What is the best synthetic oil? Best oil filter?

[SlvrBullIT]

Yeah the story was good, sponsors can be a pain or a god send. I just sometimes wish they left some decisions to the people in the know. ?, Is the extended performance mobil 1 any good? The filters are top notch from mobil 1, that's for sure. Still have yet to meet a person who has used a filtermag..... Just wish cars had a lube oil purifier by now....

[SlvrBullIT]

Dallara, did you change all fluids or just oil at 500 and 1500?

[SlvrBullIT]

Thanks, by the way, good stories and good recommendations

[Dallara]

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Just oil and filter so far. Plan on tranny fluid and filter, along with the diff fluid at 6,000. It has been my experience that changing those sooner than that is overkill, at least based on the analysis I have seen in the past. I already have the trans filter kit in hand.

After 6,000 miles I will be changing oil and filter every 3,000 miles, and tranny and diff fluids every other oil/filter change - i.e. every 6,000 miles. Brake fluid and coolants once per year down here in South Texas is plenty often enough, too.

Just FYI, and my personal thoughts... Nothing more.

Dallara



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[C66 Racing]

Originally Posted by 21rouge

Scanning through BITOG I see only one Used Oil Analysis of this direct injection engine in a Cadillac for any oil...let alone RP . The question posed by the OP cannot be answered with any degree of expertise until there is a body of analyses.

Sorry, didn't mean to imply the UOA tests I reviewed were on a direct injection Cadillac. My reviews pre-dated that engine (by several years). However, I really don't think that how an oil compares in one engine family will be that much different than in another and there are enough UOA on that forum from RP or Mobil 1 to draw your own conclusions.

And my perspective on why GM uses Mobil 1, or how ExxonMobil blends Mobil 1 are on the side of those that believe that in these large corporations, the bean counters drive decisions. From that perspective, while I believe that ExxonMobil probably could make the best oil on the market, I don't see why they should when everyone believes that it is good enough and their profit margin is higher if their additive package is less robust, or they blend down their Group IV PAO synthetic basestock with some Group III highly hydroprocessed mineral oil synthetic basestock.

I recognize that most will consider me biased, but I too used Mobil 1 at one time and went through the same considerations as those expressed on this thread several years ago. I started using AMSOIL before I learned that I could sell it.

[AuPanda]

Originally Posted by Dallara

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... From simple inspection looking through the oil filter openings I would be willing to bet the Mobil 1 M1-113 oil filters and the AC Delco UPF48R filters are made by the same outfit. They appear literally identical on the inside, whereas the standard PF48 looks considerably different. The standard PF48 is also substantially lighter than the M1-113 or the UPF48R, whereas both those weigh exactly the same...



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Both oil filters are made by Champion Laboratories. The best reading I have come across as to oil filters is at: http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil.../opinions.html

A couple of quotes from the site in regards to Mobil1, AC Delco, and Amsoil filters:

Mobil 1

This filter is made by Champion Labs using what I call their "performance" design instead of the "Ecore". It uses a synthetic fiber element that can filter out very small particles and has a high holding capacity. It is rated by the manufacturer at just under the Purolator Pure One as far as filtering capability, but is still very much above conventional paper filters. It also has a very strong construction to withstand high pressure spikes during start-up. Given the choice between the Purolator Pure One and the Mobil 1 filters, I would choose the Mobil 1 because of the restriction concerns of the Pure One. However, as with all Mobil 1 products, expect to pay 2 - 3 times as much for this filter. I have seen this filter sold at Auto Zone and K-mart and used them a few times, but I feel they are not worth the money in the end.

Though I have never had problems, I had received feedback from a few people back in 1999/2000 that these filters may leak at the base. It seems that the seal between the backplate and can may burst under high pressure (at startup). These were on Ford engine applications.

AC Delco Duraguard

AC Delco no longer seems to manufacture oil filters. They are now made by Champion Labs using their new "Ecore" design.

AMSOIL

The SuperDuty line of filters is no longer being sold by AMSOIL. They now have their "Absolute Efficiency" line of filters that are intended for long duration use along with their premium synthetic oils. The SuperDuty filters had to be changed out at least once between oil changes. From the pictures, they appear to be manufactured by Donaldson. Donaldson manufactures filters mainly for truck applications intended for long duration use. They also manufactured the Hard Driver filter, which I used with great success for several years.

(forgot to add the info in regards to purolator)

Purolator Premium Plus

The Purolator is a solid design. It seems to have one of the tougher paper filter elements of the low-end filters and the bypass valve is built right into the cartridge. There are no internal sealing problems with this filter at all. There is an assembly string that is wrapped around the filter element, probably to hold it in place while the glue cures in the end caps. In the ProLine (one of the Purolator clones), the string was wrapped too tightly and had damaged the filter element. All the other Purolator-made filters (8 in all) had no trouble, and even the damaged one would probably have been fine. I usually go with these in a pinch or when recommending the cheapest oil filter possible.

Purolator Pure One

This is an interesting filter design made by Purolator. Most of the construction of the Pure One is the same as the Purolator Premium Plus. The big difference is the filter element itself. It has a dense paper/fiber filter element that can filter very small particles. The result of this is cleaner oil exiting the element, but more oil restriction. Purolator addressed this by adding more filter material (more and deeper pleats). After seeing one of these filters cut open, I am apprehensive about this filter. It seems to have so many pleats that it is almost a solid chunk of filter element. It seems like it would end up restricting the flow, more than anything. Purolator has plenty of data on the filtration abilities of this filter and I don't doubt it, but they have no flow data. Even so, I don't see any major problems with this filter. It also sports a silicone anti-drainback valve and a PTFE treated nitrile rubber gasket.

[SlvrBullIT]

Does mobil 1 use Group III ?

[C66 Racing]

Originally Posted by SlvrBullIT

Does mobil 1 use Group III ?

They aren't saying. This from their FAQ page:

" Is Mobil 1 with SuperSyn Technology a fully synthetic motor oil?

Yes, it is. To meet the demanding requirements of today's specifications (and our customers' expectations), Mobil 1 with SuperSyn uses high-performance fluids, including polyalphaolefins (PAOs), along with a proprietary system of additives. Each Mobil 1 with SuperSyn viscosity grade uses a unique combination of synthetic fluids and selected additives in order to tailor the viscosity grade to its specific application."

Because they say that it includes PAO (Group IV synthetic basestock) vice some other word like predominantly, mostly, exclusively, etc. implies that they are using at least some portion of Group III, particularly since their wording was significantly different several years ago, strongly stating that they used PAOs.

Interestingly, when looking for an answer to the above, I found this on Mobil 1's FAQ page:

"Are Mobil 1 Racing oils the exact formulation used by the Formula 1, NASCAR, and Le Mans race teams?

Mobil 1 Racing oils are formulated with the same race-proven, fully synthetic technology used in racing applications around the world. However, typically, Mobil 1 tailors its racing oil technology based on the specifications required by specific teams and/or race applications."

[SlvrBullIT]

Yeah I read that to online from their site, looks like Group III and IV blend possibly (make it cheaper).

[wfo]

I love this Forum!

You guys "bring it" everytime and that's what it's all about.

Now...go out there and give that Caddy a nice wash and wax.

[CADYSHAK]

I'm a little confused here : Why do you suppose that GM does not
mention anything about changing the oil sooner on the CTS-V during normal driving on the street earlier than when the oil monitor suggests ( which usually is around 5000K plus) ? And GM does not suggest changing your fluids on the tranny and differential earlier than what they suggest- well beyond 10,000k .
Given that GM must cover the engine , tranny and differential for five years or 100,000 miles ( following their recommendation on the maintenance on these major components) , you would think they would be a little worried if these conponents especially on a high performance car such as a CTS-V , might fail prematurely if they needed attention alot sooner ?
Just curious if someone could explain the contradictions I'm reading on this board about changing oil and fluids please .

CADYSHAK

[Gary Wells]

May not look good on their sales brochure? I doubt if GM wants to be the only auto manufacture requiring that oil and or any fluids require frequent changes to maintain warranty. Won't help sell cars? Just some food for thought.

[SlvrBullIT]

It's preventative.... not that anything would break, but to reduce the premature wear if "junk" was circulating in the system as the car is breaking in. Essentially getting all that stuff out before 7000 miles so it doesn't wear on stuff inside the motor and tranny for 6500 miles, until the first "regular" maintenance interval.

[marktanner]

The oil change interval is already much shorter on the V, 5000 miles, compared to the 10,000 mile interval for the regular CTS. Interestingly, the recommended oil change for my '05 Porsche GT3 is 2 years or 30,000 miles, no matter how hard you drive it! It too was factory filled with Mobil 1.

[CADYSHAK]

Gary Wells

May not look good on their sales brochure? I doubt if GM wants to be the only auto manufacture requiring that oil and or any fluids require frequent changes to maintain warranty. Won't help sell cars? Just some food for thought.

Well Lexus has no problem stating that their cars need frequent (5000k) oil changes. In fact they don't use synthetic oil in any of their cars , including their is-f performance car.
Subaru sti cars need very frequent oil and fluid changes and their dealers tell you that, or you lose your warranty.
I can understand if you race your V frequently on a track , as the vette Z06 brochure recommends changing fluids often under very hard driving .
Is it possible the engineers at GM might know a thing or two about their car?

CADYSHAK