Well, you're kind of asking the wrong guy. I am a Bosch certified diesel technician and I am not a fan of pulling emissions equipment off anything. So IMO I would stick with the recommended C3 oils, but it's your vehicle.
Tungsten acts a lot like moly (reduces friction, both bond with sulphur in various compounds). Most oil makers skip the tungsten and just use moly. I'm not sure which is better. Ravenol has both tungsten and moly, maybe to reduce friction more than just the typical moly alone. Google terms are: WS2 oil additive
and some aftermarket additves of questionable value pop up. Ravenol carefully blends their oils which is better than having 3rd party additives poured in.
Originally Posted by andreigbs
Opinions on whether the REP flavor would result in any meaningful, noticeable difference in my application vs the two domestics above?.
Probably not noticeable.
A full-PAO oil like REP should leave less piston deposits over time which is something nobody would notice unless the rings start sticking at well over 200,000 miles.
The WS2 (tungsten) and molyDTC in REP is expected to protect bearings a small amount better, very possibly. I can't be sure since Ravenol's other components affect that result too.
Quote
REP and VMP are full PAO and USVO, and REP has tungsten which makes it slightly different and possibly better. Both have great pourpoints due to the PAO.
Thanks, this is the kind of info I need.
Could you elaborate on the tungsten and why it may be better?Answered above, thanks paoester.
Agreed on pourpoints due to PAO.
I will admit, it's pricey stuff when I can easily get Pennzoil Euro LX 5w30 or Valvoline MST Synpower 5w30 much cheaper ($5.39/qt for the MST locally).
Opinions on whether the REP flavor would result in any meaningful, noticeable difference in my application vs the two domestics above?
Edit: found this on tungsten. Interesting stuff,I wonder where might one get this unobtainium from? Found the answer to this as well, now for long reading...
Gents,
In search of a Euro oil for my Bluetec OM651, I came across the above 3 flavors of Ravenol.
Besides the price and specs (229.51/.52), can anyone help shed some light on what would be the advantage of the "Racing" formula?
I haven't tried Ravenol yet, but if there's some magic elixir in the Racing version to improve longevity and performance in my Bluetec, I would surely be interested.
Currently at 106,xxx miles and no issues (DPF or otherwise) to report with current oil choice (yes, I read the whole 12-pg LM overrated thread, and that's what I've been using).
Thoughts please?
The special thing about it is that it is actually what it claims to be. Synthetic PAO/Ester and an engineered add pack. Is it better than that old school Castrolite? Don't know, but it certainly isn't a modern group III declaring itself a synthetic when it really is quasi-synthetic. If there is a need for something that exceeds as far as temperature or oxidative qualities then I say go for it.My thoughts are, one of the best oils that meet 229.51 and 229.52 is on sale quite a few times during the year for less than $6 a qt. Mobil 1 0w30/5w30 ESP.
There is nothing at all special about Ravenol.
Oil producers have been messing around with Tungsten since I was a kid and that was long time ago.View attachment 25389
The special thing about it is that it is actually what it claims to be. Synthetic PAO/Ester and an engineered add pack. Is it better than that old school Castrolite? Don't know, but it certainly isn't a modern group III declaring itself a synthetic when it really is quasi-synthetic. If there is a need for something that exceeds as far as temperature or oxidative qualities then I say go for it. is..
I just got that big book written by the Dr. about all manner of oil. I will try and quote some of his perspective about this subject soon.Years ago that may have made a difference but not anymore. It is the final formulation that matters not the base stock.
It could also be said that anything done to refine crude oil is in some way synthesizing it.
One meaning of synthesizing
To combine (a number of things) into a coherent whole.
HC technology and mixing bases is so advanced now that as Trav said final product is what matters.The special thing about it is that it is actually what it claims to be. Synthetic PAO/Ester and an engineered add pack. Is it better than that old school Castrolite? Don't know, but it certainly isn't a modern group III declaring itself a synthetic when it really is quasi-synthetic. If there is a need for something that exceeds as far as temperature or oxidative qualities then I say go for it.