What is the iron issue with Mobil 1?

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Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
IT'S TWEW!! IT'S TWEW!!! Chevrofreak has PWOOF!!!


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I'm not sure if I should be offended by this
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Stevie - If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

FWIW amsoil and Mobil 1 is very closely priced down here.

has the sequence IV test thingybob with Mobil 1 5w30 been sorted out yet?
 
Amsoil and M1 are very close in price here so I figured I would stick with Amsoil for the reasons above. For the same price why chance the remote possibility? Like everyone says "Oil is cheap, engines aren't"
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Well.....Since 1990, myself, my wife, two daughters, and two son in laws have 2,340,000+ miles on Mobil 1 synthetic. All but one 1986 Toyota had Mobil 1 put in the day they were bought.

My old 1986 Toyota has the last 261,000 miles on Mobil 1. I like to demonstrate the compression by use of one of the gauges that screws into the spark plug hole. I love to see the look on peoples faces when they see the compression is within original specks.

My 1999 Cavalier now has 213,000 Mobil 1 miles with perfect running engine, no consumption, no leeks, no seeps, no noise, still WAY better than EPA estimated gas mileage.

One of my son in laws drives 70-80,000 miles a year. Since 2000, he has had a new Ford van, and two new Chrysler vans. He loves Chrysler and he runs close to 200,000 miles before he trades. His 2007 Chrysler van now has 160,000+ Mobil 1 miles.

I do not know where the iron numbers come from. All I can say is that our family engines are not wearing out, not even a little.
 
What sparks my curiosity about M1..........when I use it comapred to even cheaper dinos,I have a "louder" engine. It is a bit sluggish in the upper rpm power band too,but only when it gets good and hot. On a cold engine,it runs better than any oil I`ve ever used. Then there`s the iron thing. I wonder if M1`s cleaning abilities "clean away" some of it`s lubricity? Just a thought. May be total boloney,but hey,I`m no petroleum engineer.
 
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
What sparks my curiosity about Mobil 1..........when I use it comapred to even cheaper dinos,I have a "louder" engine. It is a bit sluggish in the upper rpm power band too,but only when it gets good and hot. On a cold engine,it runs better than any oil I`ve ever used. Then there`s the iron thing. I wonder if Mobil 1`s cleaning abilities "clean away" some of it`s lubricity? Just a thought. May be total boloney,but hey,I`m no petroleum engineer.


That can't be true because those who use Mobil 1 oils only and don't switch to different brands all the time get very high mileage from their engines.
 
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Originally Posted By: Boomer01
Why can't it be true. People get high mileage off of other syns and dinos too.


You missed the point.
The subject was about M1, not others. Many equate high iron with M1 to shorter engine life because of PPM of iron in used oil analysis. Engines soley run on M1 typically go to high mileage.
 
But something has to be causing all of the iron wear metals. What in an oil would cause elevated wear metals? Is it sub-par lubricity,BUT,not enough to do permenant harm to the engine internals? Just in minute measurments that are microscopic?
 
The only way to determine engine wear is to tear an engine down, and mic it up. An engine can be within specs on a compression test with 40 ppm of iron/OCI. Another can have 8 ppm of iron/ OCI same exact driving conditions and miles, have the same compression, and upon tear down and mic inspection have an engine in much better shape. My point is the only way to tell is to tear down an engine. After 150,000 miles of driving my bet is the cars that consistantly showed better wear #'s are going to be better upon tear down. If they're not then the UOA is totally useless at tracking wear.
 
Originally Posted By: tig1
Originally Posted By: Boomer01
Why can't it be true. People get high mileage off of other syns and dinos too.


You missed the point.
The subject was about M1, not others. Many equate high iron with M1 to shorter engine life because of PPM of iron in used oil analysis. Engines soley run on M1 typically go to high mileage.


That assumes that the wear equates to a shortening of practical life. It may mean shorter life ..like from (potentially) 350k to 300k (use whatever number you like) ..or, more likely, being in poorer condition at the final crank turn.
 
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
But something has to be causing all of the iron wear metals. What in an oil would cause elevated wear metals? Is it sub-par lubricity,BUT,not enough to do permenant harm to the engine internals? Just in minute measurments that are microscopic?


While enjoying the wildfire plague of M1 Fe issue mania, even if it is physically removing Fe in some chemical seating process, I'm inclined to regard it as managed damage to the point that it's not going to effect anything to any substantial degree over the protracted lifespan of the engine. That is, the benefits out weigh the risks by a hefty margin.

That said, Amsoil has no signature Fe markers of merit. It might be a better bet for the safety conscious owner.
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Not that it necessarily peretains directly to the M1 FE issue, but Ive noticed lately that Shell is indicating PAO blended with hydro processed petrolium on their MSDS's now. XOM does not go into that detail as far as I remember. Perrhaps this is what you get when you purchase as close to true synthetic as you can get at the currently popular market price level, higher FE. Does not XOM have more evidence of engine tear down testing that any of the other major competitors? That seems to speak for itself.
 
Should be interesting to see if the GF5 oils produce higher Fe as they improve the deposit control.

Bottom line though, lower Fe the better.
 
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Yes. They know exactly how much Fe they can erode/dissolve and get away with it.





j/k
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Only thing of it is the two used oil analysis I did last year showed low iron with Mobil 1 oil. And many others show low iron as well(as if it means anything). Mobil 1 oil keeps engines very clean, if used exclusely. More wear comes from dirty engines than ever comes from a few PPM.My sons Ranger has 333,000 miles on it now, all on Mobil 1 10w30 at 10-13,000mile OCI. It still runs great and the engine must be clean because the oil never gets darker than dark amber.
 
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Originally Posted By: buster
Should be interesting to see if the GF5 oils produce higher Fe as they improve the deposit control.

Bottom line though, lower Fe the better.



+1, and why I'm still buying oil on sale. All I see coming out of GF5 oils is more cost, and not much else for my fleet. I also think it will be like the change from SL to SM, where for an older engine SL is the better oil IMO.
 
Maybe Fe is part of M1 additive pack.

...

Where are you guys finding Amsoil "competively priced" with Mobil1? Isn't the cheapest $7.50 quart and then $10.00 for their liquid gold top line? I don't see how they can compete with non-coupon, regular price M1 at $22/5 quarts ($4.40/QT).
Is there's a secret BITOG discount?
 
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