Blackstone Oil Analysis

[V8 Yankee]

Well just received my Blackstone oil analysis for my latest oil change. I posted my previous Blackstone report back in January for an Amsoil Signature Series test. This latest test is for Penzoil Ultra Platinum. The result clearly shows that Penzoil is the winner for half the price. Individual results will vary but in my case keeping on top of maintenance seems to have paid off. The good thing is I can confidently go 10K or more between oil changes. Just to note I also used 20K top shelf oil filters which helps as well. Read the results and make your own conclusion on oil change intervals. Another note is my engine is the 1.5, results for the 2.0 will obviously be different as there is one more cylinder to lubricate thus 25% wear and tear on the oil. Even with that I believe, at least in my opinion that a 2.0 could also go 10K between oil changes using Amsoil or Penzoil. That is how far oil and engine technology has improved.

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[golfmk6]

I have a 06 Prius with 347k miles. It’s been passed around the family. I also do extended oil change using synthetics and black stone analysis. 16k interval oil change. Love the objective data driven decision making.

it would be really interesting to see do oil analysis on a badlands that regularly sees off road duty including desert runs.

 

[Mark S.]

Thanks for sharing. It appears we can confidently follow Ford's recommendations when it comes to oil changes.

 

[Jake25]

2.0 has one more cylinder to lubricate thus 25% wear & tear on the oil.

Pure logic

 

[Dannyp56]

I don't trust Pennzoil because of changing intake manifold gaskets on 2 Dodge V 8's i found about an inch of sludge under the valley pan. Also, on my Firebird I had the engine rebuilt and the lifters would not pump up. This was before synthetic oils.

 

[NMhunter]

I've been told that sludge and gum are the result of short runs without the engine coming up to operating temperature.

I've been running full synthetic oil for 35 years. I change the oil once a year whether it needs it or not. But, with a vehicle under warranty, I follow the recommended oil changes.

I've used Blackstone for my Superduty, I may have to try it for my Bronco.

 

[Dannyp56]

I believe Pennzoil and Quaker state are Paraffin based oils, or they used to be.

 

[stemplar]

I've been told that sludge and gum are the result of short runs without the engine coming up to operating temperature.

I've been running full synthetic oil for 35 years. I change the oil once a year whether it needs it or not. But, with a vehicle under warranty, I follow the recommended oil changes.

I've used Blackstone for my Superduty, I may have to try it for my Bronco.

Short runs may contribute to sludge and varnish, but they're not the only reason:

 

[V8 Yankee]

I believe Pennzoil and Quaker state are Paraffin based oils, or they used to be.

Yes, some of their products are but not all. The Penzoil Ultra Platinum is refined from natural gas, re:
Pennzoil uses its "PurePlus Technology" which is a gas-to-liquid process to convert natural gas into a high-quality, full-synthetic base oil. This process results in a base oil with fewer impurities compared to oils derived from crude oil, according to Pennzoil.

I'm not sure about Quaker State. Based on my Blackstone report I'll stick with Penzoil as it is at par with Amsoil according to the Amsoil report. And at half the price it makes sense to use Penzoil. I will more or less follow Fords recommendation for 10K intervals but it is nice to know I can safely go up to 12K, at least for my 1.5. The 2.0 would be different plus any other varibles play a big part in change intervals no matter what engine you have.

 

[Mark S.]

Based on my Blackstone report I'll stick with Penzoil as it is at par with Amsoil according to the Amsoil report.

If you trust Blackstone then you might be surprised to know despite years of oil analysis they have found no significant difference between brands when it comes to an oil's primary job of lubrication.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/which-oil-is-best/

You can go into any mass retailer (Wal-Mart, Meijer, AutoZone, etc.) and buy a 5W/30 (or any other grade) that will perform well in your engine. One of the best-kept secrets of the oil industry is that these store brands are actually the same, quality oils that are produced by the major oil companies. The only difference between these products and the major company brands is the name on the container and the price.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/faqs/

What’s the best oil to use?
Ah, the million dollar question. We are an independent lab, so we don’t make recommendations. It has been our experience that oil is oil, and either petroleum or synthetic-based oil will work well for just about any engine.

Come on, you’re holding out on me. I should use synthetic, right?
Buddy, you should use whatever you want. Synthetic oil won’t guarantee a longer engine life any more than eating organic food will guarantee you live till you’re 90. We here at Blackstone generally use regular petroleum-based oil because honestly, it works just fine.

Synthetic oils offer better protection against high heat and LSPI, but just about any oil that meets Ford's requirements--including Motorcraft semi-synthetic--will retain satisfactory lubricity throughout Ford's specified service life.

 

[V8 Yankee]

There is some merit to what Blackstone is saying, however the rate that the additives breakdown varies widely. New oil, no matter what brand will provide sufficient lubrication at first. Over time the additives breakdown, evaporate or just cease to exist. Its that component of oil that matters, especially at 10K intervals. At 3K intervals any oil will do, well maybe not olive oil but any automotive oil will be just fine. For high compression, turbo charged engines the quality of the oil matters. I would love to test a cheaper bottom shelf oil but the thing is I don't have an old car sitting around that I can use as a Guinea Pig. I'll stick with what I know, backed up by the test I had done for now. If anyone can find a Blackstone test on cheap oil I'd love to see it. A side by side comparison of high end versus low end oils would be very interesting to see.

 

[Dude]

A side by side comparison of high end versus low end oils …

Type this into ChatGPT or your favorite comparable AI Tool

Are there side by side comparison tests of high end versus low end automotive oils

The response without the provided sources is provided below. I didn’t paste the links to the sources (too much effort) but running the ChatGPT yourself will provide links to sources. @V8 Yankee - you would need to look at the sources provided in your own ChatGPT session to see the reports you asked about in your prior post

Yes, there are several side-by-side comparison tests that evaluate high-end versus low-end automotive oils. These tests assess various performance aspects, including viscosity, thermal stability, cold-start performance, wear protection, and additive content.

Project Farm’s Motor Oil Comparison
The Project Farm YouTube channel conducted a comprehensive test comparing six motor oils ranging from $14 to $58 per jug. The oils tested included Mobil Delvac, Rotella T6, Royal Purple, Schaeffer’s, Hot Shot’s, and Amsoil. The evaluation covered:

• Heat Resistance: Amsoil exhibited the least evaporation loss, indicating superior thermal stability, while Mobil Delvac showed the most evaporation.
• Cold-Start Performance: Hot Shot’s Blue Diamond flowed significantly faster at low temperatures compared to others, suggesting better cold-start capabilities.
• Wear Protection: Amsoil resulted in the least component wear, whereas Mobil Delvac showed the most wear in simulated friction tests.
• Additive Content: Higher-priced oils like Amsoil and Schaeffer’s contained more anti-wear agents and detergents, potentially contributing to better engine protection over time.

Super Tech vs. Chevron Havoline Test
EngineLabs conducted a test comparing Walmart’s budget-friendly Super Tech synthetic oil to Chevron Havoline conventional oil using a 450-horsepower small-block Chevy engine. Key findings included:

• Wear Metals: Super Tech showed lower wear metal content (8 ppm) compared to Havoline (11 ppm), indicating better wear protection.
• Oxidation Stability: Super Tech maintained higher oxidation stability over time, suggesting longer-lasting performance under high-heat conditions.
• Power Output: The engine produced slightly more power with Super Tech, highlighting its efficiency.

AMSOIL vs. Royal Purple vs. Mobil 1
An independent test evaluated AMSOIL Signature Series, Royal Purple, and Mobil 1 Extended Performance using the TEOST 33C test, which simulates turbocharged engine conditions. Results showed:

• Deposit Formation: AMSOIL generated only 7.0 mg of deposits, significantly less than Royal Purple (25.4 mg) and Mobil 1 (28.2 mg), indicating superior deposit control.

Summary
While all tested oils met basic industry standards, higher-end synthetic oils generally offered better performance in terms of thermal stability, wear protection, and additive content. However, some budget-friendly synthetic oils, like Walmart’s Super Tech, performed comparably or even better than certain conventional oils, providing a cost-effective option without significantly compromising quality.

If you have specific requirements or preferences for your vehicle, feel free to provide more details, and I can offer tailored recommendations.

 

[Dude]

@V8 Yankee Next I asked ChatGPT this:

What about over an oil change interval say at 6 months and 10,000 miles in hot dusty climates like phoenix summers, would the ‘budget-friendly synthetic oils, like Walmart’s Super Tech, perform comparably or even better than certain conventional oils, providing a cost-effective option without significantly compromising quality’ over that type of usage?

Great question — and a very practical one for real-world conditions like Phoenix summers, where extreme heat and dust can stress engine oils significantly.

In a Nutshell:
Budget-friendly synthetic oils like Super Tech can perform adequately over a standard oil change interval (up to 10,000 miles or 6 months) — even in tough conditions — but only if they are full synthetic and carry the latest API/SP and ILSAC GF-6 ratings. However, they may not perform as well as premium synthetics (like Amsoil, Mobil 1 EP, or Pennzoil Ultra Platinum) when it comes to long-term oxidation stability, sludge control, and high-temperature deposit resistance in harsh environments.

What Happens to Oil in Phoenix-like Conditions:

In a hot, dusty climate like Phoenix in summer, oil is subjected to:

• Higher thermal loads, which increase the risk of oxidation and viscosity breakdown.
• More airborne contaminants, which can pass through filters or enter during off-roading.
• More frequent short trips with AC use, potentially creating moisture and sludge.

Budget Synthetic Oils (like Super Tech Full Synthetic):

• Pros:
  • Meet API/SP and ILSAC GF-6 standards.
  • Generally provide good performance up to 7,500–10,000 miles under moderate use.
  • Frequently tested in Project Farm-type tests with solid wear protection.
  • Often made by major suppliers like Warren Distribution or Citgo.
• Cons:
  • May lack premium additive packages (antioxidants, detergents, esters).
  • Less resistance to volatility and high-temperature degradation.
  • Limited extended-drain testing and certification (unlike Mobil 1 EP or Amsoil).

Premium Synthetics

• Often have Group IV/V base oils and higher-quality additive packages.
• Specifically engineered for extended drain intervals (up to 15,000+ miles).
• Demonstrate better oxidation resistance and deposit control in Sequence IIIH and TEOST tests.
• More consistent shear stability and volatility performance at high temps.

Realistic Recommendation for Phoenix Summers:

Oil Type	Interval	Comments
Super Tech Synthetic	6,000-7,500 miles / 6 months	Acceptable if driving is mostly highway and filters are good. May degrade faster in stop-and-go or extreme heat.
Mobil 1 EP / Pennzoil Ultra	10,000-15,000 miles / 6-12 months	Better suited to harsh heat, long intervals, or stop-and-go traffic.
Amsoil Signature Series	15,000+ miles / 1 year	Best for maximum protection, especially in severe service conditions. Expensive, but cost-effective per mile.

Bottom Line:
For Phoenix-style heat and dust:

• If you change oil more frequently (every 6,000–7,500 miles), a budget synthetic like Super Tech is likely sufficient, especially with a high-quality filter.
• If you want to go 10,000 miles or more, especially in stop-and-go driving, high load, or turbocharged engines, a premium synthetic is worth the added cost for peace of mind and engine longevity.

If you’d like, I can help suggest specific oils and filters based on your car’s make/model and driving patterns.

 

[Dude]

Caveat: AI tools like ChatGPT etc do make errors and use of responses from these tools would need to be cross checked for accuracy if the provided info is of material interest to the user

 

[Mark S.]

Can you share the source that ChatGPT is using for its recommendations?

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