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From: carlson@ssc-vax.UUCP (Lee R Carlson)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: More oil discussion
Message-ID: <505@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Sep-83 13:16:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.505
Posted: Mon Sep 12 13:16:49 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 13-Sep-83 05:47:30 EDT
Organization: Boeing Aerospace, Seattle
Lines: 36

I have been silent of the discussion of late concerning motor oils.
Recently, I spoke with a friend of mine from DEtroit who is the
Fuels and Lubricants Research department head at a major automotive
research facility in the area.

My question was:

	"So what's the latest word on synthetic oils?"

He had two interesting points:

1)	Synthetic and mineral based oils differ primarily in the base
	lubricant.  The additives used in both are essentially the same.
	So, while the base oil in the synthetic oils will "last"
	indefinately, the additives (which have become the most important
	part of the oil) wear out at the same rate.  Auto manufacturers
	do not support the claims of the synthetic oil manufacturers of
	longer oil change intervals.  Also, the new Mobil 1 is a 5W-30
	after insistance by manufacturers that 5W-20 was too thin for
	high temperature usage.  Apparently the new ARCO syn. has
	25,000 mile interval on the label.  This is supported by the
	ARCO marketing guys, but the technical people do not support it.

2)	His recommendation is to use 10W-30 SF-CC whenever possible.
	Apparently his department's research indicates that only a few
	10W-40 oils that claim SF-CC actually meet this standard, whereas
	most 10W-30 oils do.  In fact, owner's manuals of cars made
	by his company will promote the use of 10W-30 SF-CC, and all
	Diesel owner's manuals will contain a warning not to use
	10W-40 since so few meet the "CC" rating.

So, I use what he uses, 10W-30 SF-CC from Sears.

Lee R. Carlson - Boeing Aerospace - Seattle - ...uw-beaver!ssc-vax!carlson