leedutcher
xsive to the bone!!!
The Data:
Listed alphabetically --- indicates the data was not available
Brand
VI
Flash
Pour
%ash
%zinc
_
20W-50
AMSOIL (old)
136
482
-38
<.5
---
AMSOIL (new)
157
507
-44
---
---
Castrol GTX
122
440
-15
.85
.12
Exxon High Performance
119
419
-13
.70
.11
Havoline Formula 3
125
465
-30
1.0
---
Kendall GT-1
129
390
-25
1.0
.16
Pennzoil GT Perf.
120
460
-10
.9
---
Quaker State Dlx.
155
430
-25
.9
---
Red Line
150
503
-49
---
---
Shell Truck Guard
130
450
-15
1.0
.15
Spectro Golden 4
174
440
-35
---
.15
Spectro Golden M.G.
174
440
-35
---
.13
Unocal
121
432
-11
.74
.12
Valvoline All Climate
430
-10
1.0
.11
_
Valvoline Turbo
140
440
-10
.99
.13
Valvoline Race
140
425
-10
1.2
.20
Valvoline Synthetic
146
465
-40
<1.5
.12
_
20W-40
AMSOIL
124
500
-49
---
---
Castrol Multi-Grade
110
440
-15
.85
.12
Quaker State
121
415
-15
.9
---
_
15W-50
Chevron
204
415
-18
.96
.11
Mobil 1
170
470
-55
---
---
Mystic JT8
144
420
-20
1.7
.15
Red Line
152
503
-49
---
---
_
5W-50
Castrol Syntec
180
437
-45
1.2
.10
Quaker State Synquest
457
-76
---
---
_
Pennzoil Performax
176
---
-69
---
---
_
5W-40
Havoline
170
450
-40
1.4
---
_
15W-40
AMSOIL (old)
135
460
-38
<.5
---
AMSOIL (new)
164
462
-49
---
---
Castrol
134
415
-15
1.3
.14
Chevron Delo 400
136
421
-27
1.0
---
Exxon XD3
---
417
-11
.9
.14
Exxon XD3 Extra
135
399
-11
.95
.13
Kendall GT-1
135
410
-25
1.0
.16
Mystic JT8
142
440
-20
1.7
.15
Red Line
149
495
-40
---
---
Shell Rotella w/XLA
146
410
-25
1.0
.13
Valvoline All Fleet
140
---
-10
1.0
.15
Valvoline Turbo
140
420
-10
.99
.13
_
10W-30
AMSOIL (old)
142
480
-70
<.5
---
AMSOIL (new)
162
520
-76
---
---
Castrol GTX
140
415
-33
.85
.12
Chevron Supreme
150
401
-26
.96
.11
Exxon Superflo Hi Perf 135
392
-22
.70
.11
_
Exxon Superflo Supreme 133
400
-31
.85
.13
_
Havoline Formula 3
139
430
-30
1.0
---
Kendall GT-1
139
390
-25
1.0
.16
Mobil 1
160
450
-65
---
---
Pennzoil PLZ Turbo
140
410
-27
1.0
---
Quaker State
156
410
-30
.9
---
Red Line
139
475
-40
---
---
Shell Fire and Ice
155
410
-35
.9
.12
Shell Super 2000
155
410
-35
1.0
.13
Shell Truck Guard
155
405
-35
1.0
.15
Spectro Golden M.G.
175
405
-40
---
---
Unocal Super
153
428
-33
.92
.12
Valvoline All Climate
410
-26
1.0
.11
_
Valvoline Turbo
135
410
-26
.99
.13
Valvoline Race
130
410
-26
1.2
.20
Valvoline Synthetic
140
450
-40
<1.5
.12
_
5W-30
AMSOIL (old)
168
480
-76
<.5
---
AMSOIL (new)
186
464
-76
---
---
Castrol GTX
156
400
-35
.80
.12
Chevron Supreme
202?
354
-46
.96
.11
Chevron Supreme Synt.
446
-72
1.1
.12
_
Exxon Superflow HP
148
392
-22
.70
.11
Havoline Formula 3
158
420
-40
1.0
---
Mobil 1
165
445
-65
---
---
Mystic JT8
161
390
-25
.95
.1
Quaker State
165
405
-35
.9
---
Red Line
151
455
-49
---
---
Shell Fire and Ice
167
405
-35
.9
.12
Unocal
151
414
-33
.81
.12
Valvoline All Climate
405
-40
1.0
.11
_
Valvoline Turbo
158
405
-40
.99
.13
Valvoline Synthetic
160
435
-40
<1.5
.12
All of the oils above meet current SG/CD ratings and all vehicle
manufacture's warranty requirements in the proper viscosity. All are "good
enough", but those with the better numbers are icing on the cake.
The synthetics offer the only truly significant differences, due to their
superior high temperature oxidation resistance, high film strength, very
low tendency to form deposits, stable viscosity base, and low temperature
flow characteristics. Synthetics are superior lubricants compared to
traditional petroleum oils. You will have to decide if their high cost is
justified in your application.
The extended oil drain intervals given by the vehicle manufacturers
(typically 7500 miles) and synthetic oil companies (up to 25,000 miles)
are for what is called normal service. Normal service is defined as the
engine at normal operating temperature, at highway speeds, and in a dust
free environment. Stop and go, city driving, trips of less than 10 miles,
or extreme heat or cold puts the oil change interval into the severe
service category, which is 3000 miles for most vehicles. Synthetics can be
run two to three times the mileage of petroleum oils with no problems.
They do not react to combustion and combustion by-products to the extent
that the dead dinosaur juice does. The longer drain intervals possible
help take the bite out of the higher cost of the synthetics. If your car
or bike is still under warranty you will have to stick to the recommended
drain intervals. These are set for petroleum oils and the manufacturers
make no official allowance for the use of synthetics.
Oil additives should not be used. The oil companies have gone to great
lengths to develop an additive package that meets the vehicle's
requirements. Some of these additives are synergistic, that is the effect
of two additives together is greater than the effect of each acting
separately. If you add anything to the oil you may upset this balance and
prevent the oil from performing to specification.
The numbers above are not, by any means, all there is to determining what
makes a top quality oil. The exact base stock used, the type, quality, and
quantity of additives used are very important. The given data combined
with the manufacturer's claims, your personal experience, and the
reputation of the oil among others who use it should help you make an
informed choice.
Listed alphabetically --- indicates the data was not available
Brand
VI
Flash
Pour
%ash
%zinc
_
20W-50
AMSOIL (old)
136
482
-38
<.5
---
AMSOIL (new)
157
507
-44
---
---
Castrol GTX
122
440
-15
.85
.12
Exxon High Performance
119
419
-13
.70
.11
Havoline Formula 3
125
465
-30
1.0
---
Kendall GT-1
129
390
-25
1.0
.16
Pennzoil GT Perf.
120
460
-10
.9
---
Quaker State Dlx.
155
430
-25
.9
---
Red Line
150
503
-49
---
---
Shell Truck Guard
130
450
-15
1.0
.15
Spectro Golden 4
174
440
-35
---
.15
Spectro Golden M.G.
174
440
-35
---
.13
Unocal
121
432
-11
.74
.12
Valvoline All Climate
430
-10
1.0
.11
_
Valvoline Turbo
140
440
-10
.99
.13
Valvoline Race
140
425
-10
1.2
.20
Valvoline Synthetic
146
465
-40
<1.5
.12
_
20W-40
AMSOIL
124
500
-49
---
---
Castrol Multi-Grade
110
440
-15
.85
.12
Quaker State
121
415
-15
.9
---
_
15W-50
Chevron
204
415
-18
.96
.11
Mobil 1
170
470
-55
---
---
Mystic JT8
144
420
-20
1.7
.15
Red Line
152
503
-49
---
---
_
5W-50
Castrol Syntec
180
437
-45
1.2
.10
Quaker State Synquest
457
-76
---
---
_
Pennzoil Performax
176
---
-69
---
---
_
5W-40
Havoline
170
450
-40
1.4
---
_
15W-40
AMSOIL (old)
135
460
-38
<.5
---
AMSOIL (new)
164
462
-49
---
---
Castrol
134
415
-15
1.3
.14
Chevron Delo 400
136
421
-27
1.0
---
Exxon XD3
---
417
-11
.9
.14
Exxon XD3 Extra
135
399
-11
.95
.13
Kendall GT-1
135
410
-25
1.0
.16
Mystic JT8
142
440
-20
1.7
.15
Red Line
149
495
-40
---
---
Shell Rotella w/XLA
146
410
-25
1.0
.13
Valvoline All Fleet
140
---
-10
1.0
.15
Valvoline Turbo
140
420
-10
.99
.13
_
10W-30
AMSOIL (old)
142
480
-70
<.5
---
AMSOIL (new)
162
520
-76
---
---
Castrol GTX
140
415
-33
.85
.12
Chevron Supreme
150
401
-26
.96
.11
Exxon Superflo Hi Perf 135
392
-22
.70
.11
_
Exxon Superflo Supreme 133
400
-31
.85
.13
_
Havoline Formula 3
139
430
-30
1.0
---
Kendall GT-1
139
390
-25
1.0
.16
Mobil 1
160
450
-65
---
---
Pennzoil PLZ Turbo
140
410
-27
1.0
---
Quaker State
156
410
-30
.9
---
Red Line
139
475
-40
---
---
Shell Fire and Ice
155
410
-35
.9
.12
Shell Super 2000
155
410
-35
1.0
.13
Shell Truck Guard
155
405
-35
1.0
.15
Spectro Golden M.G.
175
405
-40
---
---
Unocal Super
153
428
-33
.92
.12
Valvoline All Climate
410
-26
1.0
.11
_
Valvoline Turbo
135
410
-26
.99
.13
Valvoline Race
130
410
-26
1.2
.20
Valvoline Synthetic
140
450
-40
<1.5
.12
_
5W-30
AMSOIL (old)
168
480
-76
<.5
---
AMSOIL (new)
186
464
-76
---
---
Castrol GTX
156
400
-35
.80
.12
Chevron Supreme
202?
354
-46
.96
.11
Chevron Supreme Synt.
446
-72
1.1
.12
_
Exxon Superflow HP
148
392
-22
.70
.11
Havoline Formula 3
158
420
-40
1.0
---
Mobil 1
165
445
-65
---
---
Mystic JT8
161
390
-25
.95
.1
Quaker State
165
405
-35
.9
---
Red Line
151
455
-49
---
---
Shell Fire and Ice
167
405
-35
.9
.12
Unocal
151
414
-33
.81
.12
Valvoline All Climate
405
-40
1.0
.11
_
Valvoline Turbo
158
405
-40
.99
.13
Valvoline Synthetic
160
435
-40
<1.5
.12
All of the oils above meet current SG/CD ratings and all vehicle
manufacture's warranty requirements in the proper viscosity. All are "good
enough", but those with the better numbers are icing on the cake.
The synthetics offer the only truly significant differences, due to their
superior high temperature oxidation resistance, high film strength, very
low tendency to form deposits, stable viscosity base, and low temperature
flow characteristics. Synthetics are superior lubricants compared to
traditional petroleum oils. You will have to decide if their high cost is
justified in your application.
The extended oil drain intervals given by the vehicle manufacturers
(typically 7500 miles) and synthetic oil companies (up to 25,000 miles)
are for what is called normal service. Normal service is defined as the
engine at normal operating temperature, at highway speeds, and in a dust
free environment. Stop and go, city driving, trips of less than 10 miles,
or extreme heat or cold puts the oil change interval into the severe
service category, which is 3000 miles for most vehicles. Synthetics can be
run two to three times the mileage of petroleum oils with no problems.
They do not react to combustion and combustion by-products to the extent
that the dead dinosaur juice does. The longer drain intervals possible
help take the bite out of the higher cost of the synthetics. If your car
or bike is still under warranty you will have to stick to the recommended
drain intervals. These are set for petroleum oils and the manufacturers
make no official allowance for the use of synthetics.
Oil additives should not be used. The oil companies have gone to great
lengths to develop an additive package that meets the vehicle's
requirements. Some of these additives are synergistic, that is the effect
of two additives together is greater than the effect of each acting
separately. If you add anything to the oil you may upset this balance and
prevent the oil from performing to specification.
The numbers above are not, by any means, all there is to determining what
makes a top quality oil. The exact base stock used, the type, quality, and
quantity of additives used are very important. The given data combined
with the manufacturer's claims, your personal experience, and the
reputation of the oil among others who use it should help you make an
informed choice.
