Best Motor Oil
Best Synthetic Oil for Cars
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BEST MOTOR OIL - Best Motor Oil for Cars
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Best Motor Oil for Cars - Synthetic Oil Test Results
For your convenient reference, here is a complete ranking list of the 61 oils that I’ve “Wear Tested” so far:
*** The higher the psi result, the higher the “Load carrying capacity/Film strength”, and the better the oil is at preventing wear.
*** All oils were tested at 230* F (representative of actual running temperature).
*** Multiple tests were performed on each oil, and those results were averaged to arrive at each oil's final value shown below.
*** Test Result differences between oils of less than 10%, are not significant, and oils within that range can be considered approximately equivalent.
*** All oil bottles were thoroughly shaken before the samples were taken. This ensured that all the additive package components were distributed uniformly throughout all the oil in the bottle, and not settled to the bottom.
*** All oils are full synthetic unless otherwise specified.
*** All oils are suitable for street use unless otherwise specified.
*** Lower ranked oils are not necessarily bad at all. They simply don’t offer as much reserve wear protection (margin of safety) as higher ranked oils.
Oil categories for gasoline engines:
*** Over 90,000 psi = OUTSTANDING protection
*** 75,000 to 90,000 psi = GOOD protection
*** 60,000 to 75,000 psi = MODEST protection
*** Below 60,000 psi = UNACCEPTABLE protection
*** The higher the psi result, the higher the “Load carrying capacity/Film strength”, and the better the oil is at preventing wear.
*** All oils were tested at 230* F (representative of actual running temperature).
*** Multiple tests were performed on each oil, and those results were averaged to arrive at each oil's final value shown below.
*** Test Result differences between oils of less than 10%, are not significant, and oils within that range can be considered approximately equivalent.
*** All oil bottles were thoroughly shaken before the samples were taken. This ensured that all the additive package components were distributed uniformly throughout all the oil in the bottle, and not settled to the bottom.
*** All oils are full synthetic unless otherwise specified.
*** All oils are suitable for street use unless otherwise specified.
*** Lower ranked oils are not necessarily bad at all. They simply don’t offer as much reserve wear protection (margin of safety) as higher ranked oils.
Oil categories for gasoline engines:
*** Over 90,000 psi = OUTSTANDING protection
*** 75,000 to 90,000 psi = GOOD protection
*** 60,000 to 75,000 psi = MODEST protection
*** Below 60,000 psi = UNACCEPTABLE protection
********** OUTSTANDING PROTECTION Over 90,000 psi ************
1. 5W30 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, API SM = 115,612 psi
I have not been able to find this oil with the latest API SN certification. The bottle says, “No leading synthetic oil provides better wear protection”. For once, a product’s hype turns out to be true.
zinc = 806 ppm
phos = 812 ppm
moly = 66 ppm
I have not been able to find this oil with the latest API SN certification. The bottle says, “No leading synthetic oil provides better wear protection”. For once, a product’s hype turns out to be true.
zinc = 806 ppm
phos = 812 ppm
moly = 66 ppm
2. 10W30 Lucas Racing Only = 106,505 psi
zinc = 2642 ppm
phos = 3489 ppm
moly = 1764 ppm
NOTE: This oil is suitable for short term racing use only, and is not suitable for street use.
zinc = 2642 ppm
phos = 3489 ppm
moly = 1764 ppm
NOTE: This oil is suitable for short term racing use only, and is not suitable for street use.
3. 5W30 Mobil 1, API SN = 105,875 psi
zinc = 801 ppm
phos = 842 ppm
moly = 112 ppm
zinc = 801 ppm
phos = 842 ppm
moly = 112 ppm
4. 0W30 Amsoil Signature Series 25,000 miles, API SN = 105,008 psi
zinc = 824 ppm
phos = 960 ppm
moly = 161 ppm
zinc = 824 ppm
phos = 960 ppm
moly = 161 ppm
******* 10% below number 1 = 104,051 psi ********
6. 5W50 Motorcraft, API SN = 103,517 psi
zinc = 606 ppm
phos = 742 ppm
moly = 28 ppm
zinc = 606 ppm
phos = 742 ppm
moly = 28 ppm
7. 10W30 Valvoline VR1 Conventional Racing Oil (silver bottle) = 103,505 psi
zinc = 1472 ppm
phos = 1544 ppm
moly = 3 ppm
zinc = 1472 ppm
phos = 1544 ppm
moly = 3 ppm
8. 10W30 Valvoline VR1 Synthetic Racing Oil, API SL (black bottle) = 101,139 psi
zinc = 1180 ppm
phos = 1112 ppm
moly = 162 ppm
zinc = 1180 ppm
phos = 1112 ppm
moly = 162 ppm
9. 5W30 Chevron Supreme conventional, API SN = 100,011 psi
This one only costs $4.29 per quart at the Auto Parts Store where I bought it.
zinc = 1018 ppm
phos = 728 ppm
moly = 161 ppm
This one only costs $4.29 per quart at the Auto Parts Store where I bought it.
zinc = 1018 ppm
phos = 728 ppm
moly = 161 ppm
10. 5W20 Castrol Edge with Titanium, API SN = 99,983 psi
zinc = 1042 ppm
phos = 857 ppm
moly = 100 ppm
titanium = 49 ppm
zinc = 1042 ppm
phos = 857 ppm
moly = 100 ppm
titanium = 49 ppm
11. 20W50 Castrol GTX conventional, API SN = 96,514 psi
zinc = 610 ppm
phos = 754 ppm
moly = 94 ppm
zinc = 610 ppm
phos = 754 ppm
moly = 94 ppm
12. 30 wt Red Line Race Oil = 96,470 psi
zinc = 2207 ppm
phos = 2052 ppm
moly = 1235 ppm
NOTE: This oil is suitable for short term racing use only, and is not suitable for street use.
zinc = 2207 ppm
phos = 2052 ppm
moly = 1235 ppm
NOTE: This oil is suitable for short term racing use only, and is not suitable for street use.
13. 0W20 Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy, API SN = 96,364 psi
zinc = 742 ppm
phos = 677 ppm
moly = 81 ppm
zinc = 742 ppm
phos = 677 ppm
moly = 81 ppm
14. 5W30 Quaker State Ultimate Durability, API SN = 95,920 psi
zinc = 877 ppm
phos = 921 ppm
moly = 72 ppm
zinc = 877 ppm
phos = 921 ppm
moly = 72 ppm
15. 5W30 Castrol Edge with Titanium, API SN = 95,717 psi
zinc = 818 ppm
phos = 883 ppm
moly = 90 ppm
titanium = 44 ppm
zinc = 818 ppm
phos = 883 ppm
moly = 90 ppm
titanium = 44 ppm
16. 10W30 Joe Gibbs XP3 NASCAR Racing Oil = 95,543 psi
zinc = 743 ppm
phos = 802 ppm
moly = 1125 ppm
NOTE: This oil is suitable for short term racing use only, and is not suitable for street use.
zinc = 743 ppm
phos = 802 ppm
moly = 1125 ppm
NOTE: This oil is suitable for short term racing use only, and is not suitable for street use.
17. 5W20 Castrol GTX conventional, API SN = 95,543 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
NOTE: Oil numbers 16 and 17 were tested weeks apart, but due to the similarities in their wear scar sizes, their averages ended up the same.
18. 5W30 Castrol GTX conventional, API SN = 95,392 psi (Same Bottle)
zinc = 830 ppm phos = 791 ppm moly = 1 ppm
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
NOTE: Oil numbers 16 and 17 were tested weeks apart, but due to the similarities in their wear scar sizes, their averages ended up the same.
18. 5W30 Castrol GTX conventional, API SN = 95,392 psi (Same Bottle)
zinc = 830 ppm phos = 791 ppm moly = 1 ppm
19. 10W30 Amsoil Z-Rod Oil = 95,360 psi
zinc = 1431 ppm
phos = 1441 ppm
moly = 52 ppm
zinc = 1431 ppm
phos = 1441 ppm
moly = 52 ppm
20. 5W30 Valvoline SynPower, API SN = 94,942 psi
zinc = 969 ppm
phos = 761 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
zinc = 969 ppm
phos = 761 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
21. 5W30 Valvoline Premium Conventional, API SN = 94,744 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
22. 5W20 Mobil 1, API SN = 94,663 psi
zinc = 764 ppm
phos = 698 ppm
moly = 76 ppm
zinc = 764 ppm
phos = 698 ppm
moly = 76 ppm
23. 5W20 Valvoline SynPower, API SN = 94,460 psi
zinc = 1045 ppm
phos = 742 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
zinc = 1045 ppm
phos = 742 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
******** 20% below number 1 = 92,490 psi ********
24. 5W30 Lucas conventional, API SN = 92,073 psi
zinc = 992 ppm
phos = 760 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
zinc = 992 ppm
phos = 760 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
25. 5W30 O'Reilly (house brand) conventional, API SN = 91,433 psi
This one only costs $3.99 per quart at the Auto Parts Store where I bought it.
zinc = 863 ppm
phos = 816 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
This one only costs $3.99 per quart at the Auto Parts Store where I bought it.
zinc = 863 ppm
phos = 816 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
26. 5W30 Red Line, API SN = 91,028 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
27. 5W20 Royal Purple API SN = 90,434 psi
zinc = 964 ppm
phos = 892 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
zinc = 964 ppm
phos = 892 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
28. 10W30 Quaker State Defy, API SL (semi-synthetic) = 90,226 psi
zinc = 1221 ppm
phos = 955 ppm
moly = 99 ppm
zinc = 1221 ppm
phos = 955 ppm
moly = 99 ppm
29. 5W20 Valvoline Premium Conventional, API SN = 90,144 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
************ GOOD PROTECTION 75,000 to 90,000 psi **********
30. 30 wt Castrol Heavy Duty conventional, API SM = 88,089 psi
zinc = 907 ppm
phos = 829 ppm
moly = 56 ppm
zinc = 907 ppm
phos = 829 ppm
moly = 56 ppm
31. 5W20 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum , API SM = 86,034 psi
I have not been able to find this oil with the latest API SN certification.
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
I have not been able to find this oil with the latest API SN certification.
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
32. 5W30 Royal Purple API SN = 84,009 psi
zinc = 942 ppm
phos = 817 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
zinc = 942 ppm
phos = 817 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
33. 20W50 Royal Purple API SN = 83,487 psi
zinc = 588 ppm
phos = 697 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
zinc = 588 ppm
phos = 697 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
34. 20W50 Kendall GT-1 High Performance with liquid titanium, (conventional) API SN = 83,365 psi
zinc = 991 ppm
phos = 1253 ppm
moly = 57 ppm
titanium = 84 ppm
zinc = 991 ppm
phos = 1253 ppm
moly = 57 ppm
titanium = 84 ppm
35. 5W30 Mobil 1 Extended Performance 15,000 mile, API SN = 83,263 psi
zinc = 890 ppm
phos = 819 ppm
moly = 104 ppm
36. 0W20 Castrol Edge with Titanium, API SN = 82,867 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
******** 30% below number 1 = 80,928 psi ********
37. 5W30 GM's AC Delco dexos 2 API SN = 76,501 psi
zinc = 878 ppm
phos = 758 ppm
moly = 72 ppm
**************** MODEST PROTECTION 60,000 to 75,000 psi ************
38. 5W30 Royal Purple XPR (Extreme Performance Racing) = 74,860 psi
zinc = 1421 ppm
phos = 1338 ppm
moly = 204 ppm
NOTE: This particular bottle of oil was just opened, but was out of a 3 ½ year old case.
zinc = 1421 ppm
phos = 1338 ppm
moly = 204 ppm
NOTE: This particular bottle of oil was just opened, but was out of a 3 ½ year old case.
39. Brad Penn, Penn Grade 1 Nitro 70 Racing Oil (semi-synthetic) = 72,003 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
40. 0W30 Brad Penn, Penn Grade 1 (semi-synthetic) = 71,377 psi
zinc = 1621 ppm
phos = 1437 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
41.10W30 Brad Penn, Penn Grade 1 (semi-synthetic) = 71,206 psi
zinc = 1557 ppm
phos = 1651 ppm
moly = 3 ppm
zinc = 1621 ppm
phos = 1437 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
41.10W30 Brad Penn, Penn Grade 1 (semi-synthetic) = 71,206 psi
zinc = 1557 ppm
phos = 1651 ppm
moly = 3 ppm
42. 15W50 Mobil 1, API SN = 70,235 psi
zinc = 1,133 ppm
phos = 1,168 ppm
moly = 83 ppm
zinc = 1,133 ppm
phos = 1,168 ppm
moly = 83 ppm
******** 40% below number 1 = 69,367 psi ********
43. 5W30 Motorcraft, API SN = 68,782 psi
zinc = 796 ppm
phos = 830 ppm
moly = 75 ppm
zinc = 796 ppm
phos = 830 ppm
moly = 75 ppm
44. 10W30 Royal Purple HPS (High Performance Street) = 66,211 psi
zinc = 1774 ppm
phos = 1347 ppm
moly = 189 ppm
zinc = 1774 ppm
phos = 1347 ppm
moly = 189 ppm
45. 10W40 Valvoline 4 Stroke Motorcycle Oil conventional, API SJ = 65,553 psi
zinc = 1154 ppm
phos = 1075 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
zinc = 1154 ppm
phos = 1075 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
Royal Purple 10W30 Break-In Oil conventional = 62,931 psi
zinc = 1170 ppm
phos = 1039 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
zinc = 1170 ppm
phos = 1039 ppm
moly = 0 ppm
********** UNDESIRABLE PROTECTION Below 60,000 psi ***********
Torco 10W40 TR-1 Racing Oil with MPZ conventional = 59,905 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
