1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
I live in LA (the state), and our climate could only be classed as moderate, except in summer when it is anything but so. I use RP 15w40 year around here with no problems. Years ago I used 15w50 Mobil 1 in summer, 10w30 in winter, but grew intolerant of the need to change with the season.
Arguably, the best oils readily available would be Mobil 1 and Royal Purple. Amsoil is a very good oil but likely will be difficult to find, with Mobil 1 available almost anywhere. RP can usually be obtained from NAPA stores nationwide, or for excellent prices from http://www.oiltown.com via mail order (case and pail only). I buy from a local distributor in quantity and enjoy very favorable pricing and service. Other motor oils to consider would be Torco, Redline, both probably hard to find, and perhaps Castrol Syntec (full-synthetic). In tests that I've seen, Castrol is nearly as good as Mobil 1, but RP beats both in independent tests of oxidation resistence and film strength. There is an interesting article in a recent issue of Car & Driver (November, Patrick Bedard, p. 23) on Exxon-Mobil's fuss with Castrol over exactly what constitutes a full-synthetic oil. Castrol derives their base oil from fossil stock, yet promotes it as a full synthetic--while an independent authority has ruled that they are not errant by doing so. It is interesting reading.
I've tested my RP samples at 5k and 10k intervals and have settled on a 10k change ritual. Wear (indicated by metal contaminants) has been very low, with TBN (total base number), viscosity, and oxidation held to very good levels. I'm very satisfied with the results I'm seeing.
Mobil 1 doesn't market an oil in the 10w or 15w40 range in this country, at least not in the U.S. that I'm aware of, but their 15w50 may be an excellent choice year around if your winters aren't severe. RP has an oil in every viscosity range and for every application known to mankind. It is a niche oil whose racing variations are very popular with racers, yet remain known to the general public. They do little or no advertising and rely on reputation and word-of-mouth as their promotional strategy.
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