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there is no substitute for used oil analyses properly interpreted
What this gentleman did NOT prove was that Valvoline is superior to Mobil.
I think oil analysis is useful but limited.
Correct, he did not prove Valvoline was superior. Nor do you know Mobil is any better.
We do know wear metals dropped and we don't know what version of the 5w40 was run. You could certainly compare D1.
RI's interpretation:
Quote:
1st off, this is not an experiment, it is an ongoing analysis of oil in a vehicle engine. The data is real, not contrived. A change definitely occurred when M1 was switched out and replaced with Valvoline. Arguing about "statistical significance" is a smoke screen. A change occurred in metal wear. That change in metal wear is well outside the error range of ICP spectroscopy used by Blackstone. Thus, something caused that change in wear. Now, we can argue whether it was the oil, or some other condition in the engine, but quite frankly, there are not that many variables that will cause this large an increase in wear.
Having done these sorts of experiments across many miles in my Audi's and having accumulated nearly 100 samples across 20+ Audi RS4 engines, I'd say that his results are what should be expected. It is a testament to good marketing that consumers become angry when the preeminence of Mobil 1 0W40 is challenged. But it does not change the fact that Mobil 1 sometimes does not perform as well as other oils in some engine applications.
Believe it or not, there really are not that many variables to consider that change the results in an oil analysis. Oil itself being the most important variable. Used Oil analysis gives a snapshot of an engine over the average period of the oil change, or analysis, interval. For what is measured, it is highly accurate.
I'd agree that it would be helpful to reintroduce M1 into the engine again. When/if he does, I fully expect to see fuel dilution go up, and Iron wear specifically increase. Why? Because M1 0w40 does not seal the rings well after it has been run in the engine a few thousand miles. And when confronted with fuel, some of it's anti wear additives are washed off of iron bearing surfaces in the engine, resulting in higher wear.
