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Oil Informational: LOTS of Info!
There is too much confusion on oil here that it results in a new "What oil should I be using?" thread being generated about once a week. So what I have done is referred back to my old DSport Magazine for a VERY comprehensive write-up on synthetic oil technology.
Disclaimer: I did not research this information and give full credit to DSport Magazine for their research and information Should I be using performance synthetic engine oil in my vehicle? If you are a reader of DSport, the simple answer is "yes." While additional cost of performance synthetic engine oil may seem out of line, the "actual" cost of use is generally much less. Let's say that you drive a vehicle that gets 20mpg and that you plan to change your oil every 3,500 miles. During 70,000 miles of driving, you will be changing the oil 20 times. Assuming the your engine holds 5 quarts of oil, you'll be purchasing 100 quarts of oil. If you purchase a quality conventional oil at $2.00 per quart versus a premium synthetic oil at $8.00 per quart, you may think that you saved $600 in the process. in fact, the savings are probably much less or you may even lose money. In one of our tests, we compared Mobil 1 synthetic oil to a leading conventional oil. In a non-modified 2005 G35, we experienced an increase in fuel mileage from 21mpg to 23mpg. This was an increase of 9.5 percent, which was considerably above the five percent mark we were expecting. Over 70,000 miles, our G35 will save 290 gallons in gasoline. Since we fill our tank with 91-octane fuel at $2.25 per gallon, we would save $652.50 in fuel costs. Hence, even if we paid $8.00 per quart for Mobil 1(we actually paid much less), we would have an extra $52.50 in our pocket after 70,000 miles. The bottom line is that the perceived additional cost of using premium synthetic motor oil may be quite different from the actual cost once fuel savings are factored. In addition to saving fuel costs in the long run, there are other reasons that you need to run synthetic motor oil in place of its conventional counterpart. A premium synthetic engine oil has a superior base oil and, in nearly all cases, a superior additive package. Why? The answer is simple. It costs more, so the manufacturer can afford to use more expensive "ingredients" in the formulation. The superior base oil and additive package deliver increased horsepower, reduced engine wear and extended protection during extreme operating conditions. This can literally save thousands of dollars in cases where a conventional oil would fail to protect your engine. The Base All engine oils are made up of a base oil and an additive package. Conventional engine oils use a base oil that is derived through a conventional refining process. These oild fall into three different groups based on their purity level and their viscosity index. The Group I oils contain the highest level of impurities and the lowest viscosity index. Group II base oils have lower levels of impurities but, have the same range of viscosity index values. Group III base oils not only have a low impurity level like Group II oils but, they also have a superior viscosity index. Due to the fact that some high-quality Group II base oils (a.k.a. hydro-cracked) can have most of the performance characteristics of Group IV base oils, the National Advertising Department of the Better Business Bureau has allowed oils manufactured from Group III base stocks to be sold as "Synthetic." However, many companies in the performance lubrication industry still disagree with the ruling. Group IV and V base oils are not solvent-refined base oils. Instead, these oils are polymerized base oils or "true" synthetics. both Group IV and V oils have a substantially higher manufacturing cost than Group III base oils. Group IV oils are also known as PAOs or Polyalphaolefins. Group V oils are non-PAO synthetics which are typically ester based. Compared to Group III oils, PAOs out perform in cold cranking performance simulators, have lower volatility and increased oxidation stability. What does that means to your engine? The end result is reduced engine wear, decreased oil consumption, and increased oil life. Group V base oils are typically diester(BDE) or polyol esters(POE). On a molecular level, the major difference between esters and PAOs are multiple ester linkages. The molecular linkages actually impart a polarity to the molecules. This polarity among the ester molecules actually enhances the physical properties of the fluid. At a given viscosity, ester-based oils will have the highest flash-point and lowest rates of evaporation. This makes these old very well suited for extreme temperature applications. However, Group V base oils also have the highest cost. Besides the higher cost for Group IV and Group V base oils, there is one additional consideration for performance oil manufacturers. PAOs tend to cause a shrinking tend to cause a shrinking in the elastomer seals in an engine while esters tend to cause a swelling of the elastomer seals in the engine. Many performance lubrication manufacturers use a combination of ester and PAO base oils to avoid elastomer seal issues. Other manufacturers address seal issues within the additive package. Oil Performance Criteria •Low Volatility •High Film Strength •High Viscosity Index •High Lubricity •High Detergency •High Friction Reduction •High Flash Point •High Oxidation Resistance •Low Foaming Types of Base Stocks Summary Group I - Lowest grade Solvent-refined base oil Group II - Mid-grade solvent-refined base oil, lower impurity levels Group III - Highest-grade solvent-refined base oil, improved viscosity index over Group II Group IV - Poly-alpha Olefin "synthetic" oils Group V - Non - PAO synthetics, generally diester or polyol esters based oils The Additive Package In doing research for this article we found that the percentage of additives varied from 10 to 25 percent of the finished product. According to Royal Purple, "Additive technology creates major differences between oils. For instance, mineral based oils with a superior additive technology can outperform a synthetic oil with mediocre additive technology." Torco expresses a similar opinion, "We believe there is too much focus on the base oil nowadays. The additive package is what protects against 97 percent of the friction that occurs in the upper cylinder and valve train." Of all the companies responding to our questionnaire, Cosworth Performance Engineered Motor Oils provided the most thorough discussion of their additive package. Various detergents, dispersants, anti-wear additives, friction modifiers, viscosity-index improvers and anti-oxidants are employed to achieve a "dual-mode formulation strategy [that uses] one type of chemistry to handle moderate conditions and another [type of chemistry] for more severe." Addititves are utilized to neutralize the acids that are the by-products of combustion. Other additives reduce the oils tendency to foam. Engine component protection is increased with anti-wear and anti-oxidant additives. Corrosion inhibitors and detergents reduce the formation of carbon and sludge buildup. Friction modifying additives allow for additional horsepower to be realized at the crankshaft while film-strength modifiers and viscosity-index improvers increase the oil's ability to protect under high-load and high-temperature conditions. Types of Typical Additives •Acid Neutralizers •Anti-Foaming •Anti-Oxidant •Anti-Wear •Corrosion Inhibitors •Detergents •Dispersants •Film Strength Modifiers •Friction Reducers •Viscosity Improvers |
How Often Should I Change My Oil?
Since synthetic oil retains more of their original performance characteristics over time when compared to conventional oil, some manufacturers, like AMSOIL and Mobil 1, suggest extended service intervals. Mobil 1 currently offers a 15,000 miles oil while AMSOIL offers oils with 25,000 mile service intervals. Of course, both companies have performed testing on their products to ensure that the desired level of protection is maintained throughout the service period. However, it's a good idea to still perform oil filter changes at the regular service intervals. Some manufacturers also suggest upgrading your engine's oil filtering system if you are going to run the same oil for an extended period. Products AMSOIL 100% Synthetic Retail Price: $6.65/Quart API Grade: SM/CF, SL, SJ ILSAC GF-4 Energy Conserving Classification: ECII Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Group IV PAO, Group V proprietary Esters, and additives AMSOIL Series 2000 Synthetic Retail Price: $9.00/Quart API Grade: SL/CF, SJ, SH... Energy Conserving Classification: None Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Group IV PAO, Group V proprietary Esters, and additives Castrol Syntec Synthetic Motor Oil Retail price: $5.49/Quart API grade: SM/SL/SJ/CF Energy Conserving Classification: Yes Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Group III Hydro-Cracked Cosworth Performance Engineered Motor Oils Retail Price: $8.49/Liter API grade: API SH/SJ/CF Energy Conserving Classification: n/a Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Group IV and Group V GReddy GR-Series Synthetic Oil Retail Price: TBA API grade: SL/SJ/CF Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: PAO+Ester IDEMITSU Piston Racing Oil Retail Price: Contact Dealer API Grade: SM Energy Conserving Classification: GF4 Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: Full Synthetic Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Unspecified IDEMITSU Rotary Racing Retail Price: Contact Dealer API Grade: SM Energy Conserving Classification: GF4 Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: Full Synthetic Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Unspecified Klotz Racing TechniPlate Retail Price: $10.95/Quart API Grade: Service SL/CF Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Group V Ester Mobil 1 Extended Performance Retail Price: $5.79 $5.99/Quart API Grade: SM/CF Energy Conserving Classification: GF4 Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: Undisclosed Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Undisclosed ExxonMobil prides itself in its proprietary formulation of high quality and performance motor oils. With leading edge technology, such as SuperSyn, we provide a unique combination of synthetic fluids, selected anti-wear additives and cleaning agents in order to tailor the viscosity grade to its specification. Motul 300V Power Racing Retail Price: $25.90/2Liter Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Double Ester Technology Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Group V Motul 8100 Eco-nergy Retail Price: $8.58/Liter API Grade: SL/CF Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Group III & IV Quaker Q (Multiple varieties) Q Advanced Retail Price: $3.99 - $9.99 API Grade: Varies by vis grade Energy Conserving Classification: Varies by vis grade Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: Varies by vis grade Types of Synthetic Oils Used: High-Quality synthetic base stocks Quaker State Retail Price: $12-$15/quart depending on location API Grade: non-applicable due to additive package needed for racing applications Energy Conserving Classification: NA Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: Varies by vis grade but, these are not blends Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Group IV PAO base stocks Red Line Motor Oil Retail Price: $8.95/Quart API Grade: SM/ SL/CF Energy Conserving Classification: NA Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Group IV PAOs, Group V Polyol esters Red Line Race Oil Retail: $8.95/Quart Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Group IV PAOs, Group V Polyol esters Royal Purple Motor Oil Retail Price: $7.13/Quart API Grade: SL Energy Conserving Classification: SL Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Group IV PAOs Royal Purple Racing Oils Retail Price: $12.89/quart API Grade: NA Energy Conserving Classification: NA Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Base Oil PAO/Group IV Torco SR-1 Super Street Series Retail Price: $6.75/Quart API Grade: Exceeds SL Energy Conserving Classification: NA Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Hydro Cracked Group III Torco SR-5 Professional Series Retail Price: $12.50 - $13.95/Quart Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Combination of Group IV and V Base Oils Turbonetics TS-1 Synthetic Oil Retail Price: $7.89/Quart API Grade: Service Level SL/SJ/SH - Meets or exceeds API Service Class SL, ILSAC GF-3 and military Specification MIL-L-46152E Energy Conserving Classification: ASTM Sequence VIB Fuel Economy Specification Defined in EC and ILSAC GF-3 Percent of Synthetic Oil in Formulation: 100% Types of Synthetic Oils Used: Group IV and V That concludes the article. If anyone has anything to add to the information please do. -Alex |
Without doing a used oil analysis (UOA) on a particular engine running a particular oil, I do not buy into generalizations. Different oils (synthetic or conventional) shear at different rates in a given engine and break down the TBN count at different rates. All vehicles do not show a MPG increase just by using synthetic oil.
Bottom line is that synthetic oil is not going to hurt an engine, but a dino oil may give plenty of protection for that same engine at a substantially lower cost. UOAs will tell the tale. |
Quote:
-Alex |
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