Why? because I wouldn't put it past a manufacturer to use light oil for gas mileage. They don't care if the engine last past 100K, they just need it to make it 60K. Remember the slant six? bullet proof engine and they quit making it. Just an example. I use the recommend oil, I'm just saying I understand why one would question the oily water.
Because first and foremost, it's the engine that they designed. If they give bad information, then that will flesh itself out as the engine gets along in mileage. But, they should be the ones who know what is best for the engine. As somebody else already said, we're not molecular scientists, and some of them are. If they feed us bad information, then I'm sure somebody will file a class action lawsuit at some point. I understand that there are a lot of guys here that think they know best, that they will put whatever oil in that they damn well please, but I sure don't want to read later about those same people who come back and slam Stellantis because of an improperly maintained engine.
The slant six was one of the great engines. But one with 100k on it was rare. How long would a 150hp slant six last at 285 hp? I grew up in that era. Cars with 100k were scrap metal. Thats after at least one transmission rebuild along the way. Manufactures were worse back before safety and emission regulations force them to behave. Case in point, We had a 1969 Buick GS 455. Know what brakes it came equipped with? Four tiny iron drums. Its no exaggeration when I say it could accelerate faster than it could stop!
I didn't think about the low HP but I can say, my first car was a 72 duster, then I had a Swinger, then another duster. All slant sixes and all had well over 100k. The bodies were falling apart but engines still running. I'm probably being nostalgic. My first car was my Duster and I worked all summer to buy it. Tan with pea green interior. Looking back, it was ugly as hell but it was mine and I loved it. First taste of freedom.
I had a 67 Dart second hand with the slant six. passed down to little brother then one of his friends. Then his friends sister. Lost track after that but it would not die. I think that engine was also in some of the Dodge trucks too.
For one thing, selling 100k and 125k warranties is big business for them.
Remember, a thicker oil does not mean more wear protection so no benefit there.
You must be thinking of the old 300SL with mechanical fuel injection. Always drooled over that one.We can thank Mercedes for the slant six
Have manufacturers started dictating what oil a dealership must use? I was at a dealership into the mid 2000’s and we had Kia through Jaguar, none of them told us who to buy oil from. I now run a fleet of buses and we do a lot of research on oil and a lot of lab testing. Being school buses, they stop and go for 180 days, sit over weekends and the summer. As much as I hate high paraffin oil in a street car or race car, it sticks to cylinder walls which really helps with start up. Yes, a Cummins will go a million miles over the road but only 25-30% of that in a stop and go bus or trash truck before considering rebuild.
We test our oil to find wear patterns and adjust blends accordingly. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it costs us money. Not every bus is driven the same so we shoot for the masses and repair the fringes. Our engines take 19-26 qts depending on year etc. and I guarantee we pay more per gallon than you pay at the big box stores.
As it was said earlier, they design an engine/oil combination for 99% of the market.
No. I've found some 0wxx racing oils that are not synthetic and some 0w oils are partial synthetic.
I think any with the proper API rating for passenger vehicles are, but for sure all 0w20s I've seen on the market today are. Pennzoil Gold was marketed as a semi synthetic but still had some synthetic base stocks. It isn't available anymore.
