which is the "best" oil.........

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Luisraul924
So I've read... What do you make of this?

I'm a fan of all those oils, so have no dog in the fight. Realistically, that's a facsimile of a pour point test, without the correct methodology. And, even if it was done correctly, pour point isn't that useful of a specification. CCS isn't even the best choice. MRV is.

I'll raise your pour point video and give you the old Esso chestnut, which shows pour point and times the flow, showing the difference between using an unsuitable lube for the weather and a suitable lube. Shannow, I believe, has also linked to some of the original papers involved in this testing.

I don't generally chase cold flow other than choosing an appropriate lube for the weather, but Amsoil does have some of the best numbers when it gets down to MRV and the like. Of course, that's more for helping starting and getting the pumping going more than anything else, but we've all been through that before, and that part should be fairly clear.

My point is to not choose by pour point. RP has some very impressive pour points on their 15w-40. That doesn't mean I'd try it in -40 over a 0w-XX or a 5w-XX.

Most of the important stuff happens after the five minute mark, for those who don't want to sit through this.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
Synthetic FTW:

Where's Merk now when he wants to talk about swishing an oil around in a beaker? Swish away!

 

[Luisraul924]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Realistically, that's a facsimile of a pour point test, without the correct methodology. And, even if it was done correctly, pour point isn't that useful of a specification. CCS isn't even the best choice. MRV is.


I've always thought that the pour point stuff was relatively useless, why is it a metric on motor oil spec sheets?

 

[Garak]

That's a very good question, probably one answered by the usual, "It was always done this way."

 

[wemay]

@ Clevy in response to Luisraul924...

Although i tend to agree with Clevy's general premise, Luisraul924's subsequent response is absolutely the case. Not only does the packaging advise you to stick with oem recommendations but when using the oil company's look-up tools, they usually give you three tiers. "Premium, Recommended, and (merely) Meets specs". They then tell you, if you care enough to call, that the Premium product is the "best", even at oem recommended oci. It's hard for consumers to decipher what's best when oil and filters are the furthest things from their minds. A whole other issue is waste... the biggest purveyors of this, IMO, ate the engine designers and dealerships who design oil burning motors and then say its normal.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Generally speaking, Amsoil's cold weather numbers are pretty darned impressive, too.


Depends upon which Amsoil you're talking about.
In PQIA testing, Amsoil OE 5W-30 did not stand out from the pack for cold viscosity...
http://www.pqiamerica.com/March2013PCMO/Marchsyntheticsallfinal.html
It wasn't the worst, but it was quite a bit higher than M1, QSUD, and the Pennzoils (which have both been reformulated, but PU and PUP have comparable cold viscosities).
If you're talking Amsoil SS 5W30, it has fine cold numbers and is very impressive all around. I would like to try it, but it is very high in calcium and I'm trying to avoid that at the moment...I will run some if I can ever be convinced lots of calcium is truly OK in DIT engines.

 

[Gokhan]

Originally Posted By: Luisraul924
So to elaborate on what the title states; which brand of oil (whether in opinion or fact based statement) has the best/strongest reputation? Let me explain myself a bit more. In my opinion (because of what I've seen) Pennzoil Synthetics and Amsoil Synthetics are of the highest caliber. The reason for my statement is because those are really the only two companies that I've seen REALLY try to get their facts out there. Not just marketing, but their tests and observations on their blends etc. I don't really hear much from say, Castrol or Valvoline. [censored] Valvoline is even leaving the synthetics game altogether. All I hear from Castrol is "Magnatec will protect your engine and cook your breakfast for you"... Alright a bit of an elaboration but I don't hear them past their marketing speak really. I know Pennzoil is borderline marketing babble but they at least show their numbers. Amsoil has been really good at walking the walk. With that said I'd like to hear people's opinions on what they think the best oils are based on what research they may have found. And for those that agree with me on the Pennzoil/Amsoil point, which would you pick as being "better"?

Whatever you see in my signature line is currently the best oil. Therefore, check for updates.

It's $2.43 per quart on Amazon (with free two-day shipping) after online rebate and quarterly cashback bonus of certain credit cards. Pennzoil doesn't have PAO and ester as M1 does and has a leaner additive package. It also doesn't have as many approvals. It also uses a lot of marketing gimmicks (such as their misleading sequence IVA wear claim, which can be made for most oils). Amsoil isn't subjected to nearly as much test when formulated; so, it's more unsubstantiated claim than empirical evidence. However, its mostly PAO and Group V base oil of premium lines (Signature etc.) is a lot better than Pennzoil's and M1's mostly Group III base oils.

 

[Luisraul924]

Originally Posted By: Gokhan
Amsoil isn't subjected to nearly as much test when formulated; so, it's more unsubstantiated claim than empirical evidence.


https://youtu.be/KbxuzkQiP7I

Edit: Also, when testing for cleanliness, Amsoil ran the sequence IIIG tests twice through before cracking the engine open to show off the pistons. Pistons looked pretty [censored] silver with no varnish at all.

 

[Stewie]

Anything that the manufacturer recommends, problem solved.


If anything goes wrong be prepared for lawsuit

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Virtus_Probi
Depends upon which Amsoil you're talking about.

True. The 5w-30 Signature Series is pretty decent, and some of their 0w-XX stuff seem to be real standouts. But, your climate isn't so terribly bad that you really need to be chasing the cold numbers as much. We also have to watch where the PQIA uses CCS rather than MRV. Of course, you deal with the data you have, and trying to sort through data sheets based upon what they feel like publishing at the time can make things a little difficult.

If I were terribly worried about cold starting performance, I'd grab Mobil Delvac Elite 222 0w-30. It's cold weather performance is next to impossible to beat, and so is the price.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Virtus_Probi
Depends upon which Amsoil you're talking about.

True. The 5w-30 Signature Series is pretty decent, and some of their 0w-XX stuff seem to be real standouts. But, your climate isn't so terribly bad that you really need to be chasing the cold numbers as much. We also have to watch where the PQIA uses CCS rather than MRV. Of course, you deal with the data you have, and trying to sort through data sheets based upon what they feel like publishing at the time can make things a little difficult.

If I were terribly worried about cold starting performance, I'd grab Mobil Delvac Elite 222 0w-30. It's cold weather performance is next to impossible to beat, and so is the price.


I ski most weekends in the winter and have to park outside when I'm up in the Whites...-25F (~-32C) is not unusual, and I do actually go out and ski on some mornings like that because the crowding factor drops dramatically (and it usually warms up fairly quickly). Cold viscosity would be of less interest to me if I didn't ski.
I'm sticking with 5W30 while my car is under warranty and M1 and the like work fine for my cold starts. Subaru 5W30 is not so good for them and they were brutal with conventional 5W30 in my old RAV4. Might think about a 0WXX oil when I'm out of warranty...

 

[Garak]

Well, then you should be able to get away with M1 0w-30 AFE if you so choose.