What to avoid?

[poiuy223]

i've been reading this board for a couple of months now. ive concluded that people have preferences but will generally agree that all oils are good, as long as its a reputable brand/company. i have seen many like:

pennzoil
mobil
castrol
valvoline
havoline
chevron
quaker state
motorcraft
supertech
royal purple
redline
amsoil
formula shell

now my question is...is there an oil to AVOID???

 

[lexus114]

none on your list.

 

[tinmanSC]

Yes. There were a few off-brand oils to avoid. i.e. Pitt-Pen and U.S. Economy (funny that something called U.S. Economy is something to be avoided.

) All of the normal API certified band-name oils on your list don't fall into the "avoid this oil" category. Even some that are not API certified are top shelf, like AMSOIL and Red line. Most of the store-brand oils are decent (i.e. Autozone, NAPA).

 

[dave1251]

Accel just avoid as a PCMO.

 

[poiuy223]

so in general, one could say that a car owner can use just about any brand and be fine. this generalization makes me angry when i get OCD about picking out the best oil for my car...when i can easily just get something "normal"

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: poiuy223
so in general, one could say that a car owner can use just about any brand and be fine. this generalization makes me angry when i get OCD about picking out the best oil for my car...when i can easily just get something "normal"






OOooooooookay....

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: poiuy223
so in general, one could say that a car owner can use just about any brand and be fine. this generalization makes me angry when i get OCD about picking out the best oil for my car...when i can easily just get something "normal"


Any brand so long as it meets the specs and viscosity required for the vehicle under question. But there are quality ranges. Accel and other no-name brands can often be under additized or sneakily be an obsolete API spec. looking at any specific oil's PDS, one can see that there are variations in terms of volatility, cold flow, HTHS, VII, etc., which can have effects in certain use profiles.

 

[SuperFast]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: poiuy223
so in general, one could say that a car owner can use just about any brand and be fine. this generalization makes me angry when i get OCD about picking out the best oil for my car...when i can easily just get something "normal"


Any brand so long as it meets the specs and viscosity required for the vehicle under question. But there are quality ranges. Accel and other no-name brands can often be under additized or sneakily be an obsolete API spec. looking at any specific oil's PDS, one can see that there are variations in terms of volatility, cold flow, HTHS, VII, etc., which can have effects in certain use profiles.


heard Citgo was a scammer at one point.

 

[SuperFast]

However, they might not make their own oil..

also:

CD2
CAM2 (?)
"Coastal"

 

[John_K]

Apparently these:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/pqia-issues-consumer-alert-on-two-motor-oils.149222/

 

[4ever4d]

Originally Posted By: SuperFast
However, they might not make their own oil..

also:

CD2
CAM2 (?)
"Coastal"

If you are putting"Coastal" on the bad list i will have to disagree with you as this is a Warren Unilube product and is not a bad oil,just not as much marketing as the brand names,witch is how they keep cost down.They use good base stocks and add packs. Their specs are in line with an EOM or Sopus product. Their oils meet API specs with ease.I would and am considering using their products for my 5000mi/6mth oci's.

 

[k1rod]

You still have to be a little careful. I have gone into places like 7-11 and Circle K and even a few truck stops and found multigrade motor oils on the shelves that upon close inspection turned out to be "non detergent" SA rated. The only thing I would use that for is lubricating the hinges on my garden gate. Totally inappropriate for use in any engine that has been made in the last 35 years. But I am sure when many people fill up at their pumps, check their oil and find it low, the run right in and buy this garbage and pour it in.

 

[k1rod]

Originally Posted By: 4ever4d
Originally Posted By: SuperFast
However, they might not make their own oil..

also:

CD2
CAM2 (?)
"Coastal"

If you are putting"Coastal" on the bad list i will have to disagree with you as this is a Warren Unilube product and is not a bad oil,just not as much marketing as the brand names,witch is how they keep cost down.They use good base stocks and add packs. Their specs are in line with an EOM or Sopus product. Their oils meet API specs with ease.I would and am considering using their products for my 5000mi/6mth oci's.



CAM2 used to be the Ultra Premium motor oil from Sun Oil Company (Sunoco) back in the 70's and 80's. I didn't think it was even around anymore.

 

[4ever4d]

Originally Posted By: k1rod
Originally Posted By: 4ever4d
Originally Posted By: SuperFast
However, they might not make their own oil..

also:

CD2
CAM2 (?)
"Coastal"

If you are putting"Coastal" on the bad list i will have to disagree with you as this is a Warren Unilube product and is not a bad oil,just not as much marketing as the brand names,witch is how they keep cost down.They use good base stocks and add packs. Their specs are in line with an EOM or Sopus product. Their oils meet API specs with ease.I would and am considering using their products for my 5000mi/6mth oci's.



CAM2 used to be the Ultra Premium motor oil from Sun Oil Company (Sunoco) back in the 70's and 80's. I didn't think it was even around anymore.

It's still around somewhere as it was in the PQIA test a year or so ago.I haven't seen it in my area recently either.

 

[dwendt44]

http://www.cam2.com/

 

[k1rod]

Originally Posted By: 4ever4d
Originally Posted By: k1rod
Originally Posted By: 4ever4d
Originally Posted By: SuperFast
However, they might not make their own oil..

also:

CD2
CAM2 (?)
"Coastal"

If you are putting"Coastal" on the bad list i will have to disagree with you as this is a Warren Unilube product and is not a bad oil,just not as much marketing as the brand names,witch is how they keep cost down.They use good base stocks and add packs. Their specs are in line with an EOM or Sopus product. Their oils meet API specs with ease.I would and am considering using their products for my 5000mi/6mth oci's.



CAM2 used to be the Ultra Premium motor oil from Sun Oil Company (Sunoco) back in the 70's and 80's. I didn't think it was even around anymore.

It's still around somewhere as it was in the PQIA test a year or so ago.I haven't seen it in my area recently either.



It's not the same company making it anymore. Per the above website:

In 1981, Sun Oil decided to concentrate its efforts solely on production and put CAM2 marketing activities up for sale. Of course, there were many suitors - but the CAM2 brand was eventually purchased by our group of uniquely qualified, successful, and experienced motor oil distributors.
We became the CAM2 Motor Oil Products Company, and established our Corporate Headquarters in Denver, Colorado, USA with marketing offices in Chicago, Illinois, USA and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

I have no idea what it is now.

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: dwendt44
http://www.cam2.com/


I just checked out their specs. The Blue Blood racing oil looks to have some pretty reasonable specifications, and the tech bulletins are very informative. The pass car oil bulletins are a bit sketchy.

I actually used CAM2 racing oil back in the late 70's when my brother and I built a V8 Vega.