Cheap vs expensive oil

m4rmite · 27 Jul 2020 at 20:03

Nasher said:
If the cheap stuff was good enough, why aren't manufacturers and dealers using it?

Manufacturers buy it in tanker loads of 30,000 litres approx, not 5 litres at a time.
They will be getting great prices for these volumes, compared to a 5 litre from a shop.

Cyber-Mav · 27 Jul 2020 at 23:08

Bmw vag ford porsche etc all have their own oil requirements i find it odd that the japs like honda and Toyota got no specific oil requirement other than a weight and those jap engines outlive all those with special oil needs lol.
And lets not get into what you can chuck into a brigs and Stratton. Lol

Nasher · 28 Jul 2020 at 08:16

m4rmite said:
Manufacturers buy it in tanker loads of 30,000 litres approx, not 5 litres at a time.
They will be getting great prices for these volumes, compared to a 5 litre from a shop.

But they would get an even better price buying cheap oil.

Conscript · 29 Jul 2020 at 15:26

Nasher said:
Manufacturers seem to be using very thin oil in recent years. I assume its for eco stats above longevity reasons :\

Fortuitously timed video is fortuitously timed.

Skip to 4:58. In short, thinner oils make for only fractional improvements in economy, but the risks to engine longevity are so low, it's still worth doing it from an engineering perspective.

Simon · 29 Jul 2020 at 16:27

Its like the OEMs and oil manufactures make the oil thinner AND still protect the engine. Madness!?

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 29 Jul 2020 at 16:39

Insert Masher post something about engines not being built to last and something bad about german cars

Goes to show how moving outside normal running parameters, especially when modifying means its a lottery really in regards oil. No engine tuner is going to spend the money on checking whats really needed with the extra stresses

Simon · 29 Jul 2020 at 18:20

Conscript said:
Fortuitously timed video is fortuitously timed.

Skip to 4:58. In short, thinner oils make for only fractional improvements in economy, but the risks to engine longevity are so low, it's still worth doing it from an engineering perspective.

Those benefits are a little undersold. You can get bigger gains than that. I will also assume Mobil didn’t check his script as there’s a few errors about viscosity in there.

Jonnycoupe · 29 Jul 2020 at 22:06

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
Insert Masher post something about engines not being built to last and something bad about german cars

Goes to show how moving outside normal running parameters, especially when modifying means its a lottery really in regards oil. No engine tuner is going to spend the money on checking whats really needed with the extra stresses

Like a good oil I’m glad to see his name is sticking

bainbridge · 30 Jul 2020 at 18:12

Off topic, but as much as I agree that quality oil of the correct spec, changed regularly, will help keep an engine in good condition, I also think that the planned obsolescence built into cars nowadays is shocking.

Psycho Sonny · 30 Jul 2020 at 23:56

I use premium Petronas stuff. If its good enough for racing teams then I'm sure my road car will be fine.

It's dearer than the cheap crap however it's normally a few quid cheaper than the top end castrol.