Originally Posted By: Gokhan
Don't underestimate the additive package. The additive package is what makes an oil a motor oil. It's more important than the base oil.
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THIS !!!
Ever notice that conventional lubes do every bit as well in short-to-moderate OCIs as any super-duper syn? Ever realize wear and contamination control exhibit to an equal degree the protection needed in most any BITOGer's UOA? Ever discover that "normal" products are just as capable as premium products in typical life applications, and even "severe" service does not bring out any disparity in terms of wear rates?
Jim Fitch from Noria has mentioned on more than one occasion that the add-pack is the most important thing that goes into the bottle. While base stocks can affect the long term performance, it is the chemistry of the additives that has more effect from the onset.
And underlying truth is that there is more than one way to get to low wear and good contamination control. There are many different add-pack formulations in all manner of brands and grades of lubes. But they all pretty much achieve the same task, and do so well. Whereas you may personally favor brand X, grade Y, or additive Z, your engine really does not care as long as the total packaged product is complimentary to the goal of reducing wear and controlling contamination. Go look at all the VOAs at the PQIA site, and then show me (if you dare to try) the causation effect of any particular brand or additive that clearly demonstrates a "better" result of wear or contamination control in a true statistical sense. I simply, utterly dare you to try and see if you can do it.
Too many of you focus on the inputs; what's in the bottle, as if some grade, base stock or additive is the only way to success. I focus on results; what do UOAs, PCs, and teardown component analysis tell us? Generally, there are many roads to the same destination.
I say again; the quote above is certainly one key premise in understanding the overall success in a lubrication maintenance program. It is not the only thing, but it one key thing.