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PQIA Analysis of 5w30 in 2021, when it was updated to be rated API SP and ILSAC GF-6A: https://pqia.org/kirkland-full-sy...motor-oil/
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The generics use what we call a market general additive package that is sold by companies like Afton or Lubrizol to anyone (yourself included) and it is a no frills, meets API SP/dexos1 product so whatever the min quantity is, is what you get as it's sold on a value basis only.
Most of the big name brands like Mobil 1, Pennzoil ultra, Castrol EDGE, Valvoline, Redline, etc all have their own proprietary mixes of additives that are differentiated from the basic stuff. So when you see an ad for Pennzoil with cleaner pistons that is compared to those basic formulas.
The hard part is you can never see/feel the difference in engine oils until you take apart the engine so most people will say "oil is oil" except it really isn't. Just like RC Cola isn't Coke.
what you would benefit from is an UOA (used oil analysis). I've been using Blackstone Labs for the last ~24 years for vehicles I want to preserve, and the money spent stops you from having to guestimate your oil condition.
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I understand people get oil in bulk like this, but I am used to getting the bundle pack from advanced auto so just trying to see what everyone does...
I understand people get oil in bulk like this, but I am used to getting the bundle pack from advanced auto so just trying to see what everyone does...
ChampXL
Microgard Select
maybe OEM in a pinch
The generics use what we call a market general additive package that is sold by companies like Afton or Lubrizol to anyone (yourself included) and it is a no frills, meets API SP/dexos1 product so whatever the min quantity is, is what you get as it's sold on a value basis only.
Most of the big name brands like Mobil 1, Pennzoil ultra, Castrol EDGE, Valvoline, Redline, etc all have their own proprietary mixes of additives that are differentiated from the basic stuff. So when you see an ad for Pennzoil with cleaner pistons that is compared to those basic formulas.
The hard part is you can never see/feel the difference in engine oils until you take apart the engine so most people will say "oil is oil" except it really isn't. Just like RC Cola isn't Coke.
This is true except:
- generic oils aren't going to care very much about tuning additives, at least not as much as the major players (Mobil, etc) do because they are going after the cost-conscious consumer that probably doesn't care
- that said, I would say it's very likely that all these generic oils are essentially the same. Don't forget that the toller wants to make money too, and it's just easier to have one blend than several, each for the different private labels, provided that the private label doesn't care either. In fact, and you'll find this with many companies that sell their own brand as well as a private label, the products will often be quite similar, because it doesn't make sense to retool or substantially change a product just to sell it privately, provided there aren't huge cost savings in doing so. For example, I used to know the plant manager at a Huggies facility - they also made Target Up & Up brand and said the only difference between the 2 at the time was the Huggies brand had some cartoon character on it and the U&U did not, because licensing fees. Besides that, same diaper. It's just an easy way for them to sell excess capacity.
The real test would be to take exact duplicate vehicles and drive them in the exact same way over years with various oils and look at deposits, wear, mileage, etc. Instead the best proxies you'll find will be wear tests, viscosity vs temperature, etc (see ProjectFarm for these). Yes you could do oil analysis, however it's difficult to get apples v apples comparisons with other oils without making loads of assumptions.
For the average person, what is going to matter more is just plain changing your oil "frequently" vs. the type of oil, IMHO.
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For the average person, what is going to matter more is just plain changing your oil "frequently" vs. the type of oil, IMHO.
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