Although this is another ONE test of motor oil's ability to lubricate and withstand the load pressure from the metal parts it is in between, it shows how bad Mobil 1 0W-40 is in this department. Read it yourself from the link below.

This is just one piece in the oil puzzle but an important piece. Oil has many other functions this test did not test.

Royal Purple and Vavoline Durablend came up on the top. The cheap Penzzoil was better than many other expensive oils. LOL, BTW, these were all 10W-40 viscosities.

Let the war begin.

http://www.animegame.com/cars/Oil%20Tests.pdf

Saw it at BITOG site.

My colleague shows just the opposite with his 4-ball testing. Mobil 0W-40 has organomoly additive for enhanced boundary lubrication and works better than Mobil 5W-40 where boundary lubrication is an issue. The 5W-40 grade doesn't have organomoly additive. In fact, the Mobil 0W-40 held up better than many other oils in 4-ball testing. 4-ball testing is very similar to the test presented in your link.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K

Yes, I remember you posting somethig like that on BITOG site. Do you have any pictures? I guess the main test was between Mobil 1 0W-40 versus Mobil 1 5W-40, not against Royal Purple, etc, right?

From what I read, Mobil 1 used to publish this industrial standard data on their oil's specs like Amsoil and Redline. However they stopped doing it and said it was not relavent. The coincidence is that Mobil 1 was beaten by Amsoil and Redline on this particular test.

Now I am hearing that Amsoil is also not providing this on some of their oils. (I have never used Amsoil.)

looks like an accurate test.

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I actually tried to post the scanned test results, but even pdf'd the file size was too big.

Of course, we're only talking about only one facet of oil performance - boundary lubrication. This is important during startup and during ring travel reversal, which gives you that 'ridge'. Red Line Race 30W actually stood out above the others in the test results that I have. I'm not surprised, it's a racing oil, and racing engines have a lot of metal-to-metal contact during use. But I don't recommend it for street driving.

One sleeper oil in these tests is Exxon Superflo (same as Mobil 5000?). It also has organomoly additives and stands out well in 4-ball testing.

We should remind others reading this thread that there are many other factors that go into an oil's performance.... shear stability (staying in grade), oxidation resistance at temperature, scuff healing (ZDDP), detergency (keeping contaminants suspended instead of depositing on engine surfaces).

Perhaps the administrators should move this topic to BITOG .

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K

And there ya go! Internet science at its best.

Lou, here are several UOAs covering the oil in question. Do you see any immediate concerns?

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1998 W210 diesel (wiped out by a texter)
Baum spring compressor "for rent"

Ok so who has had an engine blow up that used Mobil 1 0w40? Anyone, no, didn't think so.


MB spec'd it until very recently, their engineers thought it was pretty good.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Hatterasguy, not everything we see is the result of the engineer's doing. Much of what we see is the result of what the managers, bean counters, and tacticians saw appropriate. Remember, this is the same company that released the disintegrating wiring harness insulation design onto the public. It is wise and prudent for us on the internet to second-guess the "engineer's" decision.

Personally, I think they spec'ced Mobil1 0W-40 synthetic for a number of reasons:

- The dealer can stock a "one-size-fits all climates and driving conditions" oil to simplify their shelves.
- Simplify the thinking it takes to pick the proper oil for a client's vehicle.
- Reduce the number of goodwill engine replacements because of owners who neglect their oil maintenance.
- Reduce the number of free oil changes during the warranty period.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K

Hi, uberwgn:

Good to see you here too. Thanks for the info on the jack plugs. Mine should be here tomorrow.

My immediate concern on your Mobil 1 0W-40 analysis is somehow related to this 4-ball type of test. Your Mobil 1 viscosity, after 10k miles, is shearing down to a xW-30 viscosity oil. It started with a viscosity at 100 deg C around 14 cSt. Yours are around 11 - 12. Most xW-30 oil have this around 10.0 - 12.5 range.

The Elf, however, held much better in that department.

I am not a big fan of oil analysis, not because it does not make sense but it can report only to one significant figures in many areas. What is the difference between Fe 8 and 9? Not much.

Completely agree with Kenstas.

I used to consult for a software company. I could not believe that the "technical guides" are written by folks in the marketing department. When it comes to disagreement with engineers, the sales/marketing folks actually have the final say, LOL.

The 0W-40 recommendation is not the gospel. It is to reduce user errors. It may not be the best for a particular situation but it is an overall better solution for most. In the middle east, a 15W-50 oil is more suitable than 0W-40. In Alaska, a 0W-30 is probably better. But that complicates matter and users might put the wrong viscosity oil in and cause more problems.

Along the same lines. MB removed some dispsticks so only the computer will tell users when to add oil.

The same goes with transmission oil. Somehow MB got some bad data that transmission fail because incorrect fluid level and contaminants were introduced when checking level and replacing fluid. So they figured out a solution: Sealed For Life. LOL, what a smart recommendation.

The timken and 4 ball test are not acurrate test to find out how engine oils do in an engine.

I understand about the UOA scene -- I just wanted some validation that the 10 - 12K mile intervals were acceptable for this car and they are. The UOA can also show evidence of serious problems.

Don't put too much faith in the first set of data pertaining to the viscosity. The car had been sitting at the selling dealer for nearly a year and was shuffled about the parking lot many times and left idling for extended periods. There was definitely fuel present in the first UOA, none in the subsequent tests. "Lot" cars lead a hard life. The 2nd and 3rd analyses depict a good running car

Yes, the ELF appears to be a fine product - - it's a high HT/HS oil and meets 229.xx, of course. Either oil appears to yield nice wear numbers.

Yes, I saw the fuel dilution. That is why I always change my oil in the spring after our severe winter here in Micgihan. I have a 3-mile commute and that does not help either. Short trip in cold weather is very bad to the oil and I do not think the FSS gived enough of a penalty to this.

We've had that '02 wagon for about 1.5 yrs or 40k miles. The FSS continues to lengthen the ODI. I've been changing it about 1,000 miles before it actually recommends. I think I'll probably let the current oil (ELF) go the full distance. There should be no issues doing so and it isn't taking long for the car to cover 12 - 13k miles.

This ball point loading has nothing to do with engine fluid bearings and little to do with piston to cylinder interface lubrication.

In order to understand why it might help to read this link........
http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Tribology/Liquid_Lubrication.htm


and ....if you don't find it in the on page links,
http://lubricants.s5.com/

.

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