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If more people realized how much of a product's price came from the costs associated with marketing, they'd be floored.
It does not surprise me that the Chevron oil, while I'm convinced it is at least as good as any other SL oil, is much less expensive. They dod not advertise much (except for their Techron) and sponsor little (if any) racing.
This alone can make the difference in price.
But I am torn as I AM a racing fan and like to see corporations support my past time. >;^)
--- Bror Jace
I know that you drive a Honda and use the Redline oil but do you think that the Chevron will do everything I need to get 200+K on my Hondas. Both my wife and I cruise around driving between 2000-3500 rpm's on our Honda automatic 4 bangers. After all I have read it just seems overkill to do more. I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter.
Is there any real advantage to using a heavy-duty engine oil like Delvac or Delo, with their higher detergencies, and slightly higher ZDDP levels?
Pete
Change oil twice a year, spring and end of July.
On the air cooled engines around here, I think as long as you go on the thick side, you'll do OK. Many newer ones recommed the thinner oils (5W30, etc ...) and I use them, but only when brand new. After that I switch to the 15W40 and thicker oils.
As I already mentioned, I like the diesel oils because their additive package is good for extended drains and their high TBN can sit for a longer period of time before allowing corrosion to start.
But, slickracer's positive experience with straight 30 does not surprise me.
--- Bror Jace
I think I know why the mowers kept failing now. I don't remember ever seeing him change the oil in the lawnmower.
I'm going to call him and ask about this....
-Karl (uses a push mower, no gas or oil required)
I personally like the 15w40 in my car/trucks and that's all I run.
I've always treated lawn mowers and other lawn & garden equipment at least as well as my car. Maintenance is not that time consuming and small capacities make it cheap to do.
A friend of mine changed the oil in an ancient lawn mower and the oil came out grey. I don't think it had ever been changed in its long life. He later told his father (the mower's owner) what he did and his father looked at him like the kid had repacked his muffler bearings or topped off his headlight fluid. Some people. >:^)
I'm another believer in 15W40 oils ... unless you are like me and try to squeeze every last mpg out of your car.
--- Bror Jace
Question:
Is Dextron @ 15% really a good sludge cleaner?
What qualities make Dextron a bad motor oil besides its viscosity?
So, does this mean Shell will be supplying WalMart?
Pennzoil and Quaker State merge ...
Chevron buys Amoco, then Havoline ...
Mobil buys Exxon ...
Now Shell is buying one of the newly formed companies?
Yikes! Don't blink is right!
I'm sure I've missed a few. Probably smaller, regional oil companies that have gotten gobbled up.
--- Bror Jace
I work on jet engines, and we pull samples every 60 hours. Of course the synthetic oil in those doesn't get changed nearly as often as a car's oil.
Now I am post drain and new filter stage (new oil and filter {just residual RX left in engine}of their process) and Auto_RX says to wait 1500 miles before judging their product. Mixed results so far.
I may conclude, but not sure yet, that this product (although it does no harm) may also do no good in a well running basically clean engine. Jury is out for another 1400 miles or so. It did remove the varnish in valve covers and moving parts I could see but did not in upper filler neck where the oil does not circulate well. The filters were basically clean upon removal, thus no dirt or crud in engine supposedly but at 73,000, should there be? RX seems to say yes.
The oil seepages/leaks have not changed as yet
I would think that if it cleaned out an engine, that it might actually unclog some leaks that were stuffed with gunk.
Try Valvoline Maxlife, or another higher mileage engine oil from Quaker State, or Castrol. They are supposed to have seal swellers that stop pinhole leaks.
Will see. Just looked undeneath tonight, one may be getting better but still too early.
Japan seals are made of "Silicone" and Auto-Rx is the only non hazardous chemistry that can recondition silicone seals.This poster would be looking at a few hundred dollars to replace this seal he spent $ 24.97.The chemistry so freely thrown around is BS. The additive packages you pay for are pretty much worthless as no synthetic oil
or HD or Marvel or X-1R anything lubricates through third party abrasives or engine sludge it
skips to any clean metal it finds lubricates there and looks for more clean metal, now you know why you have wear patterns.Here is someone telling you Auto-Rx is cleaning his varnish off what he considers a clean engine and also leak might have slowed down. What do you want for $24.97 when you spend $4.00 per quart for oil which hardens up in your engines friction points and can't do a thing because those friction points are plugged ? Thanks feel lots better.
http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/engine-oiladditives.html
I tried some additives with limited results.
Should I consider a "flush" the new oil change?
Is the flush likely to lead to burning and leaking at 85000 miles????
Which weight oil 5-30 or 10-30 or 10-40 would lead to quietest running during the summer in New England?????
Thanks
What does one want for $24.97, that I object to. It is not what you pay for something per se it is whether the product lives up to its claims. The implication is well, who cares, only $24.97 what have you got to lose if it does no harm. Well, besides $24.97 someone could be making money off of false claims. Now, this product may not be a false claim I am just stating the observations here especially in regard to what the consumer has seen over the years with Prolong, Zmax, Teflon additives etc. etc. . As I noted above, my verdict remains out until all evidence is in.
Now that $4 quart of oil, so far it has lived up to its claims as has the $.99/quart oil. But they don't claim one hell of a lot either! I guess someday we will see a product that says, hey, 75% of the time in a mechanically sound engine this product will work but under some circumstances it may not so you may be at risk for the funds outlayed. Guess that wouldn't sell though.
Anyway, time will tell.
I just thought I'd mention this.
I think Chevron was using hydrocracked stocks even before the switch to SL, at least they were in their Delo 400 line of oils.
--- Bror Jace
"I think Chevron was using hydrocracked stocks even before the switch to SL, at least they were in their Delo 400 line of oils."
My findings re: 5W30 at the Wal-Mart today support that theory.
$1.08 a quart seems like a total steal for this oil.
What boggles my mind is that at one time, SL grade Chevron was on the shelf alongside SJ Mobil 1 ... which was/is 4 times more expensive.
And, according to testing, the SL Chevron would offer superior protection. Ummm, what's wrong with this picture?
--- Bror Jace
I see 3 major price categories in mass market brand oils:
conventional oil: $1-$1.50/quart (outliers are sub-$1 house brands and others such as Castrol that are often > $1.50/qt)
synthetic blend or other specific-use oil (e.g. oils for older engines such as Valvoline Max Life): $2-2.50/qt.
full synthetic: $4-4.50/qt.
Chevron Supreme seems to fit in the bottom part of the cheapest price category, yet the specs from Chevron and the discussion here seem to indicate Chevron Supreme plays in a higher league from a performance standpoint.
I think if you want a better bargain, you'll have to take a chance with a store-brand oil. Probably OK but I won't go that route.
Anyone know what Mobil's conventional oil is going for these days? About a year ago it was retailing for almost exactly $1.00 per quart ... but that was before reformulation.
--- Bror Jace
Chevron Supreme is not available to everyone/everywhere (Citgo is at Sam's Club nationwide), but Chevron might be starting to get into the Havoline Lubes distribution pipeline, as it's now available in the Northeast (in small quantities).
I'd say that all "SL" oils are pretty good these days...maybe even Shell/Pennzoil/Quaker State.
sorry pj, I forgot that you had mentioned Citgo Supergard a while back. Is it just their SL stuff with the hydrocracked stocks, or did they already have this stuff in their SJ?