Steve Dallas

Let's ask Blackstone.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/Newsletters/Gas-Diesel/July-1-2017.php



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9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

So many variables. But yeah what oil you use is not really important in today's world. How often you change it is. I still run 0W-40 M1 in both my cars.

Steve Dallas

Mobil 1 scores lower in wear protection in a lot of tests, including many ASTM tests. But, the difference is so slight as to be insignificant in the real world. I happily run Mobil 1 0W40 in my RX-8 and my track toy Miata.

Blackstone's other newsletters are also very interesting. For example, in gasoline engines, they show thinner oils protect just as well or better than thicker oils. Based on this information, I know some Spec Miata racers that use the thinnest oil that will maintain pressure and fill it just to the bottom of the dipstick to reduce weight, friction, and foaming. That would be 0W20 or 5W20. In a race car.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/newsletters.php

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/tale...-oily-side.php

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Whale oil.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yeah for me on my RX-8 fuel dilution has always been an issue and M1 handles that the best (no idea why). It was not so good in the T6 and Castrol 0W-30 I ran. But yeah when I say not so good, I doubt the few percent difference really affects anything but I just don't have any valid reason not to run M1 0W-40 when I get jugs for $26.00, I have enough to last me years.

IamFodi

iTrader: (1)

The rule of thumb for oil viscosity is "as thin as possible, as thick as necessary."

40w8

Some BITOGers hate on Mobil1 for having a higher iron #, but I'm not sure all that iron is wear.

I've seen Mobil 1 pics, and it'll keep varnish and other stuff suspended that might stick on insides.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

This is my 1998 Acura Integra GSR with a little over 200K on it, M1 5W-30 always.

IamFodi

iTrader: (1)

Yup. Whether a number actually means wear -- let alone what is wearing and how much -- will always be a question when looking at UOAs alone. Especially UOAs based on ICP spectroscopy, which AFAIK can catch particles that result from the corrosive wear that happens with highly active surface chemistries.

Steve Dallas

I put 270K miles on a Honda Civic using nothing but Mobil 1 5W30 at 8K mile intervals and Fram (before I knew better) filters, and it looked great at every valve cover gasket change, and ran like new until I sold it. I then put 300K miles an Accord, but used Valvoline Synpower instead, due to its lower cost, with Bosch filters. Same result.

I don't spend a single fraction of a second worrying about Mobil 1's performance. It's good stuff.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

My 17 year old daughter drives a 1995 Accord V6 EXL with 245k or so (cluster was replaced at 230k) and it looks just as clean under the valve covers and everytime I drive I am amazed at how smooth it still is, it honestly drives as well as my BMW. The previous owner said he only used M1 10W-30. I also had a Civic for 13 years that had 270k or so on it when I sold it, I saw the kid that bought it last year, still going strong.

wankelbolt

iTrader: (21)

I'm shocked!

You mean what I've been telling people for years (Oil is Oil) is supported by actual evidence!? Who knew?

Oh, that's right. I did.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

Might as well ask what's the best color. People obsess way too much. For a regular modern street car just going in when the maintenance minder comes on, which 8000 miles is common on my Civic Si, and getting a regular oil and filter change at the in&out oil shop is way more than adequate. My 2007 Honda Ridgeline truck has been beat to death and back hauling the trailered RX8 and equipment at the max tow weight limit, has 230,000 miles, but is still strong and trouble free just doing that. Nothing more silly than some dufus changing high end synthetic oil every 2-3k for a car they won't even keep more than several years.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

Yeah, go post that in the pre-mix threads, lol


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wankelbolt

iTrader: (21)

Truth. Their heads would asplode if they saw the cheap **** 2-stroke lawnmower oil I premix with...

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I do lot's of stuff I shouldn't, Changing the oil in my vehicles far too often is one of them.

Steve Dallas

Somehow, I didn't even think about my 2008 Tacoma that just turned over 240K last week. It gets an oil change every 8K miles with whatever name brand synthetic Wally World has the cheapest and a Napa Gold / Wix filter. And, well, it runs like a Toyota.

wankelbolt

iTrader: (21)

Since we are throwing down anecdotes that don't mean anything: Friend of mine in college around 1990 bought a mid-80's 5th-gen wrong-wheel-drive Corolla with 150k on the clock. He changed the oil when he remembered or once a year, whichever came first, using the cheapest dino slag Walmart or 7-Eleven had handy. It had well north of 300k last I heard of it. He did not use synthetic.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Okay I have another. My ex brother in law had a 91' Toyota pickup with the R22 (or whatever it is) 4 cylinder and I am not kidding, he drove that thing for seven years daily doing roofing work and changed the oil twice. It finally went when we pulled the pan it was like molasses, there was essentially no oil in it. But it had over 180k on it.

Steve Dallas

If we want to go crazy, I have an uncle who has two early to mid 90s Chevys, and he's a believer in changing the filter twice a year and topping off the oil with whatever synthetic, but rarely if ever changing it. Both vehicles are still running with who knows how many miles. One is a 1500 Silverado, and the other is a Caprice Classic wagon. He lives out in the country and runs a fuel delivery business and does a ton of highway driving with them. I'd be surprised if he changes the oil once every 3 years.

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40w8

I've got only 6000 miles on my RX8 last oil change that was in April 2012.

I think I'll change it next April 2018 for an even 6 YEARS.

Of course, I'll do a UOA to prove time doesn't matter.

Car sits for 4 months at a time, but gets run full throttle a few times for a few months.

Mobil 1 0w40 still doesn't look dark.

I have 2 jugs waiting that only cost $13, since I got a rebate once a year.

lOOkatme

My dad owns a toyota matrix (2004) manual transmission and the car eats oil at a pace of 1.5 qts per 3,000 miles and the transmission just went out (a bearing) and he decided to trash the car (155K miles). My 05 aveo is at 141K and it runs like its new. change oil at 5-6K miles with synthetic.

all of his other cars have run a very long time. all chevy's.

Steve Dallas

^ That rate of oil consumption is within spec, according to Toyota. They say 1 Liter per 1,000 miles is normal--at least for warranty purposes. My Tacoma burns about 1 Liter per 8,000 miles, so I'm on the other end of the spectrum and happy to be here.