Consider a Motor Oil Comparison

How does one go about making a motor oil comparison?  Which qualities are most important?  How do I choose between two different oils which cost the same amount and appear, on the surface, to be of similar quality?
When comparing motor oils, the most important thing to do is compare the technical specifications.  These can generally be found on the company's website, although sometimes it may be necessary to contact the company to ask that they provide them.  Each specification is found using a standardized testing method (ASTM-American Society of Testing and Materials) and is assigned a certain test number.
Different companies provide different test results.  Some will leave out certain tests.  They may feel they are unimportant.  They may not want you to know a particular test specification. Image via Wikipedia
There are around 16 specifications you might see on the data sheet for any given oil, although it's more likely you will find around 8 or 9.  Which are most important?  There are three that you should focus on: the NOACK volatility test, the Four Ball Wear Test and the HT/HS test.  These three are designed to simulate conditions you might actually find in your engine.  If any of them are missing or left out, it could mean you are looking at an inferior oil.  Also, if you find entries that read "Meets or Exceeds All Requirements", you should be skeptical.  Look for oils from companies that are willing to publish the results of standardized testing.  Also beware of companies that list results of non-standard testing in an effort to look impressive.
Another option is to use the website, TheMotorOilEvaluator.com.  There are technical specifications for over 650 motor oils from over 30 companies.  It is a searchable database which has an application which makes comparing particular oils easy.  This website allows you to make just about any motor oil comparison as you try to decide which brand to use in your vehicle.
The Motor Oil Guy

Related articles by Zemanta

• The End Is Nigh: Hello Kitty Motor Oil (geekologie.com)

Where Can I Compare Different Kinds of Motor Oil?

With all of the hype surrounding the various brands of motor oil, it can often be difficult to choose the one that is right for your vehicle.  Manufacturers tell us all kinds of things in the commercials.  The question is, how do we separate the truth from the fiction?  One of the few objective ways to differentiate between different oils is via technical specification motor oil comparisons.

With so many marketing ploys in effect, how are you to know which oil you should be buying for you specific engine? Most consumers would love to have access to an accurate and unbiased motor oil comparison.  A detailed comparison will make it easier for you to select the brand of oil, and the specific blend, that will work best with your car, but this can be tough to come by.

In fact, honestly, it doesn't really exist.  Even though you may find an isolated comparison here or there on the net, generally speaking, these comparisons are done by individuals who cannot possibly account for all of the different variables and variations that will occur from one "test" to another.  So, what do you do?  How do you know what oil to purchase, which oil is best?

Do your own motor oil comparisons.  Get a copy of "The Motor Oil Bible" which will help you understand the various differences between motor oils and will educate you regarding the various technical specifications you'll need to investigate in order to objectively compare various motor oils and their relative ability to protect your expensive vehicles and equipment.

The truth is, you really shouldn't fully trust ANY of the propaganda that the various motor oil manufacturers' publish ...

... until you are able to take an objective and EDUCATED look at the technical specifications for their oils and judge for yourself whether what they SAY about their oils is accurate and justified, you will never find an unbiased and objective motor oil comparison.  The Motor Oil Bible will help you understand those technical specifications - what they mean, how the tests are run, which specifications will be most important to YOU and your situation, etc.

The next time you buy oil, make sure you are armed with the information you need to get the most out of your engine.  Don't rely on the unlikely possibility that you'll find unbiased comparisons to help you make your decision.  Learn what you need to know so that you can easily do the comparisons yourself and KNOW that you've found the right oil.

The Motor Oil Guy