The SECRET Oil Companies DON'T Want You To Know...

[paulri]

Fascinating. For some reason, when I heard the term "base oil," I always visualized it as jet black. Kind of like the stuff that drains from my drain pan. Thanks for posting the link.

Those two make an interesting pair. Dave looks like he can't wait for the filming of the video to end. LSJ, on the other hand, can't wait for the next opportunity to say something....

 

[MolaKule]

Does HPL do engine testing? They don't seem to use the standard recipes because they are not certified. Do they copy formulations such as 229.5 so they know those oils will work in those applications?

If you review the video about DI (additive) manf. you will see that it is mostly the DI manf. that do engine testing.

Now HPL does test their racing oils and lubes in racing and non-racing applications, so formulation knowledge from racing applications can be applied using their boost chemistry to increase the performance of their other products

 

[MolaKule]

For some reason, when I heard the term "base oil," I always visualized it as jet black. Kind of like the stuff that drains from my drain pan...

No, you always start with the purest base oils available.
All base oils are either water-clear and transparent or slightly amber.​

On the left is a 100cSt Chevron PAO and on the right is a 32cSt complex POE, Hatcol 3371.

 

[Sandstorm]

You can get the Napa oil on sale for $20. Maybe not now but it goes on sale often.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Do you think you turn up the fanboy a little more.

 

[dkryan]

No, you always start with the purest base oils available.
All base oils are either water-clear a​

On the left is a 100cSt Chevron PAO and on the right is a 32cSt complex POE, Hatcol 3371.
View attachment 241388

Wow!

Thanks for the photo, 'Kule!

You're saying ALL base oils start out as "water-clear and transparent or slightly amber?"

Including everything from Mobil, including the much heralded 0w-40?

Not that I'm asking you to make inferences about Mobil oil!

I guess your point means it's all about the additive package?

 

[MolaKule]

Wow!

Thanks for the photo, 'Kule!

You're saying ALL base oils start out as "water-clear and transparent or slightly amber?"

Including everything from Mobil, including the much heralded 0w-40?

Not that I'm asking you to make inferences about Mobil oil!

I guess your point means it's all about the additive package?

Yes,
ALL base oils supplied to the formulator or blender start out as "water-clear and transparent or slightly amber."

Once the additive package, VII's, boosters, and dyes are added, the finished oil becomes a darker amber.

 

[ATex7239]

You can get the Napa oil on sale for $20. Maybe not now but it goes on sale often.

I like that his videos are basically brand agnostic. He is showing love to everyone. HPL, VL, NAPA, Mobil, PZ, Supertech, Rotell… ahhh…Well, maybe not…

 

[dkryan]

From your knowledgeable standpoint, what would be a reason to add dyes to the mix, i.e., formula?

 

[irollo]

I like how the HPL lab is showcased.

I do not like the rambling incoherent scattershot dialog. I've said this before, and once again: he needs an editor.

I almost think the videos are intentionally made unclear so you have to rewatch.

It also feels like he's throwing HPL under the bus since they're a boutique company and he's essentially saying the NAPA branded oil performed better than the boutique oil they made. It would be nice if he clarified it's not HPL's blend. Or even just test HPL's actual PCMO.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I just bought my 26th case (yep, case of 12 each) of HPL. Intended for the new Mazda bought by my son and his fiancée.

Does this mean that the well maintained '01 V70 T5 will be posted in the "for sale" thread? Asking for some friends.

My son and his fiancé get what I bought on sale or decide to pick up. Currently that is Mobil FS for the Tucson and PP Euro-L (with a qt of HPL PCMO) for the Forte.

Who knows what happens when they decide to move after the wedding. Hopefully I can still be there to help like @Astro14.

 

[hemioiler]

I almost think the videos are intentionally made unclear so you have to rewatch.

It also feels like he's throwing HPL under the bus since they're a boutique company and he's essentially saying the NAPA branded oil performed better than the boutique oil they made. It would be nice if he clarified it's not HPL's blend. Or even just test HPL's actual PCMO.

He's not throwing them under the bus, HPL's oils were not used in this comparison and I thought he was pretty clear about that. He just used some of the ingredients that HPL also happens to use. But as he said in the video, it's not just about the ingredients, its about the total balanced formula that matters.

He can't use HPL's actual finished oils without then someone on this forum complaining about "this is just an HPL ad". Which actually did happen in one of his recent videos when he used their no vii.

Some guys just can't win.

 

[irollo]

He's not throwing them under the bus, HPL's oils were not used in this comparison and I thought he was pretty clear about that. He just used some of the ingredients that HPL also happens to use. But as he said in the video, it's not just about the ingredients, its about the total balanced formula that matters.

He can't use HPL's actual finished oils without then someone on this forum complaining about "this is just an HPL ad". Which actually did happen in one of his recent videos when he used their no vii.

Some guys just can't win.

Agree to disagree

 

[MolaKule]

From your knowledgeable standpoint, what would be a reason to add dyes to the mix, i.e., formula?

For engine oils, some formulators dye an oil slightly darker to give it a beer/ale appearance. After most additives are mixed, in my opinion, it is dark enough but some customers want it darker.

For other lubes, an organic dye would be used to differentiate the lubricant type or viscosity of say a series of ATF's, as HPL do with their ATFs.

 

[RDMgr]

Truth be told, this is how all motor oil manufacturers make their oils. It's nothing special. Usually the larger companies make licensable oils while boutique manufacturers tweak the formula with task specific components. Some manufacturers produce both licensable and boutique oils to meet multiple marketing requirements.

 

[Cujet]

I do not like the rambling incoherent scattershot dialog. I've said this before, and once again: he needs an editor.

It is interesting how we are all so different. I'm not sure if the word is "geek" or "nerd" or today's buzz-phrase "high functioning autistic" but I have a streak of it a mile wide. I like his videos, understand him and fully enjoy the presentation.

In fact, it is much like aviation training, where we first hear what subjects will be covered, and the questions that will be answered. Then start with the basics and get into addressing each point.

I put him on 1.5x or 1.75x speed, which helps with dry material.

 

[Elkins45]

From your knowledgeable standpoint, what would be a reason to add dyes to the mix, i.e., formula?

Because “Royal light amber” just doesn’t have the same ring

 

[Foxtrot08]

From your knowledgeable standpoint, what would be a reason to add dyes to the mix, i.e., formula?

Inconsistent colors in additives here or there. Makes it more uniform batch to batch.

Same with base oils, especially when using re-refined and some different virgin crude ones when it comes to group 2s. You can get very slight hues of color here or there depending on crude sources or feed stock sources, and additives. Even if they’re performance wise all the same.

So you just dye it and call it a day.

Example, Ergon base stocks tend to have a greenish hue to them. So a dye just eliminates that.

 

[Foxtrot08]

It’s been covered here. But most companies don’t make their own additives.

Chevron is the only company that makes their own additives. Even then, they don’t make every part of the additive product. Industrial chemical companies make some of their base materials - think DOW, BASF, or whomever up stream from Afton / Oronite / Infineum / Lubrizol / etc.

Blending facilities will either buy solubilized additives, or they will solubilize their own additives.

A very well known ILMA, Solubilizes for alot of other blenders. They load the solubilize additives on a train cars and send them on their happy way.

These additives will have a formulation / recipe that will be followed, that was developed by the additive company. Then coupled with the pre-tested base oils equals an approved formulation.

 

[hemioiler]

Agree to disagree

Sure, but you seem to be packaging all boutique oils under the same umbrella and because he happened to formulate his own boutique oil that performed worse in one test, that "throws HPL under the bus" because they make boutique oils too... that's not how it works.

HPL's oils weren't even tested (like you said). He just grabbed some raw materials off their shelf, through them together and tested it. That in no way reflects poorly on HPL since as he also said in the video all the raw materials and the ad packs for every different oil brand all come from the same few sources.

(and just in case you're wondering, I'm a very satisfied customer of HPL)