Originally Posted By: Ayrton
Originally Posted By: Zako2
Originally Posted By: donnyj08
Quote:
Synpower: Poor TBN retention seen in UOAs helped to form a consensus that this is not as good as competing synthetic motor oils (Mobil 1, Castrol, etc).
i wouldnt jump to say it isnt as good. is it meant for a 10-15k mile drain, certainly not. it does however protect just as good or better than most according to UOA's here.
I'd gladly buy synpower on an unusually good sale, but as is, I don't see the value here. If Synpower has a weaker additive than M1 or Castrol Edge, why should it be used even for short OCI considering that M1 or Castrol cost the same? I didn't get impression that Synpower protects any better than other major brand synthetics even for medium to short sized OCI. Most people who don't demand longer OCI will probably just use conventional oil anyways.
That is the downside to a competitor like SynPower from Valvoline.
There is no huge reason to choose it when it doesn't seem extra special and is probably not as easy to find as the big names. Furthermore, being a bit harder to find, means it's harder to find on sale.
As sad as it is (not so sad to me because I like the product), that is what makes Mobil 1 such a draw. Everyone has it, so you can choose the cheapest place when you need it.
On the other side, when considering high mileage oils for another top of vehicle, Valvoline Maxlife *is* very common and often on sale, so it's a good default in that category.
I think regardless, people will choose Mobil 1. 90% of the consumers do not study or have a wealth of knowledge on oil add packs, and the technical data. they do however see M1 advertised well, and being factory filled in many cars. M1 is also usually the biggest section at WM or most major stores, along with PYB. this alone leads people to buy it over Valvoline or QS or any other excellent brand.
the point is, if Synpower's add pack was spectacular and built for a 15k mile drain, it still wouldn't outsell M1.
The point i made in a previous post was that in the normal drain interval Synpower will protect just as good as M1. is it a better value? no. M1 is a better value, because it will hold up longer add pack wise. however, in a typical 3-8k mile drain Synpower has proven that it is highly competitive at minimizing engine wear.