Originally Posted By: Neil_A
I noticed this too on the newer bottles of RP 5w30. That is why I switched back to Mobil 1 5w30 due to having an extended warranty and wanting no issues with repair work if needed. Now I am wondering if I should have made the switch.
Just curious about something. What year/make/model etc do you have? If it is an older vehicle RP still meets the warranty requirements now if it did then. The API Starburst just requires you run the most current/highest service level( and meet certain fuel economy standards as well )so it is something that can change during the ownership of your vehicle. You do not have to change oils with it as it changes.
At one time, when RP carried it on the bottle, that was SL. Now it is SM. However, if you were running RP in the past with the Starburst then your engine was spec'd for, and still is, SL oil. That means you can still run the RP and meet your warranty requirements. The API Starburst changed but your engine requirements/needs and spec's did not.
Or, did you have some older RP that you were using up or something? It is hard to explain what I am trying to say. Hope it is clear? The mfg spec'd your car for a certain class of oil. Just because a new class came out later does not mean you have to start using that class. Make sense? You only have to follow the spec's and requirements that applied when you bought the vehicle.
If API SL was the top dog and what the car mfg spec'd when you bought your vehicle than that is all you have to run now. You do not have to start running API SM now or API SN when it comes out.