Oils Ain't Oils, How Did Your Oil Perform...
#3
that's not the castrol edge MINI oil. And I already knew mobil 1 was crap, saw a report on that years ago, even their synth blend tested better. I think Amsoil is the best for the money, they tested very high. But all reports and white papers say the same about mobil 1 . I don't know about RP , I do know redline is quality stuff.
#6
"If there's one thing we try and do here at Street Commodores, it's give you, our readers un-biased info on which products are good, and which ones suck. There's so much BS marketing guff out there, that it can be tough to nut out which products can walk the walk – so that's where we come in, doing our best to sort the Holdens from the Lada Nivas.
A few months back (issue 108), you might remember we did an oil comparison. At the time, we thought it was a bloody good thing, and we don't mind telling you we were pretty proud to publish an article that basically bagged a heap of big name brands. You see, at Street Commodores, we can't, and won't be bought. We like to play things straight. And in the name of playing things straight, we'd like to tell you what has happened since that story went to print.
Basically, we made a few oil companies very cross, and some others quite happy; but we've also been educated some more on engine oils, and being the type of publication that we are, we wanted to fill you in on it. The information we've learned since then suggests the test we performed may be irrelevant. Some sources have advised us that the test we used would have been better served testing some of our favourite greases rather than the engine oils we commonly use on our street cars. Sure, we did the test with the best intentions, with a level playing field for each oil and no preconceptions as to who would perform better than another, but when, and if, we mess up, we like to think that we're man enough to set the record straight."
A few months back (issue 108), you might remember we did an oil comparison. At the time, we thought it was a bloody good thing, and we don't mind telling you we were pretty proud to publish an article that basically bagged a heap of big name brands. You see, at Street Commodores, we can't, and won't be bought. We like to play things straight. And in the name of playing things straight, we'd like to tell you what has happened since that story went to print.
Basically, we made a few oil companies very cross, and some others quite happy; but we've also been educated some more on engine oils, and being the type of publication that we are, we wanted to fill you in on it. The information we've learned since then suggests the test we performed may be irrelevant. Some sources have advised us that the test we used would have been better served testing some of our favourite greases rather than the engine oils we commonly use on our street cars. Sure, we did the test with the best intentions, with a level playing field for each oil and no preconceptions as to who would perform better than another, but when, and if, we mess up, we like to think that we're man enough to set the record straight."
- Mark
#7
Very much wrong with that test
I'm not sure what you can actually take away from that article.
First most of those oils are polymer blends which are designed to flow easily at low temperature and only reach the desired viscosity at temperature. There is no mention of bringing the oils up to operating temperature so they would be performing at the low viscosity, zero in some cases. Remember that when you blast down the road right after starting the car.
Also they are applying continuos pressure at a specific point on a bearing surfaces in an engine are not designed to operate like that so the lubricants are not either.
First most of those oils are polymer blends which are designed to flow easily at low temperature and only reach the desired viscosity at temperature. There is no mention of bringing the oils up to operating temperature so they would be performing at the low viscosity, zero in some cases. Remember that when you blast down the road right after starting the car.
Also they are applying continuos pressure at a specific point on a bearing surfaces in an engine are not designed to operate like that so the lubricants are not either.
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#9
I wouldn't go as far as to say that the whole tests was BS, sure it might not be the best way to measure an oils performance, with that said there has to be at best a tiny bit of true to the test of oil film strength. If there were a way to test oils film strengths I'm sure haven't seen any.
#11
If you want to do your own case test, try Blackstone. I have used them in the past and have been very pleased with the service and data.
I can tell you I have used Mobil 1, RP, Castrol and Rotella. I have been happy with each. I have found that Rotella and Mobil 1 could have gone on longer change intervals than RP in my case. I later found out that RP base formula was a discontinued M1 formula they purchased.
I did these tests years ago when I had a Subaru and had oil consumption issues with a good healthy motor.
Take that for what its worth.
I can tell you I have used Mobil 1, RP, Castrol and Rotella. I have been happy with each. I have found that Rotella and Mobil 1 could have gone on longer change intervals than RP in my case. I later found out that RP base formula was a discontinued M1 formula they purchased.
I did these tests years ago when I had a Subaru and had oil consumption issues with a good healthy motor.
Take that for what its worth.
#12
FYI, this (very old) test has been widely criticized as being technically flawed from the moment it was published as the testing apparatus is designed to test greases, not oils. In fact, the folks that did the test eventually printed this retraction:
You can even make the technical argument the things that make a motor oil do well in this test are probably not the things you want most in a motor oil.
- Mark
You can even make the technical argument the things that make a motor oil do well in this test are probably not the things you want most in a motor oil.
- Mark
Yup....
Same test has been posted many times....
And debunked as junk science...
Here and on many sites like the bobsoilguy site where many engineers are posters...
I do find it funny that the test methods are so bad that the SOAP I WASH MY HAIR WITH does better in their testing methodolgy than motor oils.....but I would not put a bottle of PANTENE®™ crankcase.........
#13
I wouldn't go as far as to say that the whole tests was BS, sure it might not be the best way to measure an oils performance, with that said there has to be at best a tiny bit of true to the test of oil film strength. If there were a way to test oils film strengths I'm sure haven't seen any.
Thanks for posting that very informative video danjreed.
#14
If you want to do your own case test, try Blackstone. I have used them in the past and have been very pleased with the service and data.
I can tell you I have used Mobil 1, RP, Castrol and Rotella. I have been happy with each. I have found that Rotella and Mobil 1 could have gone on longer change intervals than RP in my case. I later found out that RP base formula was a discontinued M1 formula they purchased.
I did these tests years ago when I had a Subaru and had oil consumption issues with a good healthy motor.
Take that for what its worth.
I can tell you I have used Mobil 1, RP, Castrol and Rotella. I have been happy with each. I have found that Rotella and Mobil 1 could have gone on longer change intervals than RP in my case. I later found out that RP base formula was a discontinued M1 formula they purchased.
I did these tests years ago when I had a Subaru and had oil consumption issues with a good healthy motor.
Take that for what its worth.
#15
All I can say is that I'm shocked, I believed the article "Oils Ain't Oils" for over a year and it turns out that the tests from Royal Purple are botched. Oils do perform better with heat at about 180 degrees fahrenheit, not when cold. If heat is what activates the anti-wear agents in oils, my interpretation is give your engine a few minutes to get that oil warmer.
One thing that test did show was how the oils behaved once heated up, at Royal Purples website they test other brands of oil first to heat up the spinning metal wheel then they test their oil now that the spinning metal wheel is hot and therefore activating the RP's anti-wear additives. I was a sucker, I'm still glad I started this thread as it puts things into perspective now. The only real test requires you start with an engine for each brand of oil and run it for 10k, then dismantle all engines and check for wear.
One thing that test did show was how the oils behaved once heated up, at Royal Purples website they test other brands of oil first to heat up the spinning metal wheel then they test their oil now that the spinning metal wheel is hot and therefore activating the RP's anti-wear additives. I was a sucker, I'm still glad I started this thread as it puts things into perspective now. The only real test requires you start with an engine for each brand of oil and run it for 10k, then dismantle all engines and check for wear.
#16
That is news to me - I was never a Q guy but maybe its time to look into it.
#18
But never owning a turbo car before I'm staying with MINI branded edge for now, at 6K I will soon test my oil and see what it looks like. I also plan to have them see how far I could go with the MINI oil. My car wants 9K between, I doubt I'll go much past 7K . My wifes 2011 states about 15K , NO WAY I'm ever going to wait that long.
#19
#20
I would be the edge European too but it cost more at autozone than the MINI branded edge from dealer, it's like $9 a qt vs $8 .
#21
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