Valvoline's stance on Synpower and Maxlife

[strombony]

I'm posing this question because on Valvoline's website they list the benefits of High Mileage oil and synpower. However, they make it sound like the Maxlife blend is better than Synpower. They also leave the door open as if to assume that just because you use Synpower (or any synthetic brand) that a high mileage engine really would do better with High Mileage oil. So which is it? On our van, I've recently replaced the timing cover gasket and oil pan gasket, so I no longer have any oil leaks and thought of going with PP or Synpower since they are both so cheap. My engine has 85k on it.

 

[rg200amp]

They try to make all there oils sound the best.

85,000 miles is nothing!!!

If you have no leaks or usage issues, I would go with a quality Synthetic oil. PP or Synpower are both very good.

 

[strombony]

My only concern is that as the engine ages, say upwards of 140'ish or more, that the valve guides will begin to show wear. Is this a non-issue when a synthetic oil has been being used consistantly? Does synthetic do more to prevent this occurance?

 

[TallPaul]

I would rate Maxlife Synthetic better than Synpower, but not sure how a blend could be better than a full synthetic unless the synthetic was not very good.

 

[rg200amp]

Originally Posted By: strombony
My only concern is that as the engine ages, say upwards of 140'ish or more, that the valve guides will begin to show wear. Is this a non-issue when a synthetic oil has been being used consistantly? Does synthetic do more to prevent this occurance?



I think a quality synthetic oil will get you as long as your going to get.

It dose not matter so much on the brand, but on the change interval.

Change you oil often with good synthetic oil. You will be fine.

You car will fall apart before the motor dose.

 

[FrankN4]

I just today changed the oil in my 86 Toyota truck with just over the 300,000 mark. It has had Mobil 1 15W-50 since it became available, about 260,000 of its 300,000. Before that it was Castrol Syntec 5W-50. It still runs great.

My 99 Chevrolet Cavalier has 206,000 miles and has had Mobil 1 15W-50 since the day it came home from the dealer with about 60 miles on it. It also runs great and is used daily.

My 2008 Chevrolet has 3100 miles on it. It is on its second oil change with the Mobil 1. I expect an easy 250,000 miles.

I think Valvoline MaxLife is better than the Durablend and I also think MaxLife full synthetic is better than Synpower full synthetic. I Base this on the Valvoline data sheets, VOA, and UOA. The MaxLife has a better 100C cSt, better HTHS, and better add package. What bothers me is that Valvoline oils do not meet GM specifications.

 

[greenaccord02]

I've looked all over for Valvoline MaxLife Synthetic and not seen it. I'd be willing to give it a shot.

 

[strombony]

I'm sorry, this has nothing to do with Maxlife full syn. This has everything to do strictly with Maxlife Blend and Synpower.

 

[HTSS_TR]

I think Maxlife Synthetic is thicker than Synpower of the same weight, i.e. Maxlife Synthetic 5W30 is thicker than Synpower 5W30. But if you want 5W20, then you must forget Maxlife Synthetic because it is not available.

 

[ARB1977]

The full synthetic Maxlife is thicker than the blend Maxlife.