Looks like Valvoline has come public with the testing results where they claim Mobil One has failed the Sequence IVA test. Here's a short notation from the article:
The Sequence IVA is an engine test designed to evaluate the performance of engine oils in preventing camshaft lobe wear in an overhead camshaft engine. It's a 100-hour test of 100 hourly cycles. When completed, each of the 12 cam lobes in the test engine is measured for wear at 7 points. An average is calculated based on the total wear from the 12 cam lobes. In short, test results with a higher number means higher wear.

For an engine oil to qualify for API SM/ ILSAC GF-4 rating it must pass the Sequence IVA with an average wear of 90 micron maximum.

Based on data published by Valvoline, whereas Valvoline SynPower showed an average of 20 microns in the Sequence IVA wear test, Mobil 1 5W-30 averaged 180 microns. If Valvoline's data is correct, Gunsel says, "This is certainly a statistically significant difference." Moreover, it speaks to the basic pass/fail threshold of 90 microns or less required to meet SM/GF-4.


And still Mobil has nothing to say to disprove any of the claims. I find that extremely unsettling. They are not coming to the aid of the beloved cash cow, unless the testing and claims are accurate. Regardless, if you are an M1 fan, I'd move to the EP version that isn't having these issues until this settles out.

Here is the Sequence IVA test procedure and it also shows pass and fail results. The fail results will be similar to what you are going to find with an oil that is not meeting specs.
http://www.swri.org/4org/d08/GasTest...st/default.htm
Yer truck, yer money, yer cams.

 

Interesting. Funny thing - RI is trumpeting his buddy's Ranger with 400k on it with M1 - I'm betting it's OHV, not OHC...........................

If I were him, I'd get my head out of my @$$ and switch HIS truck over to EP.....................its only 50 cents more a quart.

 

Not this Valvoline/sponsored test crap again?............

 

You mean Castrol, Valvoline, and now Quaker State has joined the band wagon challenging M1 to a public wear test pitting their plain ol' dino oil against the premium priced M1. So far, Mobil is turning a deaf ear to the issue or they aren't about to confess that their oil has failed which opens them up to a ton of liability law suits. Still, if you have an over head cam engine like a Triton, I'd suggest either Mobil Extended Performance or anything but the regular Mobil One. Remember, you are paying the price for a premium oil. You should get premium results, not failure.

Let's not turn this into an RI bashing thread. I can appreciate his loyalty to a specific brand even though at this time it seems blind to do so. The verdict isn't in on this by a long shot.

 

so if was to use the regular M1 in my 302 i'd be perfectly fine? but if my dad used it in his 5.4 3v he'd be screwed?

 

I don't use M1 in my F150 but do in my wife's VW Beetle. Is the European formula included in this test??

 

Your absolutely right! The verdict isn't in on this by a long shot! .........

 

So, why won't you switch to EP? That's what I've been using in mine for the past couple of years.

 

good to see a different group arguing totally different subjects....

 

I currently buy Regular Mobil-1 in 5-quart jugs sold at WallMart for $26.00 a pop.......they do not carry 5w-20 5-quart jugs of Mobil-1 EP!..........Believe me I am not worried about this "Internet Marketing Hype".........

 

But they do carry it in quart bottles.

If you still think it's hype, I think your head is farther up your @$$ than is humanly possible. You need to go buy a glass navel.

 

So all the testing is non-synthetic?

 

I have been using M1 for a few years. Just switched over to SynthPower. $22 in 5 gallon jug at Walmart. I'll stay with it until Mobil has a response.

 

You, sir, are doing the smart thing.

 

A company like Mobil is not going to respond to marketing Hyped claims, by lesser companies........Kinda like the USA does not negotiate with terrorists! There is just no need to when you are superior, & have a long/er history of proven success that the other less successful wanna bees!...........