Diesel Oil Question

gsxr1100 · Jun 23, 2005

kenmac-

Well for me the name on the oil means zero. It could be called Joe’s juice or Mike’s Super-Duper-metal-attracting black gold. So that is my thinking on the names.

Supertech is a Walmart oil and based on Walmart’s exceptional quality and reliability (poking fun at the store) it is a group 3 oil, based on various oil tests. You are not most times going to find a group 4 or 5 oil here since most people will not pay the higher price. If you want low cost items, shop there. If you want things that last for longer periods of time, that is not the best store to shop at. I personally can’t stand the store since 95% of everything the wife buys there is complete junk (and ends up there very very soon). Our store was great at one time, but now all the competition is gone (thanks to them) and the quality is down the tubes. It is sad what the store has done and what they have to buy now.

But back on track. Supertech from what I have read is made by Quaker State. There was also some talk about Exxon/Mobil now makes it but I have yet to see or read that.

Ok, gas and diesel oil are not the same. Diesel needs more additives (adds) for soot and acid control. And the next question you asked, there is no way you can go 10 to 12K on a group 3 oil, this oil. The adds are less in these oils and the base stock is not up to par as the higher groups.

As I have stated for years here on TBN, you get what you pay for. I think a POA or Ester based oil (group 4 or 5) is not much over the longer drains. It will save you money, time and waste in the end but again the upfront cost is what people see. for me the time savings and other benefits far exceed the cost. My time alone is worth more then the oil cost. So for me, it is worth the “jingle”. But then again I am the same one that spend over $5K on an R/c heli, some maybe I am not the right person to ask about buying things.J

Some good PAO or Ester based oils are Redline, Amsoil, NEO, Motul, Silkolene and Mobil (only some of there oils, not all). Some of the higher priced ones here over over $13 per qt. But there ZDDP is through the roof, big time.

Soundguy · Jun 23, 2005

As a follow up.. how does that group 3 supertech oil measure up to a 'dino-oil'? If you didn't use the long drain intervals.. but kept the regular manufacture drain intervals. Also.. is the supertech oil a gas or diesel rated oil.. ( our wal-mart doesn't have it.. so i can't go down and look ).

If the supertech synthetic oil is a diesel rated oil.. and is better than dino oil.. and only marginally more expensive than a dino oil.. then that might be a way for some dino oil users to 'get their feet wet' using a synthetic oil on their newer diesel tractors without all the upfront costs.. but with some of the better cold flow and initail start/lube properties, keeping in mind that the oem drain interval would be adheared to.

comments?

Soundguy

Dargo · Jun 23, 2005

crashz · Jun 23, 2005

If I recall correctly, Supertech oils are produced by the lowest bidder. For a while they were rebottled Warren oils, then Exxon/Mobil and now Quakerstate/Penzoil/Shell.

For a GrpIII oil, yeah its probably better than the house brand dinos, but don't forget that the base oil is only half of what you purchase. The additive packages that the manufactures use are just as important. And IIRC, the Supertech has some weak adds. The TBN is weak, EP adds are weak and I think there was something else that was alarmingly weak. As stated before, check out BITOG and run a search on Supertech Syn. For diesel applications you'll find that the common Delo 15w-40 or Mobil 1300 15w-40 are better choices.

gsxr1100 · Jun 23, 2005

( I recall correctly, Supertech oils are produced by the lowest bidder. )

that is the foundation for the store in question! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Same with areas of the store.

gsxr1100 · Jun 23, 2005

Based on the ZDDP and some other areas it looks to be equal too or less then; more less then though. If you do short intervals then it would be fine. But I hope you have some extra 5-gallon pails for the used oil and like trips to Walmart.

My biggest gripe is the “synthetic” oil and the public thinks it is all the same if the word/product has synthetic in it”. Then they see the low price and say, “ha that is great price for synthetic”. Then they see Mobil 1 EP (for example) or others and say, “wow, a lot of money for the same thing as the Walmart brand. So if people think “getting the feet wet with a group 3 is getting wet, so be it. But the higher groups are what getting wet it is all about. Either you want try “almost a synthetic” or do you want to try it. If you are going to do it, do it right………Again, you get what you pay for.

Then again, the person is shopping for synthetic oil at Walmart. I rest my case

jwnge · Jun 23, 2005

I take it you didn't buy your $5k heli at Wallmart either .. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif John,,, fellow rcer, just planes, not helis

gsxr1100 · Jun 23, 2005

Nope, only 2 importers in the USA for this little guy.. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Soundguy · Jun 23, 2005

( Based on the ZDDP and some other areas it looks to be equal too or less then; more less then though. If you do short intervals then it would be fine. But I hope you have some extra 5-gallon pails for the used oil and like trips to Walmart.
)

That's not an issue.. I change the oil on 8 tractor at once... that's alot of waste oil.. both crankcase and tranny hyd..I dump my used oil in a 55g drums and haul them to work when they get full. We have free oil pickup on our bulk used oil.

( My biggest gripe is the “synthetic” oil and the public thinks it is all the same if the word/product has synthetic in it”. Then they see the low price and say, “ha that is great price for synthetic”. Then they see Mobil 1 EP (for example) or others and say, “wow, a lot of money for the same thing as the Walmart brand. So if people think “getting the feet wet with a group 3 is getting wet, so be it. But the higher groups are what getting wet it is all about. Either you )

Bottom line.. using the change interval as the manufacturer reccomends. Is there an advantage to using the supertech grp 3 synthetic oil over a major brand dino oil.. like for instance.. valvolene fleet 15-40 diesel.. lIke i use for my NH. Or is the supertech synth oil not as good as a major brand dino.. but only better than a store brand dino?

Soundguy

gsxr1100 · Jun 23, 2005

Soundguy

First off I feel like you and I have been here before and this is a loaded question, bigtime….but whatever

You are lucky you have a 55 gallon drum of used oil and you have free bulk pickup. I do not so doing longer drains helps me in more then engine benefits.

I do not know if supertech is better or not since I do not know the other oil or oils you want to compare them too. You would need to compare the oil (un-used) etc etc. I can't and will not make a blanket statement if I do not know all the data. It is like comparing 2 trucks, then you say, “compare to other trucks…….” That is a lot of variables. Also maybe your engine is ok and maybe not. Maybe you have high heat or soot etc.

But, they are all dino’s anyway you cut it here.

The ZDDP and Ca in Supertech’s are every low along with there low TBN. Your valvoline is higher in ZDDP and Ca and like +2 more in TBN. But on the flip side your valvoline only has a VI of 138 and a pour of –22. I think HTHS is like 4.X

Again nothing really standing out here or worth writing home about. Give me a 180+ Vi, 3500 ppm Ca, over 1200 Zinc etc. If you are low to start, it only goes down…

If I had to compare your fleet verse super I would take your fleet. But at the end of the day I have not used dino oils since 1994. Never have, never will; unless there numbers get to be better then a group 4 or 5.

Most people just do the same old and will not change and I am not here nor care to change them. I can talk till they are blue in the face. All I am saying is that for the people that pay more, you indeed will get more. You pay $1.50 you get a $1.50 oil. You pay $4 you get a $4 oil..and so on.

Hence, you get what you pay for.