It seems the trend is oils are going to at least semi-synthetic now, I've seen trop arctic semi-synthetic at dollar tree for $1 and now I've seen Super 76 semi-synthetic at Winco grocery for $1.24, do you think eventually even the low end oils will advertise themselves as some sort of synthetic?
Semi-synthetic or synthetic?
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troparctic and super 76 are from the same companies.
these arent low end oils, they are actually quite good!
these arent low end oils, they are actually quite good!
To meet the GF-4/SM spec. Some companies are going to a mainly Group III base.
If the auto manufacturers stick with the lighter weight oils for fuel economy, I do not see any other option, the synthetic base oils are needed to keep the oil in grade.
Another trend is the reduction in ZDDP, making base oils more attractive as a friction modifier.
If the oil manufacturer is already adding syn to the lighter weight oils, it will be economically advantagous to do the same with the entire line. We are already seeing this trend with Conoco/Phillips.
Another trend is the reduction in ZDDP, making base oils more attractive as a friction modifier.
If the oil manufacturer is already adding syn to the lighter weight oils, it will be economically advantagous to do the same with the entire line. We are already seeing this trend with Conoco/Phillips.
Just for quick reference, the ConocoPhillips synthetic blend brands in the 5W-20, 5w30, and 10W-30 viscosity grades are:
"Conoco All Season Synthetic Blend"
"Kendall GT-1 Synthetic Blend"
"Phillips 66 TropArtic* Synthetic Blend"
"76 Synthetic Blend"
The above are essentially the same product, viscosity grade for grade. So far as I'm aware, ConocoPhillips is the ONLY company to go on record publically (press releases late last year) that their entry-level motor oils are now synthetic blends. ConocoPhillips also blends and bottles "Motorcraft Premium Synthetic Blend" which is also formulated in the same viscosity grades, but distributed by Ford Motor Company. Whether there's any difference between ConocoPhillips' own brands and the Motorcraft brand is subject to debate, but the synthetic blend standardization of these entry-level motor 5W-20 and 5w30 oils occurred in late 2004 (though Motorcraft was touted on the backs of the bottles as using "severely hydro-processed Group III base oils" at least a year earlier in the 5W-20 formulation). The ascension of the 10W-30 viscosity grade to use of Group III base stocks occurred just this past spring. Whatever the status of Motorcraft's formulation differences, if any, all the above have been verbally confirmed as having greater than 50% "synthetic" content with ConocoPhillips CSRs by phone or email by several BITOGers who've bothered to contact the company. Since an email message carries verifiable** source information, I tend to trust its authenticity. In my estimation, for whatever that's worth, I believe the ConocoPhillips brands are the currently incredible bargains in quality motor oil at a buck or slightly more per quart.
*There's only one "c" in "TropArtic" - bad grammar, but spiffy marketing . . .
**OK, an email address can be spoofed if someone's really intent on doing so. But the company would likewise probably be every bit as intent on ferreting out such activity, too.
"Conoco All Season Synthetic Blend"
"Kendall GT-1 Synthetic Blend"
"Phillips 66 TropArtic* Synthetic Blend"
"76 Synthetic Blend"
The above are essentially the same product, viscosity grade for grade. So far as I'm aware, ConocoPhillips is the ONLY company to go on record publically (press releases late last year) that their entry-level motor oils are now synthetic blends. ConocoPhillips also blends and bottles "Motorcraft Premium Synthetic Blend" which is also formulated in the same viscosity grades, but distributed by Ford Motor Company. Whether there's any difference between ConocoPhillips' own brands and the Motorcraft brand is subject to debate, but the synthetic blend standardization of these entry-level motor 5W-20 and 5w30 oils occurred in late 2004 (though Motorcraft was touted on the backs of the bottles as using "severely hydro-processed Group III base oils" at least a year earlier in the 5W-20 formulation). The ascension of the 10W-30 viscosity grade to use of Group III base stocks occurred just this past spring. Whatever the status of Motorcraft's formulation differences, if any, all the above have been verbally confirmed as having greater than 50% "synthetic" content with ConocoPhillips CSRs by phone or email by several BITOGers who've bothered to contact the company. Since an email message carries verifiable** source information, I tend to trust its authenticity. In my estimation, for whatever that's worth, I believe the ConocoPhillips brands are the currently incredible bargains in quality motor oil at a buck or slightly more per quart.
*There's only one "c" in "TropArtic" - bad grammar, but spiffy marketing . . .
**OK, an email address can be spoofed if someone's really intent on doing so. But the company would likewise probably be every bit as intent on ferreting out such activity, too.
Hello All! Im new to BITOG. The only Trop Artic that I see at my Dollar Tree,(5W30&10W30), DOES NOT SAY Synthetic Blend, nor does it say the words Synthetic or Blend anywhere on the oil containers. It is in fact SL/GF-3...Would this oil still be the same Syn.Blend that is being discussed here
No, the blend is the new GF-4/SM oil, and says specificaly on the container that it is a blend.
I'm concerned that the word BLEND can mean any thing from 2% to 50% synthetic. ed
Last week I went to Wally World, Found a case of 10w30 and 5w30 of API SM, syn-blend on the label. I bought the two cases for 1.12 a quart.
Then a few days later I stopped at Dollar Tree to see what they had in stock. It was the same.
Even though there is no exact proof that this formula is the same as MotorCraft, I decided from the info here on BITOG that this oil is a fantastic bargin. As long as it is plentiful and easy to get, I will use it.
Then a few days later I stopped at Dollar Tree to see what they had in stock. It was the same.
Even though there is no exact proof that this formula is the same as MotorCraft, I decided from the info here on BITOG that this oil is a fantastic bargin. As long as it is plentiful and easy to get, I will use it.
The online product data sheets for ConocoPhillips' stable of brands list "flash points" in the range of 430-457 degrees F. Those figures definitely suggest much stronger Group III content than a paltry 2%. (2% of 32 would equal 0.64 oz - I find it ludicrous in extremis to propose that ANY major oil company would dribble in that small a volume per quart just to lay claim that its product was a "synthetic blend". In the past, the most often quoted figures I found in responsible publications was a range estimation of 10%-25% synthetic content in "synthetic blend" motor oils.) But, hey, believe as you choose, Eddie - those who subscribe to your viewpoint, are just those fewer competitors I need concern myself with when I periodically return to the Dollar Tree to replenish my supply.
As a good method to get an idea of the amount of Grp III in the Trop Artic Syn Blend, compare the syn blend to the full synthetic version.
See the Trop Artic Full Synthetic Oils data sheet.
Ray - That 5w30 syn blend CCV of 5300 @ -30 is not super low and is still a bit of a puzzle to me!
See the Trop Artic Full Synthetic Oils data sheet.
Ray - That 5w30 syn blend CCV of 5300 @ -30 is not super low and is still a bit of a puzzle to me!
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