slipstream444

[QUOTE=2007 Zx-10,Aug 13 2008, 09:07 AM] This seems subjective

2007 Zx-10

Higher consumption with a thinner oil also makes sense, and doesn't mean the oil isn't doing it's job, it just means there is some blowby (which of course isn't desirable).

I'll be watching my oil levels closely.

RollerBoy

Hey slip do you use Amsoil's 100% syn 10w-30? or Amsoil XL syn 10w-30?

atlantachap

Slip, I mentioned Valvoline SynPower synthetic b/c in a few past posts Road Rage mentioned it was a good mid-tiered oil, below Redline, Amsoil, Motul, etc.

The pricing on PP ($19), Valvoline ($20), M1 (~24), M1 EP ($27) was for the 5 quart jugs at Wal-mart in Atlanta (early Aug 2008). I was shocked at the price difference between a 5 quart jug and five 1 quart bottles. So of course I went with the 5 quart jugs due to the price and the fact that we need ~5 quarts for an oil change.

After doing enough reading, it seems pretty much anything made today is good enough for a daily driven S if you follow the manufacture oil change recommendations. Conventional motor oils have come a long way, in some cases matching and beating some "synthetic" oils.

However, I still run mid-tiered value priced "synthetics" because I feel that I need a bit more performance for the high strung S. I feel, at $19 and $20, PP and Valvoline SynPower synthetic are a great buy.

slipstream444

[QUOTE=atlantachap,Aug 13 2008, 01:14 PM] Slip, I mentioned Valvoline SynPower synthetic b/c in a few past posts Road Rage mentioned it was a good mid-tiered oil, below Redline, Amsoil, Motul, etc.

The pricing on PP ($19), Valvoline ($20), M1 (~24), M1 EP ($27) was for the 5 quart jugs at Wal-mart in Atlanta (early Aug 2008).

slipstream444

I use the ATM full synthetic 10W30. It's a much more robust oil than the XL7500 10W30.

slipstream444

BTW - if you intend on buying a full case or more of Amsoil - sign up for their Preferred Customer Program (PCP). It costs $20, but pays for itself with the first case you buy - even if you only buy one case a year.
The P.C.P. allows you to buy at wholesale/dealer cost (20-30% cheaper), and is a lot cheaper than having to become a dealer to get dealer pricing.

slipstream444

You're right in that consumption doesn't necessarily mean the oil isn't doing its job - but the flip-side to that is any oil consumed will leave behind some deposits and other byproducts that will degrade the oil. The cleaner the oil burns - the less deposits you'll see, but deposition is still a problem. I will attest to the fact that Amsoil does burn clean. My RX-7 turbo demonstrated that very well.
Additionally, there's an obvious increase in your operating costs if you consume more oil. Typically, consumption will accelerate once it takes place as well. When you're spending $9.00 a quart for oil - you don't want to burn a quart every 5,000 miles. Just add that to the cost of your next oil change and see yourself cringe. Instead of paying for 5.5 quarts of oil - now you're paying for 6.5 quarts (and a filter) for every 5,000 miles or so. That would be a before labor cost of $65 (with a PCX filter) instead of $56. It may not sound like much, but it's exactly those kind of stealth costs that can eat away at your budget.

My car consumes right around an 1/8-1/5 quart every 5,000 miles with ATM. I always have more than a quarter quart left over in that 6th quart left over from the oil change. That quarter quart plus is then used to pre-fill my filter during the next oil change, and I still have oil left over.

2007 Zx-10

I have alot of extra Mobil 1 EP 15w-50 laying around for my RX-7, I may try running that as well. I'm thinking the 15w-50 would excel at most of these analytical tests, especially the 4 ball stuff

slipstream444

[QUOTE=2007 Zx-10,Aug 13 2008, 03:59 PM] I have alot of extra Mobil 1 EP 15w-50 laying around for my RX-7, I may try running that as well.