sl or sj oil
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All later API classified oils are backward compatible. All later oils are also better than all older oils. There is NO reason not to use a better oil.
aehaas
aehaas
I can't figure out why anybody would want to buy an SL or SJ rated motor oil. The SM oils of today are years more advanced. And even locating SL or SJ oils might prove to be difficult. Why would you want these older oils-you think they have more Zinc?
In addition, if you did somewhere in some dusty corner locate some SL or SJ rated oil, the oil would be years old. According to what I read somewhere Pennzoil says that motor oil has a shelf life of about 18 months. Sooner or later the oil is going to go bad, and SL and SJ rated oil is inferior anyway to newer motor oils. If you are worried about Zinc levels you could buy a oil supplement like the Valvoline or Schaeffer's supplements and put additional additive into your oil (I would recommend only a few ounces especially in cold weather).
In addition, if you did somewhere in some dusty corner locate some SL or SJ rated oil, the oil would be years old. According to what I read somewhere Pennzoil says that motor oil has a shelf life of about 18 months. Sooner or later the oil is going to go bad, and SL and SJ rated oil is inferior anyway to newer motor oils. If you are worried about Zinc levels you could buy a oil supplement like the Valvoline or Schaeffer's supplements and put additional additive into your oil (I would recommend only a few ounces especially in cold weather).
18 months? Ive read motor oil has a shelf life, up to about 10 years!! 18 months would render alot of oil useless then.
Some manufacturers still make some of their grades to SL specs, I believe so they can keep ZDDP levels higher. I can't think off the top of my head which ones though. A wander through the oil aisle should enlighten you.
I've seen brand-new Agip rated SH, if you can find somewhere that stocks that.
About a year ago I topped up with a couple quarts of 20-year old SF oil that I found in the garage. No noticeable difference. I wouldn't go out and purposely buy such old oil though. Unless you have a car with very special needs, use SM with confidence.
I've seen brand-new Agip rated SH, if you can find somewhere that stocks that.
About a year ago I topped up with a couple quarts of 20-year old SF oil that I found in the garage. No noticeable difference. I wouldn't go out and purposely buy such old oil though. Unless you have a car with very special needs, use SM with confidence.
THAT probably means it was cracked in 1996!
A regular Methusela..
A regular Methusela..
If you don't mind spending extra money, try motorcycle oils. Valvoline 4-stroke motorcycle oil is SJ with 1200 ppm zinc. Of course, the thinnest grade is 10w40.
Some old VOA/UOA data showed about 1200 ppm zinc in Citgo Ultralife (please folks, no political discussion of Citgo or the thread will get shut down).
Some old VOA/UOA data showed about 1200 ppm zinc in Citgo Ultralife (please folks, no political discussion of Citgo or the thread will get shut down).
I know of several shops that still have inventory back to SG. Just two weeks ago I was admiring QuakerState 20W40. If you want old oil, you can find it.
Patman
Staff member
GC 0w30 is an SL formula oil, and if you look at some of the less commonly sold viscosities (like 20w50) you can often find dusty old SJ formula oil (there is SJ formula Pennzoil 20w50 at my local Walmart and up until recently they still had some SJ formula Mobil 1 15w50 too)
Some SL and SJ synthetics are/were REALLY good so I don't want to hear people generalizing that SM oils are better without any caveats. The dino versions...yes that's quite possible.
Patman
Staff member
If motor oil only had a shelf life of 18 months, a lot of us would be in serious trouble, as many of us have oil stashes with oil much older than this. I've heard estimates of between 5-10 years for the shelf life of motor oil. I'd be more inclined to believe it's closer to 10 years, if stored properly (containers sealed tight and not kept in freezing cold conditions)
Iain, I think M1 changed formulations during the SL era and that the early SL formulations were better in some ways but the later SL formulations are still a good catch. If the M1 0W-30 SL is not marked up in cost, go for it. Valvoline Synpower SL oils were also really good. GC is still SL rated. As an aside, M1 15W-50 SL was a super oil but isn't anymore.
Wow, I'd have to do an oil change every 500 to 1000 miles on all my vehicles. Well, that would certainly cut down on oil leaving deposits in my engines.
But I am with you, about 10 years is a good number.
SG Castrol Edge product
http://www.castrol.com/castrol/productdetail.do?categoryId=9006583&contentId=7013363
http://www.castrol.com/castrol/productdetail.do?categoryId=9006583&contentId=7013363
Or you can use an SL rated HDEO.
http://www.eliteetc.com/mobiljetii.html
Looks like this oil has a shelf life of 30 years..
Wonder how it would work in my Honda Pilot..
Looks like this oil has a shelf life of 30 years..
Wonder how it would work in my Honda Pilot..
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