Oil=oil ?

[kingfisher]

What's the difference ?
I just winterized my VP, so changed the oil. In the local Belgian B&Q (Brico), they had two brands of 15W40: Esso and their own brand.
Esso=22€ for 5l
Brico=10€ for 5l

I bought the Esso one, I'm not compromising when my engine is concerned.

On the face of it: the brico one was in a plain black container, while the Esso container had an spout that could be extended, so filling the oil was clean, without having to resort to funnels.

But does that warant the 15€ price difference? Is the ESSO-oil twice as good as the house brand?

Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[Col]

Well no actually, oil is not oil. Oil is a mixture of base oils (mineral or synthetic) and a blend of additives to make it work better / for longer. Additives include detergents, anti scuff agents, anti acids, additives to stop gum and varnish forming etc: etc: You should be looking at the service classification on the back of the pack.
You get an idea from<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.castrolusa.com/products/productpage1.asp?product_id=1&product_category=1> Castrols web site</A>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Col, you seems to know your oils here. Only one thing I would add and that's the fact that some oil brands (I won't call them manufacturers) take old oil and "clean it up". The action of cleaning an oil does not restore its moleculer structure. When an oil states that it has two viscosities, this means that it has quite a complex structure that allows for heat and pressure. So 15/40 oil has the viscosity of 15 at 20C and a greater viscosity of 40 at a higher given temperature (hell its late and I've had lots of wine!).

Recycled oil cannot restore the Styrene-Butadyne Copolymers that produce this change in viscosity at varying temperatures and pressures.

In short - buy a quality brand, its cheaper than a blown engine!

Madoc Yacht Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk>http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk</A>

 

[Geoffs]

Agree with all said. I worked for many years in the R & D labs of the brand mentioned, and can vouch for the amount of development and testing that goes into a brand. Thousands of hours of testing on engine test beds is involved in ensuring the product's performance.

Buy a branded oil, you can be pretty sure of what you are getting, but an unbranded one, you've no idea.

Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'

 

[ChrisP]

Heard a story once from a guy who lived in South Africa during the embargo. New oil was not available so they used to get their sump oil, strain it through a loaf of the local course grain bread. Add a tin of STP oil treatement and chuck it back in the engine. Never tried it myself.

ChrisP

What do you mean the sea gull in front's walking !!!

 

[jfm]

Amateur economics

I agree there's good oil and bad oil. But does that explain the 2x price factor? Dunno. But I think there's a free enough market in quality oils (ie several manufacturers of premium product) that the xspensive price must be "right", so I agree with others, buy the xspensive stuff.