Originally Posted By: heathenbrewing
Here is an interesting article on M1 0w40 and syns in general:
http://www.animegame.com/cars/Oil Tests.pdf
Review of Mobil 1:
The results truly speak for themselves in the case of Mobil 1. I have to say that we were truly astounded by them as well. It was out-performed by oils half the price. It took only 2lb to break through the oil film on the race, with the test leaving an 8mm scar on the test bearing and slight scorch marks from the heat caused by metal on metal friction. After seeing so much advertising over the years for this lubricant, we were extremely surprised by the results and are sure you will be, too.
These single tests are fantastic examples of what happens when somebody who has no idea what they are doing, sets out to make a point about something they really have no knowledge about.
The API, automotive engine manufacturers and the like use a VARIETY of tests to gauge an oil's performance.
Info on the Timken test:
Quote:
Timken OK Load is a qualitative measure that indicates the possible performance of extreme pressure additives (EP Additives) in a lubricating grease or oil. The units of measure are pounds-force or kilograms-force and are determined using a special test machine.
The test machine is based on a machine manufactured by the Timken Company from 1935 to 1972. It is now an industry standard test though the meaning of the qualitative measure has become less useful as the science of tribology has advanced.
The test machine consists of a bearing race mounted on a tapered arbor rotating at high speed. The race is brought into contact with a square steel test block under load. The contact area is flooded with the lubricant being tested. The Timken OK Load is the load at which the spinning bearing race produces a score mark on the test block.
Though Timken no longer manufactures the test machine, Timken OK Loads are still listed on grease and oil property charts. It was once generally assumed that the measure and the film strength of the lubricant were directly related. Today, the primary purpose of the test is to determine whether EP additives are present and functioning. A measure of 35 pounds-force (16 kilograms-force or 155 newtons) or more means that EP additives are present and working.
The Timken OK Load test specification is ASTM 2509.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timken_OK_Load"
It's an EP test. Great for testing GREASE and GEAR OIL. But I somehow doubt, all that great for testing engine oil. I'm no expert on this matter, so I'll let others who know more than I elaborate on this but I WILL say this:
It is easy to use ONE test to support or condemn a product's performance. The REAL data shows us that it's not fair to evaluate products in this manner. This is why they go through a barrage of different tests when being evaluated.
Royal Purple does extremely well on this test that these people did. Yet in Grampsinthesand's UOA, it's performance was pathetic compared to off-the-shelf Rotella! This is an example of how people could be mislead by this test data, where REAL LIFE data, where the product is actually run in an IC engine, does not perform as well as one would expect.
