Topic: GM approved motor oils as of June 2009

[Sly Bob]

Many of us, including myself, have our favourite motor oils. I have put Amsoil in my car in the past and some have used Royal Purple or other specialty products. GM however has a list of motor oils that they have tested and that if you do not use you run the risk of finding yourself without a warranty although I suspect the chances of that are slim. Please be aware that it important to use ONLY 5W30 in all Kappas.

The list of Synthetics for the 2.0 (GM4718M) was updated on June 1, 2009 and the list for the 2.4 (GM6094M) was updated on the 19th of that same month.

http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/environment/maintenance/gm_approved_engine_oils.pdf

GM Approved Engine Oils

High Performance Engine Oil Specifications
GM4718M Registered Products
Revision Date: 1-June-2009

Product Name SAE Viscosity Grades

76 Super Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30, 10W-30
AC Delco Full Synthetic 5W-30
Castrol Edge 5W-30, 10W-30
Castrol SLX Professional 4718 5W-30
Chevron Supreme Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30
Coastal High Performance Full Synthetic 5W-30
Kendall GT-1 Ultimate Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30, 10W-30
Mobil 1  0W-20, 0W-30, 5W-30, 10W-30
Northland, Synergy Synthetic 5W-30
Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30
Pinnacle National Synthetic 5W-30
Q HorsePower 5W-30, 10W-30
Service Pro Full Synthetic 5W-30
Texaco Havoline Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30
Valvoline SynPower 5W-30, 10W-30
Warren Full Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30

Standard Engine Oil Specifications*
GM6094M Registered Products*
Revision Date: 19-Jun-2009

Product Name SAE Viscosity Grades

76 Firebird LD Motor Oil 10W-30
76 High Performance Full Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30
76 High Performance Motor Oil 10W-30
76 Super Synthetic Blend 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
76 Super Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30, 10W-30
AC Delco 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
AC Delco Full Synthetic 5W-30
Advantage 5W-20 Synthetic Blend 5W-20
Advantage 5W-30 Synthetic Blend 5W-30
Agip 4-SYNT 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Agip Super 5W-30, 10W-30
Agip Super PC 5W-20
Altra Premium 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Amalie Imperial Turbo Formula 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Amalie Xcel Super Turbo 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Brad Penn Superior Fuel Efficient 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Cam2 International Super Pro Plus 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Cam2 International Synavex 5W-20, 5W-30
Castrol Edge 5W-30, 10W-30
Castrol GTX 5W-30, 10W-30
Castrol SLX Professional 4718 5W-30
Castrol Syntec 5W-30, 10W-30
Castrol Syntec Blend 5W-30, 10W-30
Certified 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Chevron Supreme 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Chevron Supreme Synthetic 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
CITGO SUPERGARD 5W-20, 5W-30
CITGO SUPERGARD Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30
Coastal 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Coastal High Performance Full Synthetic 5W-30
Conoco Super All Season Synthetic Blend 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Conoco Syncon High Performance Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30
Durablend Synthetic 5W-20, 5W-30
Eastern Premium 5W-30
ECO 5W-30
Esso Extra 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Esso Uniflo 5W-30, 10W-30
Exxon Superflo 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Formula Shell 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Formula Shell Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30
Formula Shell Synthetic Blend 5W-30, 10W-30
GM Goodwrench 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
GM Goodwrench High Mileage 5W-30, 10W-30
GM Goodwrench Synthetic Blend 5W-30, 10W-30
Gulfpride Advanced Fuel Efficient 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
GulfTEC Synthetic Blend 10W-30
Hartland Supreme 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Kendall GT-1 Full Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30
Kendall GT-1 High Performance Synthetic Blend 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Kendall GT-1 Ultimate Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30, 10W-30
Lordco Semi-Synthetic Multigrade Motor Oil 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Lubriguard 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Mobil 1 0W-30, 5W-30, 10W-30
Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-30, 10W-30
Mobil 1 Truck & SUV 5W-30
Mobil Clean 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Mobil Clean 5000 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Mobil Clean 7500 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Mobil Clean High Mileage 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Mobil Super 1000 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Mobil Super 2000 5W-30, 10W-30
Mobil Super HP SM 5W-30
Mobil Super S SM 10W-30
Mobil Super Synt S SM 5W-30
Mohawk Multigrade Motor Oil 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
MotoMaster Formula 1 Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30
Naviguard 5W-30
Northland MW Select 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Northland, Synergy Synthetic 5W-30
Oilzum Special 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Pennwood 5W-20, 5W-30
Pennzoil Motor Oil 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Pennzoil SUV, Truck and Minivan Synthetic Blend 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
PepBoys Proline 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Petro-Canada Arctic Synthetic 0W-30
Petro-Canada Maximum 5W-30, 10W-30
Petro-Canada Supreme 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Petro-Canada Synthetic 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Petro-Canada Synthetic Blend 5W-30
Petro-Canada XR4 5W-30, 10W-30
Petro-Canada XR4 Synthetic 0W-30, 5W-30
PetroChina Kunlun SM/GF-4 5W-30
PetroChina Kunlun Tianrun 9000 5W-30
Phillips 66 TropArtic Full Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30
Phillips 66 TropArtic Synthetic Blend 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Phillips 66 TropArtic Turbo Motor Oil 10W-30
Pinnacle National Premium 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Pinnacle National Synthetic 5W-30
Premium Choice 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Proguard 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Puratech Pure-Syn Motor Oil 5W-30, 10W-30
Puratech Supreme Motor Oil 5W-30, 10W-30
Q HorsePower Full Synthetic 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Quaker State 4x4 & SUV Synthetic Blend 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Quaker State High-RPM Synthetic Blend 5W-30, 10W-30
Quaker State Peak Performance Motor Oil 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Rallye Turbo Approved 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Safety-Kleen America's Choice 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Safety-Kleen EcoPower 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Safety-Kleen Performance Plus ZR 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Sam's 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Saturn 5W-30
Service Pro 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Service Pro Full Synthetic 5W-30
Shanghai Lizhong Jaguar 5W-30
Shanghai Tempo 9000-1 5W-30
Sinopec Great Wall Polar Star 5W-30
Sinopec Great Wall Ultra Gold S4 5W-30
Smitty's Supply Super S Multi-Flo 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Smitty's Supply Super S SuperSyn 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Smitty's Supply Sureguard Advanced Formula 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Supra Tech 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Texaco Havoline 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Texaco Havoline Synthetic 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
TRIDEN Select Blend 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
US Oil 5W-30
Valvoline DuraBlend 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Valvoline Premium Conventional 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Valvoline SynPower 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Walmart Supertech 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Warren 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30
Warren Full Synthetic 5W-30, 10W-30
Wolf's Head 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30

* Hard copy prints of this list should be used for reference only.

[Arabas]

Thx for your post Sly Bob. useful info!

[lil goat]

Very informative post, seems odd to me that none of the oils listed for the GXP are 100% synthetic.

[Kelu]

Motul is not in that list, you guys don't have Motul over there?

[Sly Bob]

Motul is not in that list, you guys don't have Motul over there?

Lots of oils are not on the list but to answer your question no, to the best of my knowledge we do not have Motul oil in North America.

[Critterman]

there used to be a local speed shop here where you could bet that French Coconut oil near me.

[TomatoSoup]

Lots of oils are not on the list but to answer your question no, to the best of my knowledge we do not have Motul oil in North America.

It is available - my local independant shop insist on putting it in my Audi (damn stuff's expensive).

Interestingly, he won't use Mobil1 any more because of problems (he said) the Porsche guys have experienced with it.  Not sure what he's talking about though.

[lil goat]

European Mobil 1 is 100% synthetic you can buy it at any BMW dealership for about $15 a quart, American Mobil 1 can legally be up to 30% Grade IV mineral oil, Group III mineral oil is the best there is but it is not synthetic, that is by definition of the American Petroleum Institute.

Grades of oil.
Motor oils are derived from base stocks. That is, a generic oil base is modified with additives to produce a lubricant with the desired properties. A base stock oil with no additives would not perform very well at all. Base stocks are classified by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and fall into one of five categories.

    * Group I and II - these are mineral oils derived from crude oil
    * Group III - this is a highly refined mineral oil made through a process called hydrocracking. In North America this group is considered a synthetic oil, for marketing purposes.
    * Group IV - these are true synthetic oils, known as Polyalphaolefin (PAO).
    * Group V - these are synthetic stocks other than PAO's and include esters and other compounds.

[elff]

To me it's simple
Mobil 1 is a really good oil
It's not that expensive
it definitely won't void my warranty

Debate over, I will use Mobil 1.

[lil goat]

To me it's simple
Mobil 1 is a really good oil
It's not that expensive
it definitely won't void my warranty

Debate over, I will use Mobil 1.

I know a lot of mechanics that would disagree with that comment, won't ever be in any of my cars, you can use what you want but by no means is the debate over, Mobil 1 is causing a lot of drive line failures in bikes I don't know any shops that still use it. If it's not good enough for my bike it's not good enough for my car. I am not saying it is even Mobil 1's fault the damn catalytic converters made all the companies take a lot of protection out of oils.

[Uranium-238]

Bottom line is, if Mobile 1 makes your engine blow up, you can take it to a GM dealer, prove it was Mobile 1, and hey presto, free engine.

I haven't heard of any issues with it, so in the meantime that's what I'll continue to run.

[tazz]

European Mobil 1 is 100% synthetic you can buy it at any BMW dealership for about $15 a quart, American Mobil 1 can legally be up to 30% Grade IV mineral oil, Grade IV mineral oil is the best there is but it is not synthetic, that is by definition of the American Petroleum Institute

I thought that only applies it the motor oil says "Synthetic" but if the Motor oil says "FULLY Synthetic" that a different story.  
Am I Wrong?  Would actually like to know.
I run RP instead of Mobil1 but would like to know.

[elff]

I know a lot of mechanics that would disagree with that comment, won't ever be in any in and of my cars.

People are free to disagree
To me, the one's that will repair my engine free of charge are the opinions I will listen to.

I have years of experience with Mobil 1 in my engines.  Just broke 80,000 miles on a March 2003 engine, so I only have positive experience.

I do use Amsoil in my Jeep Axles though.  It's because I have both a locker and a Limited Slip. 

[Kelu]

Around here Motul is pretty used when is about tuned/performance engine and very well ranked.
I have talked with experienced Rally engineers (they rebuilt their engines almost after each race), experienced sport bike mechanics and some others great car owners.
Mobil 1 it is saw like pretty cheap and low quality oil especially when is about performance.

[lil goat]

Can someone define what "fully synthetic" means, I can it means nothing it is an advertising term, if it is 100% synthetic why not just say so, why use the term "fully synthetic" and all the companies use it, I am not picking on Mobil 1, it just happens to be the one that I was told not to put in my bike because they were seeing a lot of valve train wear issue's. I will not make your engine blow up, for Pete's sake get a freakin clue. What is happening and this is with almost all oils is there is excessive valve train wear due to what the EPA made the oil companies remove, because the "fumes" being burned in the emissions system mess up the catalytic converter. This is an issue with ALL motor oils, there are a few that are not on the approved list that still have the old additives, and you can buy them separately as well and add them. I just take exception with the whole "fully synthetic" thing, to me it is dishonest and obviously misleading to everyone. I doubt most of us would ever see any issue's from using Mobil 1 in our cars, I just won't support them anymore. I used Mobil 1 in everything I owned for 20 years until they and all the others started this fully synthetic crap. Now I use RP or Am soil or Red Line, RP is just the easiest for me to find. I asked my dealer who would fix my car if there was a problem and he said the RP was fine, I will say whatever oil you use KEEP THE RECEIPTS! If you can not prove your oil change intervals it does not matter what oil you use. That was very recently used on someone on this forum just because she didn't have her oil changed at the dealer, she had to produce receipts to prove she had had it changed or they would not honor the warranty.

By the way they list viscosity's other than 5-30 on that list, don't do it that will void your warranty too, even with and approved oil that is a general GM list not a Kappa list.

[tazz]

For oil wheather Syn or Conv what really determines wheather the oil is API Approved or not Approved has alot to do with the Phosphorus content and is the MAJOR difference between Racing oils and non racing oils.  This is what Goat I think is referring about the EPA making the oil companies take much of it out since over time Phosphorus can and will kill and the Cat.  Phosphorus is a anti wear agent and is why Most Amsoil engine oil except for one line is API approved.  I found out one reason RP does so well and has a high film stregthy it's due to Moly which is Incorporated into the oil not as a solid though which would be a bad thing. 
RP is easy to find at my local NAPA or Oreily's but it's about $9 a qt.  I usually stock up if I find a good deal either online or the auto parts stores.  A few months back a a guy was selling 6qts of RP for  $29 plus shipping $10 and Oriely's was selling 6qts and K&N oil filter for $40+tx so I have a case of RP sitting in my garage right now plus an oil filter.  I personally do an oil and filter change every 10K with RP and really could care less if GM would try to void any warranty it just doest bother me.  My other vehicle I modded from day one and it is a 40K+ SVT vehcile and I didn't care then either but I know there could be an uphill battle if something does go wrong but I'm fine with that but that's me.

[tazz]

As for why Mobil1 states Fully Synthetic instead of 100% Synthetic not really sure but it's 100% Synthetic oil and not a blend like we would normally think of. 
There my be one answer that the base stock oil that is used "Make" the Synthetic OIL Is not a Synthetic base oil.  I do remember reading that there are only 3 lubrication companies that use a Synthetic base stock oil to engineer there Synthetic oil but for all practical purposes the end result is the same a Synthetic oil and not a blend.  I want to say AMSOIL, REDLINE, MOTUL? and or ROYAL PURPLE use 100% Sythetic from start to finish on there products but can not remember exactly all I remeber is that there were only 3 but that was 10yrs ago.

[Sly Bob]

By the way they list viscosity's other than 5-30 on that list, don't do it that will void your warranty too, even with and approved oil that is a general GM list not a Kappa list.

Good point Goat. I have edited the original post to remind people of that.  

[lil goat]

Somewhere on this forum a while back I posted the API spec that stes an oil can be called a synthetic if it is no more than 30% Group III mineral oil, that is technically a blend but by API  spec does not have to be called a blend until the percentage of mineral oil is over 30% or if the non synthetic part is not Group III. This is not the case in Europe, to be called synthetic it must be 100% synthetic (It must be Group IV). It is not bad oil but it is not 100% synthetic, as Tazz stated it also does not have a lot of the additives. I sent an email to Royal Purple about the GM spec this morning and here is there reply, they meet or exceed all the GM Specs but have not applied for the certification yet, he explains it better than I can. I found the API standard:
Grades of oil.
Motor oils are derived from base stocks. That is, a generic oil base is modified with additives to produce a lubricant with the desired properties. A base stock oil with no additives would not perform very well at all. Base stocks are classified by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and fall into one of five categories.

    * Group I and II - these are mineral oils derived from crude oil
    * Group III - this is a highly refined mineral oil made through a process called hydrocracking. In North America this group is considered a synthetic oil, for marketing purposes.
    * Group IV - these are true synthetic oils, known as Polyalphaolefin (PAO).
    * Group V - these are synthetic stocks other than PAO's and include esters and other compounds.


Good Afternoon Mr. Goat,

To achieve current certification for the GM specs (GM 4178M & GM 6094M), the oil must be API SM rated.  Most of our current gasoline engine oils are not certified as API SM due to additive restrictions that Royal Purple has chosen not to pursue at this time.  Most of Royal Purple’s engine oils are API SL rated, with the exception of the 0W-40 and 5W-40 which are API SM rated and the 20W-50 which is API SJ rated.  With respect to performance, our oils exceed the GM6094M (cold pumpability) and GM4178M (high temperature oxidation resistance).

The GM 6094M specification is a low temperature cold cranking viscosity.  The specified pumping viscosities are shown below.  I have attached the Royal Purple motor oil data sheet for comparison:

For 0W-XX oils - 30,000 cP@ -40°C
For 5W-XX oils - 40,000 cP@ -35°C
For 10W-XX oils -50,000 cP@ -30°C.


The GM 4178M spec is largely an oxidation testing sequence GM began using back in '97 with the introduction of the C5. The new design created some inherent issues with oil cooling (I'm not positive if it was they didn't have room for a cooler or they couldn't get enough air across the cooler), so GM needed an oil which could handle higher temperatures for extended periods without a significant increase in the oxidation rate. In 360F Thin Film Oxidation Uptake (TFOUT ASTM D4742) testing, Royal Purple SAE engine oils exceed 1200 minutes before failure. Most synthetics, including GM4718M licensed Mobil 1, will typically reach failure in less than 500 minutes.

In summary, Royal Purple motor oil cannot claim compliance with the above GM oil specs because we have not yet sought the API SM rating.  Therefore, the oil technically doesn’t not comply with warranty, but exceeds the performance requirements set forth by GM.

Let me know if you need any more information and I will see what I can do.

Thanks for choosing Royal Purple and have a great day.


Best Regards,

Christopher Barker
Tech Services
Royal Purple, Inc.
1 Royal Purple Ln.
Porter, TX 77365
281-354-8600

[lil goat]

He included this with his reply. I don't even know what some of this stuff means but it is cool he replied so quickly.

Performance Advantages of Royal Purple
• Greater Wear Protection
Royal Purple’s advanced additive technologies form a tough,
tenacious film on all metal surfaces virtually eliminating
engine wear.
• Greatly Extends Oil Drain Intervals
Royal Purple Motor Oil is extremely oxidation stable and
stands up to the heat that causes oils to thicken, form lacquer
and varnish deposits, lose its lubricity and shorten the life of
both the oil and the engine.
• Superior Corrosion Protection
Royal Purple’s advanced additive technologies protects during
normal and severe operation and acts as a preservative oil during
shut-down, which provides protection upon initial startup.
• Saves Fuel
Royal Purple Motor Oil’s low coefficient of friction routinely
produces meaningful improvements in fuel economy.
• Reduces Exhaust Emissions
Royal Purple Motor Oil provides a superior seal between the
piston ring and cylinder wall, which reduces blow-by,
improves combustion efficiency and measurably reduces
harmful emissions.
• Increases Horsepower
Royal Purple Motor Oil increases horsepower and torque over
conventional oils.
• Keeps Engines Clean
Royal Purple Motor Oil’s natural solvency cleans deposits left
by old oils and keeps engines clean.
• Mates Engine Parts
Royal Purple’s advanced additive technologies allow engine
parts to perfectly mate. Mated parts allow engines to run
smoother with increased efficiency for maximum performance.
• API Warranty Approved
Royal Purple’s SAE grade motor oils are API licensed. They
are compatible with other mineral and synthetic motor oils.
Switching is easy. Drain old oil. Change the filter. Add Royal
Purple Motor Oil. Follow manufacturer’s recommended drain
intervals during warranty.
• Will Not Harm Seals
Royal Purple Motor Oil has the same excellent seal compatibility
as mineral engine oils.
• Environmentally Responsible
Royal Purple Motor Oil components are TSCA listed and meet
EPA, RCRA and OSHA requirements. Royal Purple Motor Oil
extends oil drain intervals, eliminates premature oil changes,
decreases the amount of oil purchased and disposed of and
conserves energy.
Royal Purple, Inc. • One Royal Purple Lane • Porter, Texas 77365
Phone: 281-354-8600 • Fax: 281-354-7600 • www.royalpurple.com
PS0101 04/08
Royal Purple gains its performance advantages from
its proprietary additive technologies such as Synerlec®
Synthetic oils enable Royal Purple to make superior
lubricants, but it is Royal Purple’s advanced synthetic additive
technologies that gives Royal Purple’s lubricants their
amazing performance advantages. Royal Purple’s proprietary
additive technologies such as Synerlec® truly are
beyond synthetic.™
Royal Purple’s advanced synthetic additive technologies
such as Synerlec® form a tough, slippery, synthetic film on
all metal surfaces. This proprietary film significantly
improves lubrication: first, by increasing oil film thickness
and second, by increasing oil film toughness, both of which
help to prevent metal-to-metal contact. It displaces moisture
from metal surfaces and protects all metals against rust and
corrosion. It also fortifies the oil against the detrimental
effects of heat, which causes oil to oxidize.
Beyond Synthetic™
Royal Purple Motor Oil is recommended for use in all
four-cycle gasoline engines and both two-cycle and fourcycle
diesel applications including automotive, commercial
fleet and stationary industrial diesel engines.
Royal Purple Motor Oil is a tough, long life, high performance
oil that delivers superior protection and enhanced performance to
gasoline and diesel engines. It gains its performance advantages
from a blend of synthetic base oils plus Royal Purple’s advanced
synthetic additive technologies.
Royal Purple's proprietary additive technologies greatly
reduce engine wear, including ring, cylinder and bearing wear. It
is extremely tenacious, adheres to engine surfaces and remains
after shutdown, which provides protection upon initial startup.
Beyond Synthetic™
ROYAL PURPLE® MOTOR OIL
High Performance Engine Oil
40 DD 10W30D 15W40**
CF-2 CH-4/SJ CH-4/SJ
CI-4/SL CI-4/SL
D-445 Viscosity
cSt @ 40˚C 138.9 67.3 110.1
cSt @ 100˚C 15.0 10.9 14.9
SSU @100˚F 725 344 567
SSU @ 210˚F 100 62 79
D-2270 Viscosity Index 108 144 140
D-92 Flash Point ˚F 460 400 435
D-92 Fire Point ˚F 510 450 470
D-97 Pour Point ˚F -40 -56 -44
D-2896 Total Base No. 7.5 10.0 10.5
D-874 Sulfate Ash % 0.72 — —
D-4951 Zinc, ppm 812 — —
0W40**** 5W20** 5W30** 5W40**** 10W30** 10W40 15W40*** 20W50
SM/CF SL SL SM/CF SL CG-4, CH-4 CG-4, CH-4 CF/SJ ASTM TESTS CI-4/SL CI-4/SL
D-445 Viscosity
cSt @ 40˚C 79.9 49.5 65.3 93.7 70.3 94.0 110.1 170.0
cSt @ 100˚C 14.3 8.7 11.0 15.7 10.8 14.0 15.3 20.2
SSU @100˚F 395 253 332 476 360 482 567 880
SSU @ 210˚F 74 56 64 82 63 75 79 102
D-2270 Viscosity Index 182 156 157 179 140 148 140 138
D-4684 Pumping Viscosities
cP @ -40˚C 20,000 — — — — — — —
cP @ -35˚C — 22,200 34,800 21,500 — — — —
cP @ -30˚C — — — — 18,200 14,900 — —
cP @ -25˚C — — — — — — 15,200 —
cP @ -20˚C — — — — — — — 18,800
D-92 Flash Point ˚F 465 455 440 425 430 400 450 435
D-92 Fire Point ˚F 495 480 480 470 480 435 470 470
D-2896 Total Base No. 11 12 12 11 12 12.0 10.5 10.5
GASOLINE ENGINES — Typical Properties*
30 40 50
ASTM TESTS CF,CF-2/SJ CF,CF-2/SJ CF,CF-2/SJ
D-445 Viscosity
cSt @ 40˚C 79.0 121.0 182.0
cSt @ 100˚C 10.6 14.2 18.6
SSU @100˚F 408 631 955
SSU @ 210˚F 63 74 92
D-2270 Viscosity Index 119 113 113
D-92 Flash Point ˚F 460 460 460
D-92 Fire Point ˚F 515 515 515
D-2896 Total Base No. 10.5 10.5 10.5
Beyond Synthetic™
Royal Purple, Inc. • One Royal Purple Lane • Porter, Texas 77365
Phone: 281-354-8600 • Fax: 281-354-7600 • www.royalpurple.com
PS0101 04/08
GASOLINE ENGINES — Typical Properties*
SAE GRADE /
API SERVICE
Royal Purple 40 DD is recommended for operation
with Detroit Diesel Series 149 Two-Stroke Cycle
Engines running with the percentage of fuel sulfur
less than 0.5 percent mass. If higher sulfur fuels are
used in normal climactic conditions, then Royal
Purple’s SAE 40 or 50 CF,CF-2/SJ engine oils with
total base numbers of 12 are recommended. In
extremely cold climactic conditions (-18˚C to -32˚C),
Royal Purple’s 10W40 grade CF,CF-2/SJ with HTHS
Vis cP of 4.05 may be used in all of the above engines
except the Series 149 engines. Consult your Detroit
Diesel manual for recommendations on monitoring
drain intervals under these conditions.
Royal Purple Motor Oil meets or exceeds car manufacturers
oil specifications and will not void warranty.
Follow manufacturer’s recommended drain intervals
during warranty.
Note: Engine oil’s solvency cleans wear metals and
deposits left by previous oils. These wear metals and
deposits can cause abnormally high values on used
oil analysis until the engine is clean.
SAE GRADE / API SERVICE
*Properties are typical and may vary. **API energy conserving.
***For use in both gasoline and diesel engines. Meets DDC Powerguard 93K214, Cummins 20078 requirements and Caterpillar ECF-1 & ECF-2.
**** 0W40 Meets and or exceeds European specs ACEA A3/B3-04 warranty requirements.
**** 5W40 Meets and or exceeds European specs ACEA A2-96 and A3-02 warranty requirements.
***For use in both gasoline and diesel engines.
DIESEL ENGINES — Typical Properties*
*Properties are typical and may vary
**Royal Purple has Volvo VDS-3 approval on 15W40. RP approval # VDS3-03-075
SAE GRADE /
API SERVICE
ROYAL PURPLE MOTOR OIL
High Performance Engine Oil
ASTM TESTS

[Dorf]

Yikes!  Some of you guys are creeping me out...  I've been using Mobil 1 since 1976 (in a Fiat X1/9) and can only claim improved gas mileage and long lived engines.  Currently 188k on my 98 Expedition (but it did recently spit out a plug) plus nearly that much in an 83 Dodge Ram Van.

[lil goat]

The Mobil 1 of old was 100% synthetic and had good stuff like phosphorus in it to help prevent drivetrain wear, most of today's oils are pretty much the same as Mobil 1 they are not 100% synthetic and the additives have been removed to please the EPA. Mobil 1 is not bad oil, I just think there are better oils and they do cost more. I don't think Mobile 1 is any worse than Valvoline, Castrol, Quaker State, or Penzoil. They are all pretty much the same, they are trying to meet EPA standards and be at a good price point, my point is unfortunately they are not what they used to be. Royal Purple makes some stuff called XPR that will absolutely void your warranty but it has all the good stuff from days of old in it and then some, it is $15 a quart. In and older car it would be very important to use something with the wear additives in it, the newer cars are made to be run with the newer oils and should be fine.  My car has 7400 rpm redline instead of the factory 6200 and I run the crap out of it so I use the best stuff I can find, just a personal choice.

[spartan]

Great thread here.  I searched here on "Royal Purple" to try to find out about XPR.  The RP website is completely open about XPR being for folks not worried about their warranty.  Guess I won't go this route even though it looks like a great oil that needs to be on GM's list.  Amazon has some great deals...about half off on XPR in a 5 Gal container ($234 shipped), so it was tempting.
 
I noticed on the new GM list that the Mobil 1 Extended has been approved.  i wonder if anybody has used it and has an opinion. 

PS One small thing that bothers me about the "1 Gallon" Mobil 1 containers is that they are really on 3.78 quarts.   

[Critterman]

I use Mobil 1 extended in my 2.4, my Frontier, changing to it in my Xterra, and in the wife's Civic.

[Rogue]

Those of you concerned about ZDDP and other additives might want to consider Mobil 1 15w-50. It contains the additives for older flat tappet engines (mechanical and hydraulic) as well as for thrust bearings and washers. You can also buy ZDDP as an additive (not Mobil brand). The phosphates were taken out because it will damage a catcon on a motor that burns oil.