synthetic oil comparison

[tirebird]

This subject has been hashed over on every muscle car/sports car board for years with most of the comments being anecdotal and very few citing SAE or other scientific evidence to back up their opinions. So what's the truth? Is synthetic better than dino oil and, if so, which brand is best? The only way to find out is to use double blind research and test each brand in the laboratory or in automobiles for extended periods of time where neither the testor or the testee knows which oil is being used. The results are there. I don't belong to the SAE so I can't download the scientific data but there is a good comparison test by Amsoil on it's website which shows the comparative performance of many of the popular brands of oils. It's good reading.

http://www.amsoil.com/products/atm_t...dex_flash.aspx

[Chevy454]

Being as Amsoil did the testing and it's posted by Amsoil, a person *might* want to take that article with a grain of salt...for us old car guys, it's mainly gonna come down to zinc & moly content, moreso than who's oil pours the best at the lowest temperature...

[NCGuy68]

As I've mentioned before, go to www.bobistheoilguy.com Lots of good info there.

[tirebird]

[ QUOTE ]
Being as Amsoil did the testing and it's posted by Amsoil, a person *might* want to take that article with a grain of salt...for us old car guys, it's mainly gonna come down to zinc & moly content, moreso than who's oil pours the best at the lowest temperature...

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not so sure that Amsoil did the testing but they sure paid for the testing. What I find interesting about the results is that their biggest competitor, the one they're always comparing their product too, Mobil 1, came out so well. I'm told by my engineering friends that the truly independent SAE tests basically mirror Amsoil's results.

Either way, I, like you, because I own a car with a flat tappet cam, want all the ZDDP I can get. That's why I use Mobil 1's 15w-50, which has the old formula of zinc and phophorus.

[GRB]

Wouldn't diesel syn contain even more anti-wear agents? That's why I am interested in it for a new engine that is not a crate or OE engine.

[Chevy454]

Last I heard diesel oils were taking the hit as well...and while we're on the subject, you'd better stock up on some of the older diesel fuel supplements because low sulphur diesel is here to stay...I think I'm gonna buy stock in an injector/pump reman business...

[Mr. T]

Here is some comparitives between some of the oil brands. Scroll down about half-way.

http://www.micapeak.com/info/oiled.html

[Mr BB Chevy]

I did a google again, a few months ago...

The Original Synthetic Motor Oil...The First in Synthetics...
amsoil.
http://www.JPsynthetics.com has more info, dealer / retail signup info , test results, etc etc

[ANDY M]

Tony, the info on that link is from '99.
Lots of changes since then.

[tirebird]

Since most of us don't care about the cold cranking or other cold weather tests, I thought the most interesting comparison posted in the AMSOIL test was the "four ball wear test". It's where, at high temperature and pressure, the scientists measure the wear on four ball bearings over a set period of time. Even with the new oil formulations without ZDDP, AMSOIL and Mobil 1 test pretty well.

Also, back in April, I wrote to Mobil 1 asking which of it's oils still had high levels of ZDDP. Here's it's response:

"Mobil1 MX4T 10W40 and Mobil1 V-TWIN 20W50 motorcycle motor oils, Mobil1
15W50 Extended performance and Mobil1 5W40 diesel motor oils contains
the higher levels of zinc and phosphorous for your cams. The new energy
conserving motor oils do have reduced levels of zinc/phos however, they
typically do not have any adverse effects on cams unless you are
running
higher valve spring pressures. I would suggest you stick with the
product listed above if you are concerned about the phos/zinc issues."