Valvoline Synpower

[Colt]

About 6 months ago on another forum someone posted about a rebate coupon good for a free 6pk of Valvoline synpower synthetic.
I took advantage of the coupon and got a free 6pk of Valvoline Synpower.
Good oil?
Any problemw with going from Mobil 1 to the Synpower then back to Mobil 1?

 

[JohnnyO]

No. I don't regard Synpower as being as good as Mobil 1 but it's decent stuff.

 

[wavinwayne]

I own a VW GTI. VW has very strict warranty requirements on what kind of oil you can use in their engines. Valvoline Synpower 5w40 is one of VW's approved oils, so I assume it's a good oil.

I personally wouldn't do any crazy-long OCI's with it, but if I found it on sale, or got it for free like you did, I would use it in a heartbeat.

Enjoy!

 

[Colt]

Thanks,Guys.
I go 7500 miles on a change so Valvoline should be good.

I tried to find the rebate coupon for anyone but it seems it has expired.

Valvoline SynPower motor oil for $0 after rebate expired
Updated 9:01 am ET, May 21, 2004; expired 9:01 am ET, May 21, 2004
Valvoline offers a mail-in rebate for six free quarts of its SynPower motor oil. (Up to $28 will be refunded.) Offer ends October 15,2004.

 

[VeeDubb]

Synpower UOA's seem to do pretty well. I no longer use it because the 5w-40 used to shear in my VW 1.8T turbo, but the wear numbers were outstanding. I'm not sure if the lower spread grades would shear as badly.

As for it being worst than Mobil 1, I haven't seen evidence of it based on UOAs. But if you are one of those that must have PAO, no amount of data will convince you. But if you judge a oil by the whole package (base oil, additives, AND performance), then you may not have a problem with Synpower.

 

[TooSlick]

Making an SAE 5w-40 out of GP-III basestocks requires a fair amount of polymeric thickener. This is why they shear in turbocharged applications. I've seen this with the Petro Canada Duron 5w-40 as well in the VW TDI diesels.

I think the Synpower 10w-30 would be more shear stable in use.

TS

 

[TallPaul]

quote:

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Originally posted by TooSlick:
Making an SAE 5w-40 out of GP-III basestocks requires a fair amount of polymeric thickener. This is why they shear in turbocharged applications. I've seen this with the Petro Canada Duron 5w-40 as well in the VW TDI diesels.

I think the Synpower 10w-30 would be more shear stable in use.

TS

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But the 5w40 meets the following specs:

API SM/SL
ACEA A3/B3/B4
Mercedes 229.3
VW 502.00 & 505.00
BMW Long Life 01

Whereas the 10w30 only meets:

API SM/Sl
ACEA A1/A5 except Euro fuel economy
ILSAC GF-4

While the 10w30 is good, it would seem to me the 5w40 is even better. But I don't know if any of the specs listed address turbo applications. Is it possible that Synpower is not all Group III?

 

[TooSlick]

TallPaul,

Meeting these European specs requires a high temp/high shear viscosity of at least 3.5 Cp @ 150C. This is one of the main reasons why most xw-30 synthetics don't technically meet this spec. In addition, the 5w-40 probably has the better additive package. However, I do think you'll find their 10w-30 and even 5w30 don't shear as much as the 5w-40.

The 5w-40 could very well have some PAO in it if it meets the ACEA B4 spec for TDI diesel engines. It's tough for straight GP-III basestocks to meet the piston cleanliness requirements in the VW TDI test.

TS

 

[TallPaul]

quote:

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Originally posted by TooSlick:
I do think you'll find their 10w-30 and even 5w30 don't shear as much as the 5w-40.

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All else equal (i.e., same proportions of base oil types and same quality VIIs) you are right. Interesting that the new SM data sheet shows the 5w40 and 20w50 still having SL levels of zinc and phosphorus.