Just some more food for thought - since there are lot of folks who doubt Penzoil is making good oil these days:

For now, Penzoil gets a decent amount of its basestock from Excel Paralubes - a joint venture with ConocoPhillips. The oil from this refinery is marketed by Conoco as "hydroclear". Read the Penzoil label and you will note it refers to using crystal clear basestocks. Motorcraft 5w-20, which has shown very well, is made by Conoco for Ford.

One can thus assume (for now) that Penzoil and Motorcraft are both made with the same basestock and different additive packages.

Note I say "for now". Since Shell now owns Penzoil-Quaker State, they were forced to sell off their interest in Excel Paralubes to avoid monopolizing the Group II+, III basestock market. They are allowed to purchase basestock from this venture for one year after its sale has been approved (an agreement has been reached with Flint Hills Resources, a new player (well, returned anyways) to the lubricant industry.)

Moral: Penzoil is making good stuff right now. Keep an eye on it to see where they head in the near future.

 

Are you testing the 5w20 Chevron Supreme? If so, eyes are eagerly awaiting the results on that oil! I'm running the Havoline 5w20 which has the identical physical properties to the Chevron 5w20. I'm curious if the analysis shows any differences.

My other truck has the Conoco Hydroclear 5w20 in it.

Its going to be at least another two months before mine come out though...

 

I've used Castrol for years in motorcycles, and cars. And 2 stroke r/c airplane motors use castor based fuel/oil blends too).

Nothing wrong with the oil per se, but my .02 worth is that a castor based product does leave a brown varnish. I don't have the idea that it's unhealthy for the motor but personally I just don't like the idea if I can avoid it.

I've heard that synthetics aren't good for break in (too slip-pery) but discount that as I understand that GM uses it as factory fill in the Corvette...(not sure if that is what the 'other' Galaxy posted the pic of)...

 

gopher,
Yes sir, we are testing the Chevron Supreme in the Triton engine family. I will have to do my own analysis of my oil otherwise the info is considered proprietary. I might see if Terry Dyson wants some of it and compare his to a Cat dealer. Should be interesting. First report on it if you want is: it has a slight asphalt smell to it, for the first time that I remember the truck had an immediate power response. If somebody had told me that was possible with an oil change I would have held him for the guys with the pink coats. Initial gas mileage is up if the gauge is consistant as I am farther on mileage and the gauge is higher than usual. My cold start knock is gone (horray!), motor is significantly quieter. All of this means nothing if the analysis comes back bad, so I should have it in about 5 weeks if everything stays normal.

 

My initial thoughts on the 5w20 oils I've got in is this (so far):

The motorcraft 5w20 has resulted in a noticeble change in engine sound - it is indeed way quieter now than it was on 5w30. It hasn't idled so smooth since it was nearly new. I thought I was crazy, but my wife even commented on how she couldn't tell the truck was running without me asking! Go figure... Fuel mileage change has been negligble to date. No consumption issues to speak of, and the oil is still a nice amber color with about 1000 miles on so far.

The Havoline 5w20 in the '99 hasn't resulted in any real changes to engine feel. Fuel milege is up so far, about 0.4 mpg. Lots of other factors there, but its what I've recorded to date. No consumption and color remains similar to new. Also has about 1000 miles on it to date.

So far, I'm satisfied...

 

I PREFER MOTORCRAFT IT HAS BEEN TESTED 100 OF TIMES CAN YOU NAME ONE RELATED OIL FAILURE ON MOTORCRAFT IF IT IS A FORD USE MOTORCRAFT YOU CAN'T GO WRONG

 

Its called the caps lock button, stop using it on every post you make. I know its really hard, but please try.

 

galaxie, no, that's my truck. I use Mobil 1 5W30 in the truck and then I found this sticker on one of my Mustang web sites and just had to have it

FWIW, I decided to use Mobil 1 5W30 because a) I always have b) I live in So Cal desert [very hot] c) mobil didn't make 5W20.

It's my opinion that you can't go wrong either way and these are the reasons I choose to use 5W30. If Mobil 1 had had a 5W20 when I got my truck I'm sure I would most likely be using it right now. I'm aslo the type that grew up believing you shouldn't keep changing weights of oil so I have had zero negative results from what I'm using and will continue to use it. My dad has been using Motorcraft 5W20 since day one in his '01 and has made probably 10 round trips from NC to visit with absolutely no problems. That's my stories anyways...

As for the synthetic too slick for new engines thing...I know you hear that all the time but as for the Mobil 1 factory fill thing....

Chevy Corvette ZO6
BMW M3/M5
Porsche
Dodge Viper GTS
Aston Martin
Mercedez Benz AMG cars
2001 Mustang Cobra R

It really doesn't get much better than what's on that list....and these are just the ones I know about.

Oh yea, someone told me when you type in all caps it looks like your yelling

 

The reality is, oil related failures are extremely rare. Good maintenance and a quality oil along with a quality filter will work great. Quality doesn't mean expensive or synthetic either. You can have just as much success with a dino oil and a $4.00 filter than the guys running expensive sysnthetics and $10.00 filters, but they get warm fuzzy feelings at night when they sleep.j/k

 

Royal Purple is definately the best oil made..you can buy it at:
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...05&prmenbr=361

 

Not trying to flame or cause a problem, but what makes it the best oil? How many miles betwen oil changes? I see a lot of posts on here that say this or that are the best, but never see any documented facts why something is the best.

 

MaxTorque02.....I posted oil analysis results a month or so ago here of Amsoil with 14,000 miles on it. It had more than half of it's life left per the tech at Oil Analyzers. The oil was in my 97 Expy with over 90,000 miles. I bought the truck with just over 80,000 miles on it and I don't know the previous maintenance history.
I also believe oil related problems are rare unless you consider "lack of oil circulation". Has anybody ever taken their vehicle to a shop and had the oil blamed for the breakdown if the oil was changed at the factory interval?

 

I just bought some Amsoil XL7500, hich is highly recommended by my Ford dealer. Our friend runsnothing but Amsoil XL7500 in his lightning and has had nothing but good luck and performance.

 

I'm returning the Amsoil XL7500 ( Group III dino) and trading for Mobil 1 5W30. It seems to be a better oil ( a real Group IV Syn).

 

In that case take a look at the Series 2000 0w30 if you really want the best product for your application.