Is synthetic going to go up...and if it does...WHY???

[RalphVa]

Think some of the less expensive "synthetic" oils are hydrotreated dino ones. Think that's Shell's and probably others. Bet Castrol is buying Exxon's oil that is made from wax, via a form of hydrotreating. Castrol used to buy all their oil from Exxon (Castrol doesn't make a drop of base oil; they do develop their own ad pack). Their new "synthetic" is very likely coming from the new oil being made from part of Baytown's production.

The more expensive synthetics are, like Mobil 1, are made from PAOs.

Ralph

 

[DieselPower]

From what I have read even Mobil 1 has switched thier formulation and is no longer a pure PAO.

 

[Skyco]

Thats correct. Some Mobil 1 is now a cheaper base oil.
The really neat thing about the Rotella T SYN is it isn't a "true" synthetic but it isn't priced like one either. It used to be even proportionally priced lower than now so I guess they are profiting from its popularity. Many other oils made from Group 3 are priced like they are PAO/Group 4 oils and aren't. Can't blame them I guess, but it sure pays to be educated on this stuff to avoid getting taken advantage of.

Here is a Mobil 1 FAQ where they dance around the PAO question- can you read between the lines?

Group 3 Base Oils

 

[GCLnIndiana]

Yes, just read between the line regarding Mobil One. Does anyone know who is still using PAO/Group 4 oils?

 

[kenmac]

Thats correct. Some Mobil 1 is now a cheaper base oil.
The really neat thing about the Rotella T SYN is it isn't a "true" synthetic but it isn't priced like one either. It used to be even proportionally priced lower than now so I guess they are profiting from its popularity. Many other oils made from Group 3 are priced like they are PAO/Group 4 oils and aren't. Can't blame them I guess, but it sure pays to be educated on this stuff to avoid getting taken advantage of.

Here is a Mobil 1 FAQ where they dance around the PAO question- can you read between the lines?

Group 3 Base Oils

One reason I stopped using their oil a while back. They won't answer any questions about their product. Amsoil was happy to talk to me about their oil

 

[crashz]

Amsoil is still a PAO base as far as I know.
Never got a clear answer on Royal Purple.
Most of Redlines oils are actually Group 5
Penzoil, Quakerstate, Shell and Valvoline have been Group 3 for a long time. However every once in a while a rumor BITOG surfaces that one or the other has a percentage of PAO base.

I'm a TRC dealer and have asked about the synthetics and blends and can't get a straight answer from them either. But think about it this way: If you sold a product that was touted to protect the customer's engine better than conventional methods, and you spent a significant amount of money to create the product, what would you do if a newer technology allowed you to use a cheaper material without compromising real world results? Group 3 oils have been shown to match and even exceed the performance of Group 4 (especially older oils that had to have a Group 1 additive carrier) on thousands of oil analysis. This has been proven by average Joe's on BITOG and I'm sure the oil companys have done even more research to cover their butts.

Don' forget also that when Group 4 oils became popular (M1 and Amsoil), the petroleum oils were pretty weak. Dino oils that have been produced in the last 5 years far exceed the protection and performance of true sythetics 15 years ago. I'm not trying to stick up for the oil companies, but really the best oil for people should be selected upon viscosity range, not base oil type.

 

[frank_miller]

From what I have read even Mobil 1 has switched thier formulation and is no longer a pure PAO.

Yup, and that was about 1 year ago...


Also ALL amsoil oils have had increases for like 2 or 3 months ago and another in 8-1-2008

 

[RWEST]

Is synthetic going to go up...and if it does...WHY???

Yes.
Because they're seeing everyone else getting away with gouging us mercilessly, so, why not?

 

[frank_miller]

Yes.
Because they're seeing everyone else getting away with gouging us mercilessly, so, why not?

I agree. Blame it corn or someone in Iran throwing a rock, or an oil rig guy farts..BAM, high price and no one does anything.

 

[KenPauling]

Everything is up. Suppliers now have a reason to jack up their prices as much as they want. If the cost has gone up 20% they can increase their prices by 50% and just blame it on the cost of gas, oil, diesel, shipping etc. My oil filter for the NH TN65D was $6.80 last year. I just bought a new one yesterday for $11.00! Transmission fluid- Last year $40 something for 5 gal- yesterday it was $60.00! They are raising the prices because they can blame it on someone else. The only thing you can do is sell all your equipment or start a business and get on the bandwagon of ripping off the public. Forget our politicians, they are only for themselves. We have a government of the politicians, for the politicians and by the politicians. Either they don't have a clue what this oil crisis is doing to our people or they just don't care. What can you do? Pray we get a better group of leaders before its too late!