Oil- is there REALLY a difference?

This is not a post to stir up controversy. I’m genuinely asking a question in hopes of learning something and I believe I will. If we can ignore the 5% who will moan and groan we will probably get some thoughtful and informative posts.

Oftentimes I like to evaluate something from a very elemental frame of mind. We likely all believe full synthetic oils out perform the old conventional oils. We also know Toyota recommends synthetic 0W-20 for our trucks. My question is, if synthetic oil is good for our trucks is 100% even better?

Many here know “Full Synthetic” oil is not actually 100% synthetic. They need only add 25% synthetic oil to legally market and sell it as full synthetic oil.

Put another way, if synthetic oil is better, do the benefits of synthetics improve as you increase its concentration only up to a 25% mixture or is more better?

 

search.

 

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/

Have Fun

 

I'll play.
Assuming the additive packages are the same for Full and 100%, the only difference I would be looking for is the kinematic viscosity improvement. Meaning, is the curve more uniform across ambient temp range? The full synthetic is already almost flat for those ranges. Tough to improve a flat line but maybe get longer life due to improved shear? I do not know the answer to that.

 

Done. End of thread.

 

Friday is four days away

 

I'll play lol!

Short answer, no, 100% synthetic may not be better. The recommended oil specifications are formulated after many torture test on the specified engine. And as long as the oil in the container meets or exceeds the manufacturer specifications, using higher grades maybe a waste.

You can have better oils, or better refined formulas, at an exceedingly higher expense with diminishing returns, but once the tolerances of the engine have been exceed, better oil won’t save it, anymore than changing you ATF fluid daily and installing a larger AT cooler will if you exceed the load that it was designed to carry.

In summary, specifications are like rules, they exist for a reason, and so do ads.

 

Like the graphic. Wondering what the percentage is with "synthetic blend"

 

My guess would be 0>25%

 

Wow, that's deep.

 

Forum mods should make a new forum called "Oil" & stick all general oil-related threads in it.

Learn more about awwwwwwl (oil) from a lubrication engineer:

https://www.youtube.com/@LubricationExplained

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWkBMuEPSo8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLmaP1OuQAI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpGJP0VmD-Q

 

Yay!

 

Project Farm on Youtube has a good video testing oils.

 

There is tons of info just one internet search away.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QFU6uMYL2EM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lo7rrex0IsE

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=niBWrYoC2c4

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tYkg0oDUXs8&t=385s&pp=2AGBA5ACAQ==

 

Also ... username checks out...

 

but how often should it be changed

 

Luckily there is a final answer to this question which forever settles it.

It should be changed constantly. Once-through oiling only. Put massive supply & disposal tanks in the bed, maybe 100 gallons each, and a float-controlled setup which puts the oil system into traditional circulating mode when the supply tank gets down to 90% empty. Upgrade the suspension to handle the ~900 lbs additional tank + oil weight.

Then we can move on to debating how often the filter gets changed.

 

https://bobistheoilguy.com/
If you want to learn, start with this short read then search the forum.

 

Transport Trucks put on many, many, many miles on Synthetic oils.

Good enough for me.

 

Any GF-6 full synthetic oil is going to be very good. While some oils like Redline, Amsoil Signature, and Pennzoil Ultra Platinum do test out a bit better than others, whether they translate to any true differences in reliability is up for debate. Maybe more if you live somewhere very very cold or really beat on your engine.

If you pay attention and change your oil every 5,000 miles that’s probably more impactful than anything else.