Is there really any difference between getting a cheap (supertech) motor oil and expensive (pennzoil)?

Question

I was reading an article a couple of years ago where they benchmark tested motor oils and found little if any difference almost virturally identical between the expensive and cheap oils. This is for regular everyday drying to work. I understand the synthetics are suppose to be better. I was just generally curious are there any differences in overall engine life with using different type of oils.

Answer 1

In the old days there was a difference. Now the oils are pretty much the same. I have a 92 GMC with a 4.3 v 6 and I use whatever is on sale and the engine stays clean between my 3000 mile changes. It uses about 1/2 quart between changes. I had a 86 T BIRD 302 FI V8 and used valvoline 10/40 year round and I sold it to my son with 180000 miles on on it. The bearings started to rattle at about 220000; the oil was changed every 3000 in it too. I bought a new 94 Ford Lightning PU with 351 and have used Castro Syntec,with no problems what so ever,with 5000 mile changes. It has 110000 on it now. So if you have a keeper just keep the oil changed and for the best use a synthetic oil.

Answer 2

Cheap Motor Oil

Answer 3

If it's a high mileage car, and when it's oil; anything over 50,000 is considered high mileage. I'll explain. I'm assuming the supertech is a synthetic, the rest are mineral oils. Unless you know for a fact that the previous owner was using synthetics changing to one can actually harm an engine with which you're unfamiliar. Minerals do tend to break down quicker over time and that starts wear. If the person driving the car didn't change it often then sludge will build up, often in these wear-areas. A synthetis has detergents that clean the oil galleys and crankcase. My step-brother put synthetic in and spun a bearing. It ended up costing a lot of money and time in the end. If the car is newer, switch to a synthetic; you'll be glad you did.

Answer 4

The regular (dino) oils that have the API donut seal on the back of the bottle should perform about the same, regardless of price. The synthetic oils will not burn off the lighter elements as the dino oils regularly do. This causes less "sludge" to build up, leaving a cleaner engine. Keeping your oil and filter changed regularly does wonders at extending engine life. I have been using the supertech (dino) oil for the past 6 years and my pickup has over 214,000 miles on the engine.

Answer 5

You've got it right. Cheap oil and name brand oil all come from the same place and are all processed the same. I use cheap oil in all my older cars. They leak so much that I'd go broke otherwise.

I only use synthetic in my new Bimmer. It's the best you can get. I've knock the oil pan off my car before and still drove to the shop with no oil in the car and it was fine.

Answer 6

1 thing more remember the sae rating IE 10w30 ,10w40
the 1st number is the oil the 2ND is the additive if your car runs or gets hot the 2ND number brakes down leaving the lighter oil
this is called thermo viscosity breakdown it is the #1 cause of engine oil related failure synthetics don't do it as well as single grade oils example ''sae 30w"
so if you ever overheat change the oil even if you just changed it last week

i personally use Valvoline sae 30w in the summer and sae 15w40 in the winter

Answer 7

Pennzoil Ultra WAS good full-synthetic oil but they stopped making it! Now it has Natural gas in it.

Answer 8

The most important thing is to change your oil. I don't think the brand of oil makes a difference - as long as it is changed regularly.

Answer 9

Depending on the location, walmarts supertech is either made by pennzoil, warren, or exxon/mobil..... just they have weaker additive packs when compared.

A good cheap oil would have to be havoline or chevron.