At my mechanics shop the other day we talked about oil and he said there are only 5 or 6 true synthetic oils. Three of them being Mobil1 ,Amsoil and Kendal. What is the truth to this? I know all synthetic oils are not the same and some may not be true synthetic.
True synthetics
- Thread starter EBruce
- Start date
I was always told if the bottle don't say 100% synthetic it's not true syn. 99.8% of widely available syn simply just says full synthetic.
Your mechanic is misinformed if he thinks Mobil 1 is all true synthetic (i.e. PAO, Group IV/V)-after the Castrol lawsuit, many M1 formulations went to Group III. The European and specialty manufacturers are the only ones left.
That's a classic BITOG dead horse. Perfect for a first post.
Use the Search function.
True Synthetic
wemay
Site Donor 2023
OP, welcome to BITOG
I recommend you go to your favorite search engine, type: "True Synthetic, BITOG". This will give you ample reading material. Also, there's some good information on the Machinery Lubrication website: https://www.machinerylubrication.com/synthetic-oil-31800
I recommend you go to your favorite search engine, type: "True Synthetic, BITOG". This will give you ample reading material. Also, there's some good information on the Machinery Lubrication website: https://www.machinerylubrication.com/synthetic-oil-31800
Last edited:
First we’d have to define true synthetic.
Next we’d have to determine if you need it.
Lastly we’d have to determine if you’d want to pay for it.
Welcome to BITOG!!!
Next we’d have to determine if you need it.
Lastly we’d have to determine if you’d want to pay for it.
Welcome to BITOG!!!
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2024
- Messages
- 392
Mechanics rarely know much about oil IME.
BrendanC
$100 site donor 2024
This has been beat to death so often even I’m tired of smacking it.
Mobil1 hasn't been 100% since the 90's. Thanks Castrol...
Wait, you mean it’s not synthesized?
Nope, only in Germany does an oil need to be Group 4/5 to be called Synthetic, in the rest of Europe it's not regulated, you can advertise a Group 3 oil as Full Synthetic just like in the US.
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
I yield the balance of my time to Benjy
Beat me to it
Not all Group III oils are synthetic, you can make a high VI, low-sulfur Group III base stock without it being synthetic. Hydrocracked oils would be synthetic since they are assembled from smaller molecules. But there is no requirement for how base stock performance goals are achieved.
You see this now with some being labeled "synthetic technology".
No he is wrong. He tells you stuff like that as straight up fact? Or some doubt? If he attempting to relay knowledge, then I would doubt other things from him.
Quick answer, EVERY oil company makes a variety of oils and every oil is a blend when it comes down to it. A pure ester oil would be very expensive and not necessarily a great engine oil, straight PAO, same thing. Blend the two, expensive, but still could have some additive pre-dissolved in Group II or III oil.
Maybe ask him how much it matters? Because then you get the important questions. What is the application? And all the subsequent follow on discussion and questions.
That's why they tell you to follow the owner's manual for viscosity.
If they researched the topic they would be aware of the benefits of going to higher viscosity or lower viscosity.
Sometimes it is spec'd too low due to CAFE. Sometimes it is spec'd too high due to track usage.
https://www.bing.com/videos/rivervi...4DC60BA5AD9838BEF7514DC60BA5AD9838B&FORM=VIRE
Pablo, when you posted the Word wrong, it brought me back to a Movie I saw many years ago. LOL
Synthetic is a marketing term and is also routinely used to describe products made from a blend of Group 4 and Group 5 base oils.
Last edited:
Similar threads
