So if an oil meets the 229.5 spec, are we wasting our money buying a more expensive product?
They all meet the minimum performance requirements for the specification. So technically we should all buy the cheapest product which meets the specification.So if an oil meets the 229.5 spec, are we wasting our money buying a more expensive product?
It is minimum requirement!So if an oil meets the 229.5 spec, are we wasting our money buying a more expensive product?
I don't think there's too much wiggle room.Wouldn't that be similar to thinking that all API SP oils are equivalent? While 229.5 is more stringent than many other motor oil specifications, manufacturers still have the ability to formulate their product differently from other products.
I would agree that there is less wiggle room with Mercedes 229.5x and newer 229.xx specifications than most other oil specifications. But if you look at the approved motor oils, there is clearly enough to make different products. For example, Castrol has four different 229.5 approved 5w-40 motor oils, Castrol Edge 5w-40 A3/B4, Castrol Edge Professional A3 5w-40, Castrol Magnatec 5w-40 A3/B4 and Castrol Magnatec Professional A3 5w-40. Mobil has seven different 229.5 approved 5w-40 and seven 0w-40. Shell has six 0w-40 products with 229.5 approval.I don't think there's too much wiggle room.
They all meet the minimum performance requirements for the specification. So technically we should all buy the cheapest product which meets the specification.
However, sites like BITOG exist in part to try to find out which oils exceed the performance requirements of the specification. It's more of a hobby than anything else.
Sure, of course but nobody other than the OE knows knows what the minimum will get you in terms of engine life.Just an opinion, of course, but there is a philosophy, which I adhere to, that believes doing more than the minimum can / will (you choose) bring benefits beyond the minimal expectations.
In this case, hence the rationale for using an oil that might / may / or will, provide better protection and prolonged engine life.
Is it a game ? Obviously, since most won’t keep their vehicle long enough to reap the rewards, whatever they might be.
Z
The other issue is we have no idea by how much anything exceeds standards. There’s basically no objective evidence for anything beyond.Sure, of course but nobody other than the OE knows knows what the minimum will get you in terms of engine life.
Considering that all oils within one approval have the same minimum HT/HS it would be very hard to make a claim that one brand causes problems whereas one does not. The winter rating is irrelevant in this regard.I have a 2009 Mercedes GL450 I bought from a friend maybe 1.5 years ago. It has a 4.7L V8. I have read in a few places that using thinner oil can lead to lifter problems. I live in Colorado- winters are not extremely cold. We will get a few days of single digits though usually, 25-45 degrees is common in the coldest two months. I have been using Liquimoly but switched to M1 0W40 for the winter. I do have one change worth of Amsoil 5w40 so that I can use in the summer when the M1 is ready to be changed.
I hear that Redline 5W40 is a thicker oil and Quaker State/Shell Ultra Helix are thinner 5W40s. Should I go with a thicker oil like the Redline 5W40 in the summer and use M1 0W40 or Quaker State in the winter, or just stick with one? Any thoughts would be appreciated since I tend to go overboard with over-analysis when it comes to things like this.
The lifter issue has been mention in a couple of forums related to the GL450 and I want to keep this car for a while.
I have a 2009 Mercedes GL450 I bought from a friend maybe 1.5 years ago. It has a 4.7L V8. I have read in a few places that using thinner oil can lead to lifter problems. I live in Colorado- winters are not extremely cold. We will get a few days of single digits though usually, 25-45 degrees is common in the coldest two months. I have been using Liquimoly but switched to M1 0W40 for the winter. I do have one change worth of Amsoil 5w40 so that I can use in the summer when the M1 is ready to be changed.
I hear that Redline 5W40 is a thicker oil and Quaker State/Shell Ultra Helix are thinner 5W40s. Should I go with a thicker oil like the Redline 5W40 in the summer and use M1 0W40 or Quaker State in the winter, or just stick with one? Any thoughts would be appreciated since I tend to go overboard with over-analysis when it comes to things like this.
The lifter issue has been mention in a couple of forums related to the GL450 and I want to keep this car for a while.