Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
...... The only group III product ever mentioned in the guidebook is Yubase4 from SK Petroleum and shown as one of several option for some 0W30 automotive oils (add'l options there showed use of their SpectraSyn PAO in the other auto 0W30 and 0W40 examples). The point being that if XOM is promoting their Group IV and Group V synthetics in the formulation guidebook intended for blender/finisher customers, why would they turn around and use group III's in their own products-- they would then be fielding a lower quality product than those examples they recommend in their guidebook to blenders whom they ultimately may be in competition with on the retail market?....
Hi Loneranger....
XOM remains a major supplier of base stocks to many synthetic oil companies worldwide. They promote them heavily due to PROFIT. They make good money creating and selling these products. Before I retired from the syn-oil business, the economy had not been near-destroyed, and the attitudes of suppliers was very different.
As far as the Group III introduction/replacement in many products goes, again it is all about PROFIT. Nothing wrong with that -- good for the stock holders. But many suppliers have done this, at the sacrifice of Group IV benefits in the lubricant products. But as long as we are aware of it, we can compensate. Oil-centric bikers are creative people and many are making their own blends with various products to suit their own desires.
The good news is that the quality of Group III products has increased as new manufacturing methods have been developed and others improved. High-end Group III products perform almost as good as Group IV PAOs at lower cost to the user. I biker-bud has a friend at Shell who recommends a 50-50 blend of Rotella T6 and T. He adds the T to mitigate cold temp noise he gets with pure T6 in his bike -- not uncommon. Just an example.
Sorry for the long answer
but there is reasoning behind what XOM is doing and probably others as well. I converted over to Rotellas (T6, and sometimes added T) and all is well. We have many choices and ways to go. Being an ole oil junkie, its kinda fun.
Cheers --- Bob
