Oil question?

[Zeanster]

I was checking out some of the Synthetic oils today for my first oil change and I noticed that several of the competitors to Mobile 1 have a SL rating while the Mobile 1 is SJ. I take it that the SL is a higher rating as the letter L comes after the letter J, also some of the semi-synthetics are rated SJ.

I know that quite a few people will follow the Mobile 1 just because it is spec'd by GM, I was wondering if anyone with technical or race experience has a thought on oil brands?

Thanks Dean

[ZeeOhSix]

If you look in the owner's manual in the oil section you will see a GM spec called out. Mobil 1 meets the spec, and a few other brands also.

It will say on the back of the oil bottle if it meets this GM spec or not.

Supposedly, if you use motor oil that does not meet this specific GM spec, then the warranty maybe void.

I think in the owner's maual, it says you can use non spec oil only in an emergency situation, like if you had to add or change oil out in the middle of nowhere and spec oil was not available.

[NYCHASM]

SL is not a "higher" rating than SJ, just "newer". The SL rating does not necessarily indicate a "better" grade of oil. It would however, indicate that it complies with a newer or redefined group of specifications.

In all the data I've read about synthetics, Mobil 1 seems to have the edge. There is a myriad of independent testing done on synthetic oils the results of which can be found at numerous internet sites.

Charlie