seems.

 

[Loobed]

I thought Castrol was the leading conventional oil. At least around here it's the brand I see most people buying and using. I dont see that mush Pennzoil on the shelf at the store nor have I seen any of my friends use the yellow bottle.

Fram orange can is the leading filter sold in stores.

 

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: buster
Correct. As you said, the Hp gains are made by lowering the HT/HS. Which is why Mobil 1 0w30 probably is the most fuel efficient 0w30wt on the market with a HT/HS of 2.99.


Does the HT/HS affect wear?

 

[MGregoir]

Yeah, Fram absolutely dominates the filter market.

If you watch Castrol commercials, they always compare to the "leading conventional." Pennzoil has been the best selling brand of oil for years, going back to at least the late 1980s, probably much longer.

HT/HS is the protection at high temperature in high stress like at bearings. Under high bearing loads in high heat or high horsepower engines, you want that higher to protect the bearings. Studies show that it doesn't affect wear too much in most normal situations until it goes lower than 2.6, which is the lower limit for 20 weight oils. Most European vehicles require at least 3.5, which is a heavy 30 weight or a 40 weight. Diesels generally require at least 3.7.

 

[addyguy]

For me I would NEVER have thought that Durablend is the leading blend, or even a good seller - I haven't seen it on a store shelf is probably 5 years!

 

[Drivebelt]

I can see 5w30's being more popular than 10w30 in Canada, but is 5w30 now the most popular weight in the US?

I seem to recall reading something about 10w30 still being the most popular in the US (even just a couple of years ago). Has 5w30 overtaken 10w30 in the US now?

 

[MGregoir]

I have seen 10w30 referred to in a few different brand's marketing materials as "the second most popular consumer grade" and primarily recommended for older vehicles.

I'd bet 10W-40 and 5W-20 are on about equal footing, too.

 

[Dick in Falls Church]

"leading"

Are you referring to volume, gross sales dollars, or quality?

 

[MGregoir]

Market share.

 

[Aldaris]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
For me I would NEVER have thought that Durablend is the leading blend, or even a good seller - I haven't seen it on a store shelf is probably 5 years!
the majority of people dont change their own oil. dblend is probably sold in bulk drums to the oil change joints.

 

[GMFan]

My local Walmart and K-mart sell out of their oil stock by the middle of the week. I go to my Walmart on Fridays because they stock the oil section Thursday nights. Then the shelves are always full.

At my K-mart, the oil section is usually wiped too, but Castrol and especially Quaker State always seem to be left over. Seem to be less popular here. Valvoline, Pennzoil and Mobil are usually totally gone. Even their cheapest no-name motor oils are sold out. I tried to go in there today to buy some 30w for the lawn mower but that was gone too.

My local hardware store sells Mobil Clean 5000. Gas stations usually sell whatever brand is associated with their gasoline (Shell - Formula Shell), (Mobil - Mobil Clean 5000, Mobil 1), (BP-Castrol) etc.

 

[ewetho]

Pennzoil wins due to Jiffy Lube hands down!!!