Mobil 1 0w-40 is mostly group 3 with PAO added, hard to tell the exact quantities of both but i know that it has more group 3 than PAO
Bottom line, API ratings rule. Whether it be full or partial or whatever definition is vogue for the day, if one oil meets the same API specification than another it behaves the same. Sort of... It will behave the same under the same test conditions. The basic difference between a synthetic and dino oil is the shape of the molecule. Also, the nature and amount or lack thereof of adulterrants. Synthetics are better able to withstand the extremes (some of us) put our engines through. By no means however does this even begin to start covering the mountain of informtion necessary to evaluate any given oil. Now, regarding Helix vs... Helix branded Shell products are the European counterparts of our Rotella. Get it...Helix...spiral, like DNA molecular structure. Rotella, spiral...ok, time to stop the analogies. They are made from the same ULTRA base stock. Shell purchased Quaker State and also Pennzoil. Shell market presence is in heavy duty oils and industrial applications. To better align themselves with their key markets they chose to sell their Pennzoil Platinum where they previously sold the Helix/Rotella product. Coincidentally I just did this reasearch and have the current product data sheets from the distributor I buy my Shell and Mobil products from. Ferrari Specifies Pennzoil Platinum 5w-40. They as well as MB, BMW, Audi/VW also specify it for their fleets. If you want to use Ferrari approved oil go with the Pennzoil Platinum. If you want to go with "aftermarket" oils as I call them just make sure it is rated at least the same APIas indicated for your model. Check each particular variant as one weight or line can be different than another. I like Redline but find it goes rancid quickly. Royal Purple, never! I have used M1 for years and it was the first synthetic I chose to use more than 25 years ago. However it has lost my favor and I rarely use it. My favorite on paper in by personal experience is NEO. We've been using it in our race motors for years and stand behind it 100%. Hope this helps?
What is NEO? Also its hard to find Pennzoil platinum European formula ( which usually says MB Porsche approved etc)
NEO Synthetic Oil http://www.neosyntheticoil.com/index.html I've been using it in the race cars for years, can't beat it. Search the web for other testimonials. Their website is horribly outdated. It doesn't list 5W-40, but they've had it for years actually. Paul Baker the owner is great with oil, but lousy with advertising. I carry it as an East Coast distributor, but I don't ship, it's too much work. I may soon though since I now have another person to handle internet sales. But for right now I only sell it over the counter. Pennzoil Platinum is available at Pep Boy's and Walmart I know. For some reason the 5W-40 is harder to find though. I know NAPA doesn't carry it and will try and sell you their own brand of fleet oil.
somone told me that redline is formulated on a group 5 , somthing where its made from gases which is excelent ! ...although can become acidic when mixed with water or condesnation sets it ...hmmmmm amsoil is a group 4 I just put some 5w30 in my chevy tahoe and let me say its some damm good stuff , might just condier it in the rarri
I've had issues before with overheated motors and subsequent water leakage from numerous and various places. One of the horrors is popping the filler cap or pulling the stick and seeing the creamy white foam and knowing the it's a pretty good bet that fried bearings are in your future. I've been pleased with NEO which resists severe emulsifying. Visual inspection and by feeling the oil/water mixture you can see and feel it hasn't lost all of it's lubrication properties. During teardown it's nice to see the minimal damage.
Located Qaukerstate Q horsepower 5W40 ferrari recommended oil at my local Jiffy Strip oil change place for $8.50 a quart. They currently have 12 cases of it and will sell you a case of it if you walk in and buy it.
It shouldn't be that hard to find the Pennzoil. I buy it in bulk and my distributor carries it all the time. I have noticed however that 5w-40(any brand) itself is somewhat difficult though at many of the usual retail outlets.
