Re: [VN] New Mobil1 vs. Old Mobil1 vs. Non-Synthetic?

[PAULMARKAD@aol.com]

Mike, While I don't know of any specific car vs car test, I am very aware of 
tests done by the National Fluid Power Association. Done 10 years ago, the 
Mobile 1 of that time showed very significant improvements in reducing 
friction and wear, between 2 spinning discs.

You cannot also rule out engine and component design contributing to the 
noise you report. If you have the Buick V6 231 inch, (3.8 series) I 
personally don't like the oil pump design. 

The oil pickup is waaay at the back, while the pump is up front, and high. 
The long tube is also too small an ID to suite me. This is all a recipe for 
pump cavitation which introduces air bubbles in the oil stream (not good), 
and premature oil failure.

The pump housing is aluminum, and the gears are steel. That means the housing 
expands faster than the steel gears at high temperature, resulting in 
increased internal oil leakage. This means less pressure and flow when the 
motor is hot. In fact, several years ago, there were many complaints when the 
oil pressure "idiot light" would come on during hot days, at idle. What was 
Buick's "fix" ? They replaced the customers' 5 psi pressure switch, with a 2 
psi pressure switch!

The gear clearance in the pump housing is so bad, that the Buick shop manuals 
tell you that you must pack the oil pump housing and gears with vaseline 
petroleum jelly, anytime you disassemble the pump. Honest!

I don't know what kind of noises you are hearing, but I don't think you can 
blame the Mobile 1. 

As far as my own anecdotal evidence, I have an 87 Thunderbird Turbo-Coupe 
with 180,000 miles. I have had "zero" problems with that motor, and the oil 
critical turbocharger. The only time I touched the engine was to replace the 
timing belt at 100,000 miles. I simply changed the oil every spring and fall 
regardless of mileage.

Yes, I have only used Mobile 1 15W50, since day one. IT costs me an extra 8 
bucks a year. Cheap insurance as far as I am concerned.

For what it's worth,

PAULAMRKAD@AOL.COM
    
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