Valvoline's response.

[Rob Taggs]

I emailed Valvoline to try and get some answers. Asked them to explain what is in the Synpower 5w30. "Our company uses a mixture of Group III and Group IV (PAO) basestocks for our formulation. We are not primarily Group III, our products do go through the synthesis process. Percentages will not be displayed as this is proprietary information."

Wish I was rich so that I could get all the oils I'm curious about tested to see which companies are blowing smoke up everyone's tailpipes.

 

[MGregoir]

I think that all the grades of SynPower are about 70/30 group III and PAO as far as base oils go, except the 20W-50 which I have seen mentioned multiple times as a primarily PAO oil.

 

[IndyFan]

Did they not say they were "not primarily" group III? I take that to mean it has a greater proportion of Group IV.

 

[Scuderia]

This one of reason I don't buy store shelf oils anymore. You just don't know what you're getting, and these companies can change the formulation at any time and you wouldn't have a clue.

 

[bustednutz]

I'm running Synpower right now. When I drain it, I will post a used oil analysis. I am very curious as to what it is doing for my engine.
I'm not sure I have seen a used oil analysis for this brand before.

 

[Gilitar]

IMO the base oil of Synpower is of no concern. It appears to me that the weak point of this particular oil is additives and TBN.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: Gilitar
IMO the base oil of Synpower is of no concern. It appears to me that the weak point of this particular oil is additives and TBN.


How do you know that? Do you know exactly what Synpower's TBN retention abilities are? TBN is not a precise indication of anything.