Synthetic oil information.
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 2:24 pm
At the last meet there was a discussion about synthetic oil and what was what with the various types of oil. Here is more information than you probably want to know.
I have an EVO and my oil cap says to use Mobil 1 so a lot of people ask if there is any reason for that. Yes, it's marketing and promotion. Mobil One is on the top because they meet the Mitsubishi specifications and pay a promotional fee to be there. I did a writeup about the change in Mobil One formulation a few years ago, can't find it now. Basically they now use the "hydrocracked" dino oil wax (class 3 oil base) as a base for most of the grades mix with other class oils to reach the desired specifications of preformance and price. Most of the companies switched to using this base came about when other companies began using this base and calling the oil synthetic. Mobil sued and lost in court. Since this base is a lot cheaper to make than "pure" synthetic from polyolephins (class 4,5 oil base), the other companies were at a competitive advantage in the market. Mobil changes their formulation and could again compete with Castrol, Quaker State and the others on price. Smaller companies looking at the auto enthusiast market still make "pure" synthetic oil and it costs more. That's why we pay more for AmsOil. The differences in regular, extended and other levels may be the additives or simply marketing. Some people are willing to pay more if it is labeled Extended Life over just plain oil.
Best recommendation I can give is ask around if you are not sure. The Mobil One Synthetic on sale meets the specifications for our cars and normal applications but may not be the "best" oil for specific applications (racing, lots of boosting, long drives, upgraded turbo ...etc.). I use AmsOil (I've found a place that does changes with it for $55) and have found I get better fuel mileage with it.
As usual here are some references :
http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html - Older article
http://forums.viperclub.org/srt10-sr...r-formula.html
http://www.1st-in-synthetics.com/is_..._synthetic.htm
Do a search there are a lot of other articles out there about the changes in oil formulations and test results both biased and unbiased.
And for even more information overload http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/.
I have an EVO and my oil cap says to use Mobil 1 so a lot of people ask if there is any reason for that. Yes, it's marketing and promotion. Mobil One is on the top because they meet the Mitsubishi specifications and pay a promotional fee to be there. I did a writeup about the change in Mobil One formulation a few years ago, can't find it now. Basically they now use the "hydrocracked" dino oil wax (class 3 oil base) as a base for most of the grades mix with other class oils to reach the desired specifications of preformance and price. Most of the companies switched to using this base came about when other companies began using this base and calling the oil synthetic. Mobil sued and lost in court. Since this base is a lot cheaper to make than "pure" synthetic from polyolephins (class 4,5 oil base), the other companies were at a competitive advantage in the market. Mobil changes their formulation and could again compete with Castrol, Quaker State and the others on price. Smaller companies looking at the auto enthusiast market still make "pure" synthetic oil and it costs more. That's why we pay more for AmsOil. The differences in regular, extended and other levels may be the additives or simply marketing. Some people are willing to pay more if it is labeled Extended Life over just plain oil.
Best recommendation I can give is ask around if you are not sure. The Mobil One Synthetic on sale meets the specifications for our cars and normal applications but may not be the "best" oil for specific applications (racing, lots of boosting, long drives, upgraded turbo ...etc.). I use AmsOil (I've found a place that does changes with it for $55) and have found I get better fuel mileage with it.
As usual here are some references :
http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html - Older article
http://forums.viperclub.org/srt10-sr...r-formula.html
http://www.1st-in-synthetics.com/is_..._synthetic.htm
Do a search there are a lot of other articles out there about the changes in oil formulations and test results both biased and unbiased.
And for even more information overload http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/.
Bob, are you serious, this really your first post!!?!?!?!? 