Synthetic Oil

Oil of Choice

  • Castrol Syntec/Edge

    Votes: 254 8.4%
  • Royal Purple

    Votes: 344 11.4%
  • AMSOil

    Votes: 428 14.2%
  • Valvoline Synpower

    Votes: 174 5.8%
  • Mobil 1

    Votes: 1,077 35.7%
  • Other

    Votes: 737 24.5%

  • Total voters
    3,014

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Burla

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I hear ya, but what about friction points possibly causing acidic environment? Time for some cvt uoa's with TAN at 30k miles?
 

CanuckRam1313

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Sooooooooo..... I sent my sample to Blackstone from Ontario Canada on Friday just passed....

I nearly threw up in my mouth with the cost.... just over a year ago when I sent my last sample from here to Blackstone it was $28 all in and that included a tracking number...

As of Friday just passed... $50 FN Canuck bucks for the same dang service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is what it is and I'm not being a sulky b_ia-t..c;.h....lol

However, if I wasn't so curious myself, and equally appreciative of us all here on our Forum to build our incredible database even further.... I would have flushed the dang sample...lol!

Moving on positively.... I'm super curious for us all to see what 10,200Km's of full winter driving on HPL SC 0W30 and a RP 20-820 gives us for results, with TAN & TBN.... Stay Tuned, Y'All!!!!!!!!!

@Wild one - I'll definitely be looking for a local lab now!!!!!
WearCheck is super close to me in Burlington, ON, and I've used them in the past for oil & coolant sampling on generators.
 

BLUKTY2

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Regarding the shearing of Amsoil SS 0W-40, I posted this UOA several months ago in the Blackstone thread. But here it is again:


SS 0W-40.jpg

I did not do a VOA on this oil but according to Amsoil's specs, the cSt Vis at 100*C is 14.8. As shown in my UOA, this dropped to 11.76 in just over 3,500 miles. While the engine in my truck does work hard, I expected better results from this oil. I also had a lifter tick on startup if the engine wasn't started for more than a couple of days. I used this oil for many thousands of miles but after seeing this report I have changed to HPL P+ 5W-40 and don't plan on going back to the SS 0W-40. I am not bashing Amsoil; I have used their products for literally decades and still do. Just not this oil.

But as we have seen with these engines, if your oil strategy works for you, go with it!
 

Burla

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Regarding the shearing of Amsoil SS 0W-40, I posted this UOA several months ago in the Blackstone thread. But here it is again:


View attachment 563016

I did not do a VOA on this oil but according to Amsoil's specs, the cSt Vis at 100*C is 14.8. As shown in my UOA, this dropped to 11.76 in just over 3,500 miles. While the engine in my truck does work hard, I expected better results from this oil. I also had a lifter tick on startup if the engine wasn't started for more than a couple of days. I used this oil for many thousands of miles but after seeing this report I have changed to HPL P+ 5W-40 and don't plan on going back to the SS 0W-40. I am not bashing Amsoil; I have used their products for literally decades and still do. Just not this oil.

But as we have seen with these engines, if your oil strategy works for you, go with it!
All I can say is most 0w40's even redline you can expect the same. The only way to avoid it is to use super class 0w40's which are on the line 12.5 starting visc. Those tend to lose less % then the heavy ones. Especially when in a hemi, these machines simply shred visc. I might consider a 15w40 which will shear much less. You see that wear despite low miles, just mean your hard on the oil. Other applications will lose less visc, but generally speaking not any hemi.
 

Buddy

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Not to slide of topic fully. Redline 5w30 is a top choice for the Hemi, what is or are the top for the Pentastar 3.6 crowd? I ask cause I have a '15 200, as does my dad. Have a Baxter cartridge spin on adapter on each with Royal Purple 20-500 filters, and currently have PUP 5W-20 in each. Do the 3.6 crowd run 5w-30 or -20? And Lubegard at all? Or other brand/weight?
 

Burla

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Not to slide of topic fully. Redline 5w30 is a top choice for the Hemi, what is or are the top for the Pentastar 3.6 crowd? I ask cause I have a '15 200, as does my dad. Have a Baxter cartridge spin on adapter on each with Royal Purple 20-500 filters, and currently have PUP 5W-20 in each. Do the 3.6 crowd run 5w-30 or -20? And Lubegard at all? Or other brand/weight?
Just more of a guess then anything, 5w30 pup would likely be a top choice without the dexos donut, alternatively any dexos oil. Since you are in cold spot 0w30 m1 esp as we just found out perhaps top choice. If I were you I would look at 0w30's. I'm not sure they have a bad 0w30, kind of by definition 0w30 mean s high quality oil. Best ones will have desirable German auto maker specs. I like Pennzoil, but as far as 0w30's go I would likely look elsewhere.
 

Yardbird

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Not to slide of topic fully. Redline 5w30 is a top choice for the Hemi, what is or are the top for the Pentastar 3.6 crowd? I ask cause I have a '15 200, as does my dad. Have a Baxter cartridge spin on adapter on each with Royal Purple 20-500 filters, and currently have PUP 5W-20 in each. Do the 3.6 crowd run 5w-30 or -20? And Lubegard at all? Or other brand/weight?


I'm running PUP 5w30 with Lubegard. Thinking about not using the Lubegard next change to see how the oil analysis goes. Of course, it's not as cold here as where you are, but we do have a few mornings a year in single digits.

How are you liking the filter? I am thinking about one. Does it help with the dry start up? I always pre-lube by holding the pedal to the floor if the engine has been sitting anything over 30 minutes or so.

If the engine didn't scream straight to 1500 rpm at startup, and instead slowly ramp up, it wouldn't bother me as much.
 
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Buddy

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I'm running PUP 5w30 with Lubegard. Thinking about not using the Lubegard next change to see how the oil analysis goes. Of course, it's not that cold here as where you are, but a few mornings a year in single digits.

How are you liking the filter? I am thinking about one. Does it help with the dry start up? I always pre-lube by holding the pedal to the floor if the engine has been sitting anything over 30 minutes or so.

If the engine didn't scream straight to 1500 rpm at startup, instead of slowly ramping up, It wouldn't bother me as much.
I bought the both of the Baxter pieces maybe a year ago, so about 2 oil changes on each car, not too much driving. I am a believer in trying to make things last, so when I heard about the Baxter units I bought them. I think they work, they are definetly very well made. I really like the fact they use spin on filters over those little drop in types. Both cars start and run smooth, no noise at all.
 

HEMIMANN

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Sooooooooo..... I sent my sample to Blackstone from Ontario Canada on Friday just passed....

I nearly threw up in my mouth with the cost.... just over a year ago when I sent my last sample from here to Blackstone it was $28 all in and that included a tracking number...

As of Friday just passed... $50 FN Canuck bucks for the same dang service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is what it is and I'm not being a sulky b_ia-t..c;.h....lol

However, if I wasn't so curious myself, and equally appreciative of us all here on our Forum to build our incredible database even further.... I would have flushed the dang sample...lol!

Moving on positively.... I'm super curious for us all to see what 10,200Km's of full winter driving on HPL SC 0W30 and a RP 20-820 gives us for results, with TAN & TBN.... Stay Tuned, Y'All!!!!!!!!!

@Wild one - I'll definitely be looking for a local lab now!!!!!
WearCheck is super close to me in Burlington, ON, and I've used them in the past for oil & coolant sampling on generators.

When I was looking around recently, Amsoil's Lab was ~$60, and SpeedDiagnostix was ~$90, and another one I don't remember the name of makes you buy 10 samples up front.
 

Hemi395

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The good news is when our cvt sh-its the bed, we will have our old rav 4 to save the day. I am telling they simply don't make stuff like they used to even the simple SUV applications. The cross wasn't on my radar, we will see how I feel in a few months, but it is on the simple side of modern stuff and I'm not sure you will find a better grocery getter out there. Out of the sub compacts it is the only one I fit in. I have to break my neck getting into all of the ones I tried. Whether or not my cvt lasts 100k, I will be on the Corey strategy, once every year or two drain and fill 3-4 quarts, maybe a 20k interval. Corey you do filters at all yet?
Yessir, I did the filters and cleaned the magnets after I had done the initial 2 drain/fills. The filters/magnets actually looked pretty decent and the fluid was still translucent on the first drain/fill. Thats how I knew it had been changed before I bought it. That was in 2023.

Last summer I did just a drain/fill and this summer I'm going to do the filters/clean magnets. Depending on how everything looks, I may change the interval when I change filters/magnets. I'll def report back.
 

HEMIMANN

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Totally forgot I have a SS 0w40 UOA with the SP formula. It did sheer down a bit, but it could also be some residual RL 5w30 mixing in there as well.

It definitely doesn't sheer down as much as PUP has on most UOAs I've seen...

View attachment 563034

The sample shown above showed sheardown in 3,000 miles. Down to 11.79 cST.
 

grizzstang

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Not to slide of topic fully. Redline 5w30 is a top choice for the Hemi, what is or are the top for the Pentastar 3.6 crowd? I ask cause I have a '15 200, as does my dad. Have a Baxter cartridge spin on adapter on each with Royal Purple 20-500 filters, and currently have PUP 5W-20 in each. Do the 3.6 crowd run 5w-30 or -20? And Lubegard at all? Or other brand/weight?
I have a 3.6 and a 3.2 Pentastar and both get PUP 5W30 year round.

I ran out of Lubegard so I have been adding a quart of Redline 5W30 instead for the last few changes as I have it on hand for my truck. 5 quarts of PUP and 1 quart of Redline to boost the moly content a tad.
 

Buddy

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I have a 3.6 and a 3.2 Pentastar and both get PUP 5W30 year round.

I ran out of Lubegard so I have been adding a quart of Redline 5W30 instead for the last few changes as I have it on hand for my truck. 5 quarts of PUP and 1 quart of Redline to boost the moly content a tad.
What kind of winter do you get? Really cold? Last couple times Canadian Tire had PUP on sale I stocked up on 5W20 and 5W30. I may have to go and show them my bills and see if they will let me exchange the W20's for W30's. I have a stock of Lubegard as well.
 

HEMIMANN

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Likely don't need Lubegard bandaid additive for the Pentastar engines - their camshaft isn't raised up high in the block like hemi is due to siamese valves and VVT galley. i.e. - they lubricate just fine with normal oil.
 

Burla

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This was 2018, I wonder if every year is like this? I was surprised that black is the most sold color for vehicles...

info-national-best-selling-car-colors.png
 

HEMIMANN

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I believe it. Around here, marketers convinced the gullible black is 'hot', as in how you look in it.
Yeah, it's hot all right - in the summer sun!

White is popular with fleets and contractors for stenciling company logos to stand out.

But up here in snow country, they blend in to the snow scape background too easily, just like black at night.
The boy just got a black car cause that's what distributors were ordering.
 

crackerjack1957

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I would say the Penatstar engines need good quality oil for timing chain wear & components.

1000000308.png
 
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