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I’ve found, for me at least, that the best way to get better is to try different things. So I experiment a lot. The idea of esters seemed to be a better idea to me. Plus, when I took the top end of my 5.7 apart to fix the cam tower and timing chain cover leaks, I found that there was some varnish that bothered me.
CRAP, that was $120, now I have to wait another 7k miles to go find Redline! And I was just trying to convince myself the Amsoil was going to be worth it.
I think Blackstone is a generally good, and helps a lot of people find what may work best for them.I appreciate the response. I literally read your response in this thread this evening about Redline just minutes after purchasing Amsoil SS and their filter and thought
I had been using Rotella Synthetic for a long time, and was happy about it, but I don't research some of these topics as much. Instead, I was taking recommendations from those I respect on the forum, like yourself.
What are your feelings on Blackstone testing? I've been doing that for a while too and enjoy reading their synopsis of my results at each oil change.
You realize that it was Mobil that filed the law suit against Castrol for claiming that the Castrol Group III mineral oils were not a true synethic, that only Group IV and V PAO and Esters were true synethics. Yes, Mobil lost the law suit as being too righteous, as no oils are pure as they all oils contain additives and that Castrol extra cracking steps was a synthesis of natural oil. However, this does not mitigate that Mobil 1 was and is a pure base stock Group IV, V and or blend of both oil. The judge's ruling is so unfortunate, because now "synthetic" and "full synthetic" has become just a marketing term, and consumers must look further. Mobil 1 products (their is a very wide range of offerings) are true sysnethics and equal or better (depending on which offering) than Amsoil, Redline, Motul but they also offer lower cost "synthetics" base on Group III called Mobil Super and Mobil Full Synthetic to compete with the other players in the modified Group III game.
IMO they chose that oil for best mpg not best protection. Just my 2 cents.
Depends on driving conditions. That’s why I send off for analysis more often than I should. I monitor temps with my own sensor in the oil pan. Then knowing that temp on the rings is much higher, I have to make some educated guesses when the oil pan gets close to my limit
Outside of Exxon Mobil and Shell, I don’t know if anyone capable of making their own base oil. Still doesn’t negate the fact that lots of base oils can come from crude. So just because a couple companies make their own base oils, doesn’t mean there are only two base oils available. I agree the finished product matter much more, but I also feel that the results of a lubricant, under the my particular motor, with my particular driving conditions is what matters most.
Engineers don’t always have the final say at Toyota. Management and accounts sometimes do, and the engineers may not have won this fight. But we’ll never know.
I’m with you. If my past has showed me anything, my 200 will be crashed into by someone not paying attention far before my motor gives out.
Yeah, this nails it. I've been in way-too-many pompous board and management meetings where decisions were made based on finances, legal liability, public and political posturing, and overinflated egos instead of doing the right thing for the customer. A lot of times vehicles have features because it helps the marketing people hammer that point to the buyer. Back in the late 1990's Ford and Chevy told the consumer they sold more trucks than Toyota. Well duh, of course they did because at the time the US gov't gave in to lobby pressure to prevent Toyota from selling a true "full-size" pickup.
