Which synthetic?

Amsoil in the CRX and the Integra, change twice a yr w/ Honda filters

Valvoline extended life ( or what ever they call it.... ) in the Impreza w/ NAPA gold filters (220k, w/ slight leak from the drivers side valve cover... imagine that)

Amsoil, Royal Purple, Redline, and Mobil1 are all very similar and all top notch. They are all true synthetic ester oils. Thanks to a lawsuit by Castrol, the government now allows any oil base stock to be labeled "synthetic" as long as it conforms to certain purity standards. Therefore, typical OTC "synthetics" don't have to be made in a lab. They can be sourced by crude oil and then refined/filtered in a manner that grants them access to the "synthetic" label.

Castrol, valvoline, quaker state, pennzoil, and other common synthetics are made mostly from crude bases. Mobil1 and the boutique brands like Amsoil are made entirely from synthetic esters.

Whether or not they're actually superior is up to those who debate the topic which I don't. I personally use Mobil1 for two reasons: 1) its often the least expensive of the true synthetics, and 2) the environmental reasons. I don't really like supporting the war effort or biosphere contamination by using crude-based oils. Honestly, if it weren't for the second reason, I would be using plain old Valvoline or Castrol.

Wix filters and Amsoil unless I don't have the Amsoil on hand then I run Mobil 1. I don't have any vehicles used only for normal driving so oil is changed very frequently due to track use or towing.

I am currently using lubromoly semi-synth but next oil change is going to be total quartz semi-synth with some motocraft and touch of mobil 1 to round off the mixture. The fact mobil 1 is cheap and can be found in many viscosities makes it the next oil I'll use. With a WIX filter I figure 5000mile oil changes will be the way to go. The only reason I figure to go synthetic is I may get a bit more power and a bit more mileage for not much more than regular dino juice.

curtis73 wrote: Amsoil, Royal Purple, Redline, and Mobil1 are all very similar and all top notch. They are all true synthetic ester oils.

Actually in the last couple of years many of the Mobil1 weights are no longer "true" synthetics. This is a direct result of the Mobil v Castrol lawsuit. I was very disappointed to discover this but still use it in the wife's daily. I no longer use it in the race miata and switched to Redline 2 years ago. I use Repsol synthetic in the cbr600rr.

I have not tried Amsoil as I hate the "Amway" or "Mary Kay" sales approach. Every damn forum on the internets (except for this one thankfully) has some Amsoil rep spouting about how Amsoil is so much better. I can get Royal Purple, Redline, Motul, Repsol and Mobil 1 locally and am not about to find a "dealer" to get this Amsoil stuff.

BTW Castrol Syntec is a crude base, Castrol SLX synthetic is an esther base.

VWguyBruce wrote: It's on television it isn't real assault and battery. Nothing on television is real, it's entertainment.

Oh yea, I forgot.

Think how crappy Gone with the Wind would have been without "the slap". Or so many other memorable movies.

Gone with the Wind was a film. I'm talking about pop-culture media driven television. Completely different.

Bill, I understand where you guys are coming from. Don't want you to think I'm trying to start anything. I initially commented on the commercial for its approach to brand recognition within the market. I believe it hit that mark. As for quality of content, of course that's suspect for any commercial.

VWguyBruce wrote: Gone with the Wind was a film. I'm talking about pop-culture media driven television. Completely different. Bill, I understand where you guys are coming from. Don't want you to think I'm trying to start anything. I initially commented on the commercial for its approach to brand recognition within the market. I believe it hit that mark. As for quality of content, of course that's suspect for any commercial.

No offense taken. I was a Castrol user and now I am not. What did that ad accomplish? That's how much I hate that commerical. Their earlier "motor oil is motor oil" was a much better commercial IMO.

I was going to say something earlier about what would happen if you whipped your wife with your dipstick, but figured, with the folks on this site, it might not be correctly received. Because I would think in reality it would get you tossed in jail for CDV.

I'm done.

I use Mobile 1 in all of my vehicles

The NAPA syn. oil has been on sale locally for 2.99/qt. (it's Valvoline). I think that special runs through October.
I do not work there.

I typically use Mobil One in all of our primary cars, and run non-synthetic in my old work truck.