I think the point of the "cheapest oil" doesn't automatically translate to "inferior" when we're talking about non-turbo, lo-pop, mid-horsepower offerings in the econobox sedans and family cars. That would include sub-280HP V-6s, and most non-turbo 4banger DOHC American, Japanese and Korean engines, which together probably comprise 90% of the engines owned by folks here on BITOG, and more than that out on the street.
Possessed of excellent fuel/temp/oil control, superior materials and tolerances, motors of this genre' are very easy on the oil. Further, under ILSAC GF4/API SM, the oils have passed rigorous testing and undergone abuse a street car will never begin to approach. So when we talk "cheap" oil in terms of only dollars and cents without regard to the API and ILSAC classification, I can only conclude folks are attempting to justify greater than necessary expenditures for a brand name and hence, irrational comfort level.
Certainly GroupIII syns are better than standard Dino, ASSUMING a longer change interval. But these sub-3-5K OCI don't even begin to wear out dinos, if UOA are to be believed. That being the case (and keep in mind, I'm referring to standard-issue, lo-pop V-6's and import, non-turbo 4-bangers here), ANY SM/GF4 dino on up 5K OCI is going to serve well. Given that most folks are still stuck on SM?
I know it shouldn't but this notion that "my engine is expensive and oil and filters are cheap, therefore, I'm blowing 5 quarts and a filter out of service at 3K whether I need to or not" makes me crazy. A terrible waste it seems to me, and a completely non-factual, ignorant notion to boot.
To imply that "cheap oil" is no good, and only the "names" at twice and thrice the price are any good smacks of know-nothingness. Especially when the advocates of such theories ignore the body of evidence that exists here in such abundance, yes, some of it provided by good old, cheapskate Utah Bill.
