Many of the cheaper oils availible in SA ,all though made by reputable companies,are rated SG/CD .Any views on this grade and the 20w50 rating it carries?
20w50 SG/CD
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Once upon a time I did a lot of work on SG/CD oils. At one point, a fair bit of the major brand SG/CD/CF stuff in South Africa was based on my juice.
Anyway, the oils will be a bit minimalistic in terms of additive content but they won't be terrible either. You'll get 'a bit of everything' in terms of additive type which is better than 'more' of a simple ZDDP/Detergent/Dispersant pack. If you're very lucky, you might even find a smidge of Moly lurking in the oil.
The important thing with these oils is not to keep them in the sump too long. They're probably good for 5k miles but I'd still drop them out after 3k miles.
Anyway, the oils will be a bit minimalistic in terms of additive content but they won't be terrible either. You'll get 'a bit of everything' in terms of additive type which is better than 'more' of a simple ZDDP/Detergent/Dispersant pack. If you're very lucky, you might even find a smidge of Moly lurking in the oil.
The important thing with these oils is not to keep them in the sump too long. They're probably good for 5k miles but I'd still drop them out after 3k miles.
For older, say pre-1990 cars that spec 20W-50 they are probably ok.
Originally Posted By: SonofJoe
Once upon a time I did a lot of work on SG/CD oils. At one point, a fair bit of the major brand SG/CD/CF stuff in South Africa was based on my juice.
Anyway, the oils will be a bit minimalistic in terms of additive content but they won't be terrible either. You'll get 'a bit of everything' in terms of additive type which is better than 'more' of a simple ZDDP/Detergent/Dispersant pack. If you're very lucky, you might even find a smidge of Moly lurking in the oil.
Why minimalistic? Is not API SG standard the one wich is loaded with ZDDP? Hence almost all motocycle oils are API SG...
Once upon a time I did a lot of work on SG/CD oils. At one point, a fair bit of the major brand SG/CD/CF stuff in South Africa was based on my juice.
Anyway, the oils will be a bit minimalistic in terms of additive content but they won't be terrible either. You'll get 'a bit of everything' in terms of additive type which is better than 'more' of a simple ZDDP/Detergent/Dispersant pack. If you're very lucky, you might even find a smidge of Moly lurking in the oil.
Why minimalistic? Is not API SG standard the one wich is loaded with ZDDP? Hence almost all motocycle oils are API SG...
SG oils today are massively different to the SG oils that were on the market, decades ago, when API SG was first introduced as a category. They'll contain less ZDDP and less detergent but will contain more and more varied antioxidants.
No manufacturer recommends 20W-50 these days, so they don't often meet modern specs, but they are out there. I am using a POA/Ester blend 20W-50 in my motorcycle, and in my daughter's car Nulon 20w-50, it's a semi synth and is A3/B4.
Originally Posted By: Kamele0N
Why minimalistic? Is not API SG standard the one wich is loaded with ZDDP? Hence almost all motocycle oils are API SG...
That's the myth that won't die...YES they USED to be like that.
For example, look at this specific Engine oil additive package...
http://www.aftonchemical.com/Afton/media...DS.pdf?ext=.pdf
SN is 7.7% wt additive, SG is 5.4%wt additive.
You can be sure that the SG that you buy in the shops, (unless it is a speciality race type product) is made like this.
Why minimalistic? Is not API SG standard the one wich is loaded with ZDDP? Hence almost all motocycle oils are API SG...
That's the myth that won't die...YES they USED to be like that.
For example, look at this specific Engine oil additive package...
http://www.aftonchemical.com/Afton/media...DS.pdf?ext=.pdf
SN is 7.7% wt additive, SG is 5.4%wt additive.
You can be sure that the SG that you buy in the shops, (unless it is a speciality race type product) is made like this.
Many of the cars in my workshop still call for 20w50.Popular grade in South Africa ,probably due to the amount of 90's cars on the road .Also note we dont have emission testing and RWC is only done when the vehicle changes ownership
I'm a frequent visitor to your wonderful country.
I occasionally have a walk round the Midas in Gansbaai and it's obvious from the cans on the shelves that 20W50 is still a big seller in South Africa.
I don't know if it's still the case but a lot of companies used to blend their 15W40/20W50 engine oils with the Engen Group I base oils which came out of the Durban refinery. As I recall, these were pretty good for Group Is. These may now have been supplanted with imported Group II oils (which would be a good thing for general service life) but RSA is a long way from the US, so this maybe this is more of a trickle than a flood.
As I said before, there's nothing much wrong with modern SG/CD 20W50's provided you don't leave them in the sump too long.
I occasionally have a walk round the Midas in Gansbaai and it's obvious from the cans on the shelves that 20W50 is still a big seller in South Africa.
I don't know if it's still the case but a lot of companies used to blend their 15W40/20W50 engine oils with the Engen Group I base oils which came out of the Durban refinery. As I recall, these were pretty good for Group Is. These may now have been supplanted with imported Group II oils (which would be a good thing for general service life) but RSA is a long way from the US, so this maybe this is more of a trickle than a flood.
As I said before, there's nothing much wrong with modern SG/CD 20W50's provided you don't leave them in the sump too long.
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Originally Posted By: Shannow
Originally Posted By: Kamele0N
Why minimalistic? Is not API SG standard the one wich is loaded with ZDDP? Hence almost all motocycle oils are API SG...
That's the myth that won't die...YES they USED to be like that.
............
You can be sure that the SG that you buy in the shops, (unless it is a speciality race type product) is made like this.
Tnx to both! So that means that even motocycle oils nowadays have lower levels of ZDDP? How do formulators then archive protection of the gearbox?
Originally Posted By: Kamele0N
Why minimalistic? Is not API SG standard the one wich is loaded with ZDDP? Hence almost all motocycle oils are API SG...
That's the myth that won't die...YES they USED to be like that.
............
You can be sure that the SG that you buy in the shops, (unless it is a speciality race type product) is made like this.
Tnx to both! So that means that even motocycle oils nowadays have lower levels of ZDDP? How do formulators then archive protection of the gearbox?
Out of my depth on that question.
The example I brought was of an automotive engine oil solution...while as I said, specialist (racing) oils are probably likely closer in Zn etc to the "back in the day".
Not sure about Motorcycles.
But the Blackstone ancient oil cans VOAs show that the oils tested didn't have loads of Zn typcially
The example I brought was of an automotive engine oil solution...while as I said, specialist (racing) oils are probably likely closer in Zn etc to the "back in the day".
Not sure about Motorcycles.
But the Blackstone ancient oil cans VOAs show that the oils tested didn't have loads of Zn typcially
I think that's still the case with these oils.The price hints at local blending
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