Originally Posted By: demarpaint
It looks like Mobil was the clear winner of that "test." The question is what does it prove?
PQIA 30 grade syns
I think all it proves is that at -40C, in their test environment, M1 easily out-poured (out flowed?) the other brands. It also shows that at a particular cold temperature, the same grade synthetic typically pours better than the same grade conventional, a major reason why many of of us in cold climates run a synthetic.
Looking at the -30c viscosities, M1 5w-30 is considerably lower than all the others. So the "test" went as expected. One single parameter tested at one temperature. Interesting that on M1's website the M1 5w-30 HM pour point is -39c. This easily poured at -40c with room to spare. Amsoil's website says their 5w-30 pours at under -50c (which is down where the 0w's typically live). Royal Purple doesn't list pour specs.
Havoline syn, PU, and Formula Shell syn also have low -30c visc ratings similar to M1 5w-30. If I lived in a much colder climate that occasionally went down to -40c, I'd be fine with the 5W-30 M1, maybe even the Amsoil,...but not those other 2 in the video. And sure, you can run a 0w to make is simpler.
I don't know about anyone else, but I never poke a hole in the top of my oil quarts when adding them to the engine to help them flow out quickly. And doing it at -40c probably would have even less of an effect.