What oil/oils have made your engine more quiet?
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Originally Posted By: AEHaas
I changed the OEM Agip 5W-40 to 0W-30 Mobil 1 in the Murcielago and the engine was more quiet. Later I changed to 5W-20 Red Line and it was even more quiet.
Since my move to 0W-20 RLI the engine is now silent. Even my wife who did not want to me change the Red Line she loves, noticed the silence.
The Enzo went from the 60 grade Shell to 0W-30 Castrol GC and no major difference was noted. After going to the 0W-30 RLI it is now almost silent, a big difference.
In general the use of a thicker grade will muffle sounds. This does not tell you anything about the oil's function. But going thinner and being more quiet can only be from increased oil function.
aehaas
I would drink the used oil coming from either of those cars. Very nice stablemates.
I changed the OEM Agip 5W-40 to 0W-30 Mobil 1 in the Murcielago and the engine was more quiet. Later I changed to 5W-20 Red Line and it was even more quiet.
Since my move to 0W-20 RLI the engine is now silent. Even my wife who did not want to me change the Red Line she loves, noticed the silence.
The Enzo went from the 60 grade Shell to 0W-30 Castrol GC and no major difference was noted. After going to the 0W-30 RLI it is now almost silent, a big difference.
In general the use of a thicker grade will muffle sounds. This does not tell you anything about the oil's function. But going thinner and being more quiet can only be from increased oil function.
aehaas
I would drink the used oil coming from either of those cars. Very nice stablemates.
Going from Delvac 1300 15w40 to Delvac 1 5w40 made the Cummins quiter and a bit easier to rev when cold (have a manual tranny so it's noticeable). Going from Motorcraft 5w20 to M1 5w30 T&S in the newer Taurus made it a bit quieter.
Tried M1 5w20 in my 2001 Accord 4cyl and the first time my significant other rode in the car she noted that it sounded different - the engine now had a rattle.
After switching to PP, she again commented on how smooth the car sounded and wondered what I had done to fix it.
After switching to PP, she again commented on how smooth the car sounded and wondered what I had done to fix it.
Switching from M1 5W-30 to M1 10W-30 HM seemed to elicit a discernible drop in cacophony, albeit in a motor that was already quite smooth and quiet. I have to say that I really like this particular M1 product.
fwiw, the M1 0w-30 SL I am using does seem pretty smooth/quiet and always has.
Originally Posted By: buster
I'm curious because I've really never had an oil make a difference and I'm skeptical of these claims in general. My personal opinion is that it's psychological 90% of the time.
As a representitive of the 10%, Amsoil SSO has without a doubt, made my engine run smoother and quieter.
I'm curious because I've really never had an oil make a difference and I'm skeptical of these claims in general. My personal opinion is that it's psychological 90% of the time.
As a representitive of the 10%, Amsoil SSO has without a doubt, made my engine run smoother and quieter.
The SL1 has been a fairly noisy motor. Fresh oil changes do seem to help, but I've noticed small changes between brands (not enough where I can rule out psychological). With that in mind, I'll say Maxlife so far seems to have an improvement over Havoline, similar to how Rotella T synthetic did. Generally, any dino 5w-30s I used in the past were the same; even Mobil 1 I heard no difference.
Any of the major non synthetic brands other than YB Pennzoil or Castrol GTX. I tried Castrol in many different cars over the years and they were all noisier with it than anything else. I will never use it again.
2 cars before this one I tried YB Pennzoil Time Release Formula 5w30 and it was noisier with it. I think it was around 50,000 or 60,000 miles at the time and had never been that noisy before. That was with 3000 mile oil changes. That was only one car one try with that time release formula but I am a little hesitant to try it again.
2 cars before this one I tried YB Pennzoil Time Release Formula 5w30 and it was noisier with it. I think it was around 50,000 or 60,000 miles at the time and had never been that noisy before. That was with 3000 mile oil changes. That was only one car one try with that time release formula but I am a little hesitant to try it again.
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In my '97 Camry V-6 sludge monster, Mobil 1 gave the engine a whirry vibration that sounded like parts rubbing together. Yeah, it made me nervous. I switched to Valvoline SynPower, which ran very smooth and quiet, but I dumped it when I discovered it was not a true synthetic (Group III). Red Line 5W30 also whirs a bit, but I know the engine is very well protected and often drive accordingly (varoom! varoom!).
Ok, I would normally be skeptical of the purely theoretical analysis, but I today had a thought on the subject.
Ever notice as you fill and prepare a load of laundry, the agitator makes a ton of sloshing noise and you can sort of hear the motor and stuff...UNTIL you add the soap and the bubbles kind of mute it? It's a dramatic difference. Not that some crankcase oil is "foaming" but maybe there is something to having all different sized hydrocarbon chains behave in a more elastic way. I picture it with the various molecules giving a springy effect??? Another random physical example is how you pack a solid bed for a road or footing, multiple sized crushed rock packs more solid and rigidly than uniform ones and it stays put better.
Anyway, pure theory, but the Gruppe I Delvac 1300S and some blended oils are quite smooth.
Ever notice as you fill and prepare a load of laundry, the agitator makes a ton of sloshing noise and you can sort of hear the motor and stuff...UNTIL you add the soap and the bubbles kind of mute it? It's a dramatic difference. Not that some crankcase oil is "foaming" but maybe there is something to having all different sized hydrocarbon chains behave in a more elastic way. I picture it with the various molecules giving a springy effect??? Another random physical example is how you pack a solid bed for a road or footing, multiple sized crushed rock packs more solid and rigidly than uniform ones and it stays put better.
Anyway, pure theory, but the Gruppe I Delvac 1300S and some blended oils are quite smooth.
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Originally Posted By: Bruce T
In my '97 Camry V-6 sludge monster, Mobil 1 gave the engine a whirry vibration that sounded like parts rubbing together. Yeah, it made me nervous. I switched to Valvoline SynPower, which ran very smooth and quiet, but I dumped it when I discovered it was not a true synthetic (Group III). Red Line 5W30 also whirs a bit, but I know the engine is very well protected and often drive accordingly (varoom! varoom!).
I'm not quite following here? You ran three different synthetic oils, all of which likely far exceed the lubrication requirements for your engine. One of those oils was Mobil 1, which gave you an odd "whirring" noise. You put in RedLine, which ALSO makes the whirring noise, but you don't care because it's "better"????
Those rascally turbochared Porsche's with their Mobil 1 should be wary since they aren't running RedLine they may be susceptible to epic engine failure at any moment......
I honestly doubt you were any "less safe" with the M1 in there, but that's just my opinion. After all, I figure than an oil good enough for Porsche would likely be good enough for a Camry.... but I could be wrong.
In my '97 Camry V-6 sludge monster, Mobil 1 gave the engine a whirry vibration that sounded like parts rubbing together. Yeah, it made me nervous. I switched to Valvoline SynPower, which ran very smooth and quiet, but I dumped it when I discovered it was not a true synthetic (Group III). Red Line 5W30 also whirs a bit, but I know the engine is very well protected and often drive accordingly (varoom! varoom!).
I'm not quite following here? You ran three different synthetic oils, all of which likely far exceed the lubrication requirements for your engine. One of those oils was Mobil 1, which gave you an odd "whirring" noise. You put in RedLine, which ALSO makes the whirring noise, but you don't care because it's "better"????
Those rascally turbochared Porsche's with their Mobil 1 should be wary since they aren't running RedLine they may be susceptible to epic engine failure at any moment......
I honestly doubt you were any "less safe" with the M1 in there, but that's just my opinion. After all, I figure than an oil good enough for Porsche would likely be good enough for a Camry.... but I could be wrong.
Originally Posted By: SpitfireS
I just checked density data on these oils:
All densities at 15C in kg/m3
M1 5W-20 D=800
eww get it away! Does it come pre-aerated? I've seen polystyrene foam with a higher density!!
I just checked density data on these oils:
All densities at 15C in kg/m3
M1 5W-20 D=800
eww get it away! Does it come pre-aerated? I've seen polystyrene foam with a higher density!!
Hi,
buster - The quietest lubricants I have experienced have "generally" been the 15W-40 HDEOs and Shell's PCMO synthetics of the last decade or so with the XHVI formulation
buster - The quietest lubricants I have experienced have "generally" been the 15W-40 HDEOs and Shell's PCMO synthetics of the last decade or so with the XHVI formulation
No, I'm saying just the opposite. The oil that was subjectively impressive (Valvoline SynPower) actually offers the least protection. But the two synthetic oils, in spite of the whirring, offer the most protection. This generation of engine was infamous for narrow oil passages that "cook" conventional oil, so running synthetic is essential if you run the oil past 3K intervals. I settled on 5K after testing by oil analysis.
Redline in our Outback
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Originally Posted By: Bruce T
No, I'm saying just the opposite. The oil that was subjectively impressive (Valvoline SynPower) actually offers the least protection. But the two synthetic oils, in spite of the whirring, offer the most protection. This generation of engine was infamous for narrow oil passages that "cook" conventional oil, so running synthetic is essential if you run the oil past 3K intervals. I settled on 5K after testing by oil analysis.
Were multiple oil changes and then UOA's done on at least the 2nd oil change of each run of the oil in question? And then the UOA's compared?
Reason I ask is because one thing I've learned on here is that no matter which oil appears "better" on paper, it seems that each engine is different and may do better on the oil you least expect it to.
I've also noticed a general dislike for Exxon-Mobil, probably due to their size; it's always fashionable to hate on the big guy.
But that's neither here nor there. I would be curious to hear how the Valvoline, even though it's a "group III" compared in 2nd-change UOA's against the other "noisier" oils.....
No, I'm saying just the opposite. The oil that was subjectively impressive (Valvoline SynPower) actually offers the least protection. But the two synthetic oils, in spite of the whirring, offer the most protection. This generation of engine was infamous for narrow oil passages that "cook" conventional oil, so running synthetic is essential if you run the oil past 3K intervals. I settled on 5K after testing by oil analysis.
Were multiple oil changes and then UOA's done on at least the 2nd oil change of each run of the oil in question? And then the UOA's compared?
Reason I ask is because one thing I've learned on here is that no matter which oil appears "better" on paper, it seems that each engine is different and may do better on the oil you least expect it to.
I've also noticed a general dislike for Exxon-Mobil, probably due to their size; it's always fashionable to hate on the big guy.
But that's neither here nor there. I would be curious to hear how the Valvoline, even though it's a "group III" compared in 2nd-change UOA's against the other "noisier" oils.....
AMSoil S3000 5W30 HDEO in the Lexus
In the Duratec's PP compared to MC is not only quieter but quite a bit smoother also, 5w20 weight. No difference between Havoline and PP though. In the Aspire MC 5w20 compared to AAP 10w30 was smoother and quieter. I'm almost tempted to run PP in it but afraid of consumption. In a few other cases with other cars I ran Castrol and when switched to any other brand it helped... no fan of Castrol oil anymore.
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