Mobil One Quality?

Hobot · Dec 12, 2011

Collected off a private gear head list for new age winter oil thread.
A Rotella diesel oil convert in vintage non catalytic muffler craft hobot

On 12/12/2011 9:38 AM, Tomas Sokorai Argentina wrote:
> Any of you guys in the 'states has noticed that the M1 quality is
> completely down the drain?
> It is either that or we're having counterfeit oil.
> I had to change prematurely the M1 I put in my car. Startup lifter noise.
> And what's worse: I used a 5W50, that at work temperatures should have
> the viscosity of a SAE50... but it was like water, much less viscous
> than the 10W40 it replaced.
> And worse II, the draining operation made persistent bubbles on the
> surface, thing that I haven't seen in good quality oils with
> anti-foaming agents.
> Reading some local forums, I see also many negative comments regarding
> M1, so I'm pretty convinced about the counterfeit oil.

On 12/12/2011 10:16 AM, The Kevin USA wrote:
Hmm. these last 10k miles my benz 'lost' a quart. Never happened before. Mobil 1. On my wife's Citroen I used M1, and experienced high oil consumption too. Switched to Castrol Edge, and ended with no oil loss at all in over 10.000 miles change schedules. What's suspicious, is that years ago I used M1 5w50 with good results even in my F100's 302, but that was when the bottles were labeled in English and were either made in USA or EU. Now they're "bottled in Chile".

BrianK · Dec 12, 2011

I use Mobil 1 in my car and it's okay.

For my bikes, I won't use anything but Redline.

I'm a "bike guy," not a "car guy."

Carbonfibre · Dec 12, 2011

Mobil 1 is very thin and totally unsuitable for use in air-cooled motors. Have seen race motors which have been run on this with very bad wear n the bottom end bearings. More suited to modern car engines, but to be honest I think using a cheaper oil and changing it more often is much kinder to any engine, and will mean longer life.

1up3down · Dec 12, 2011

Mobil 1 is totally unsuited to air cooled engines?

links from credible sources showing where you read this factual information please?

thanks, looking forward to reading what you read!

Hobot · Dec 12, 2011

Alrighty the heat is on like we hick use to drip old oil into wood stoves to save planet pollution and handling dirty wood. Found this eye opener on new Mobil 1.
But its a time consumer to read its links so ain't fully yet myself but you'll get the sad news pretty quick. There are specially Mobil one's for Vtwins so we ain't talking about those just what in the auto parts and Walmart shelves and gas stations.

http://www.g20.net/forum/showthread.php?t=17590

Apparently, Exxon bought out Mobil and cheapened the MObil 1 formula in 2000 making it actually WORSE than Castrol, Quaker State, Valvoline and Havoline synthetic formulas

comnoz · Dec 12, 2011

It's true Mobile One car oil is no longer what it used to be, but it is due to the environmental constraints- not some oil company conspiracy. Luckily that has not affected Mobil One V-twin oil Yet. It still works best IMHO.

Anyone who says that Mobil One V-twin oil is thin has obviously never had a bottle of it.

I use Rotella S in my cars. Jim

Nortiboy · Dec 12, 2011

comnoz said:
Anyone who says that Mobil One V-twin oil is thin has obviously never had a bottle of it.

You are correct. This is what I have used for years. The Mobil 1 V Twin oil is specificaly designed for aircooled motorcycle engines and the high temperatures they can produce. It pours very thick from the bottle. Do not use Mobil 1 for cars in your air cooled engines or where the clutch and engine share the same oil.

debby · Dec 12, 2011

Mobil 1 15W50 automobile oil is very popular with Ducati riders. Said to be as good as anything you can buy.

Rohan · Dec 12, 2011

debby said:
Mobil 1 15W50 automobile oil is very popular with Ducati riders. Said to be as good as anything you can buy.

The late Gerry Bristow in Crete, famous on the old NOC-L email group swore by Mobil 1 15W50 in his Mk3 Commando - had done 80,000+ miles, engine untouched.
Oil industry person, originally with Duckhams.

JimC · Dec 12, 2011

If you want to change your cam profile, run with Mobil 1. That's according to the owner of Web cams.

Someone mentioned Mobil 1 as the recommended oil for Porsches. From what I hear road going Porches do not exactly hold the record for reliability. It would be interesting to know what oil the Porsche racers use.

comnoz · Dec 12, 2011

debby said:
Mobil 1 15W50 automobile oil is very popular with Ducati riders. Said to be as good as anything you can buy.

That is what I started out using. Unfortunately 15W50 has not been produced for over a year now. Mobil says they discontinued it for environmental reasons. If you find any -it is left overs. The 20-50 Mobil v-twin oil seems to be considerably thicker. I believe there is a 20-50 racing car oil available also for off road use. It is just as expensive as v-twin oil. Jim

bluto · Dec 12, 2011

comnoz said:
debby said:

Mobil 1 15W50 automobile oil is very popular with Ducati riders. Said to be as good as anything you can buy.

Click to expand...

That is what I started out using. Unfortunately 15W50 has not been produced for over a year now. Mobil says they discontinued it for environmental reasons. If you find any -it is left overs. The 20-50 Mobil v-twin oil seems to be considerably thicker. I believe there is a 20-50 racing car oil available also for off road use. It is just as expensive as v-twin oil. Jim

They make a motorcycle specific 10W40 that is also popular with Ducati riders and and use in my own Duc with good results so far...and it too costs the same as the V twin oil, NOT cheap at about $9/qt locally

debby · Dec 12, 2011

The argument for using 15W-50 automobile Mobil 1 is that it is just as good as the motorcycle-specific oils but costs considerably less. None of the other grades of Mobil 1 car oils are suitable for motorcycle use however, only the 15W-50. So I have read anyway.

Read all about it here:

another oil thread!

Hobot · Dec 12, 2011

Just got another story form a friend that his long lasting asian cycle went
to scrap inside after a few 1000 miles on new age Mobil Uno. He's building up a Cdo with a number of hobot features so glad he's already long aware of this, just me that's late to hear of it.

bluto · Dec 12, 2011

debby said:
The argument for using 15W-50 automobile Mobil 1 is that it is just as good as the motorcycle-specific oils but costs considerably less. None of the other grades of Mobil 1 car oils are suitable for motorcycle use however, only the 15W-50. So I have read anyway.

Read all about it here:

another oil thread!

thanks, good to know, will keep an eye out for leftover stock

Nortiboy · Dec 13, 2011

bluto said:
debby said:

The argument for using 15W-50 automobile Mobil 1 is that it is just as good as the motorcycle-specific oils

Car oils contain friction modifiers that can cause a wet clutch to slip. I would only use V Twin in my Commando's as it has additives for lumpy cams and high temp. I use ATF in the primary.

Click to expand...

biffom · Dec 13, 2011

In an effort to cut down engine noise, documented in another thread. I recently switched from Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 to Valvoline VR1 50W racing oil (it was the only straight 50W I could find locally). It was possible to hear the difference.

debby · Dec 13, 2011

Nortiboy said:
bluto said:

debby said:

The argument for using 15W-50 automobile Mobil 1 is that it is just as good as the motorcycle-specific oils

Car oils contain friction modifiers that can cause a wet clutch to slip. I would only use V Twin in my Commando's as it has additives for lumpy cams and high temp. I use ATF in the primary.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Not quite true. If you look at the containers, you'll see that the lighter grades like 5W30 have the anti-friction modifiers, but the grades we use in motorcycles do not. It's clearly labeled. I use car 10W-40 in my Suzuki T500, no problems. Actually these days I started using motorcycle oil even it it, because when gas prices spiked a couple of years ago car oils got a lot more expensive. No point in buying them anymore to save money. I can go to my local Kawasaki dealer and buy motorcycle-specific dead dino juice for the same price. So that's what I do now.

The 15W-50 Mobil 1 is the only Mobil car oil that is safe to use in a motorcycle, according to what I've read (e.g,, that ducati.ms link I posted above). I think they may have discontinued it now though, because it's becoming really hard to find around here. I'm currently running Motul in my Ducati. I buy it at a local Ducati shop for $9 per litre. Oh well.

Debby

DucsandNortons · Dec 13, 2011

For emissions purposes the oil companies have dropped the zinc from their oils. If you're running an old school engine you may suddenly find tolerances expanding quickly, cam lobe lift decreasing etc. The diesel oils still contain zinc. ie Rotella.

DogT · Dec 13, 2011

I think the Valvoline VR1 racing SAE50 has reduced the zinc from what it used to be. It's not recommended (legal?) for street use. But I still use it. I just haven't found a replacement in the SAE50, but haven't looked too hard. Don't seem to find much Rotilla around here.

Dave
69S

Mobil One Quality?

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