Paraffin base oils?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 158
Paraffin base oils?
I have used Pennzoil in my 74 and been happy with it. The mechanic I use said oils like Penzoil and Q-State contain a paraffin/wax base. He claims the paraffin base oils are more likely to contribute to motor sludge than the non-paraffin base oils. He suggested I use a non-paraffin base oil such as Castrol or Valvoline. Any thoughts?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Just playing devil's advocate, but, other than word of mouth, what training or expertise does your mechanic have that the American Petroleum Institute does not. If you will notice, most cars warranties state that the oil used must have the latest API code. I think we are up to "SG" rated oil, but check your cars requirements.
I just did a quick Google search on oil ratings and came up with the following:
http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html
This is a good primer on engine oil.
A further Google search on "paraffin based oil" yielded:
http://www.quakerstate.com/pages/carcare/whattoknow.asp See Myth #1.
This pretty much shoots your mechanic's theories down with the scientific "low down" on the how and why of oil.
Fwiw, I learned a lot from reading these web sites. Like your mechanic, I had erroneously assumed that paraffin based oils meant wax based oils.
Gary
I just did a quick Google search on oil ratings and came up with the following:
http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html
This is a good primer on engine oil.
A further Google search on "paraffin based oil" yielded:
http://www.quakerstate.com/pages/carcare/whattoknow.asp See Myth #1.
This pretty much shoots your mechanic's theories down with the scientific "low down" on the how and why of oil.
Fwiw, I learned a lot from reading these web sites. Like your mechanic, I had erroneously assumed that paraffin based oils meant wax based oils.
Gary
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: SAN DIEGO(SANTEE) CA.
Originally Posted by GaryS
Just playing devil's advocate, but, other than word of mouth, what training or expertise does your mechanic have that the American Petroleum Institute does not. If you will notice, most cars warranties state that the oil used must have the latest API code. I think we are up to "SG" rated oil, but check your cars requirements.
I just did a quick Google search on oil ratings and came up with the following:
http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html
This is a good primer on engine oil.
A further Google search on "paraffin based oil" yielded:
http://www.quakerstate.com/pages/carcare/whattoknow.asp See Myth #1.
This pretty much shoots your mechanic's theories down with the scientific "low down" on the how and why of oil.
Fwiw, I learned a lot from reading these web sites. Like your mechanic, I had erroneously assumed that paraffin based oils meant wax based oils.
Gary
I just did a quick Google search on oil ratings and came up with the following:
http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html
This is a good primer on engine oil.
A further Google search on "paraffin based oil" yielded:
http://www.quakerstate.com/pages/carcare/whattoknow.asp See Myth #1.
This pretty much shoots your mechanic's theories down with the scientific "low down" on the how and why of oil.
Fwiw, I learned a lot from reading these web sites. Like your mechanic, I had erroneously assumed that paraffin based oils meant wax based oils.
Gary
Took the valve covers off and there was a 1/2" of gunk in them, i scraped it out and had almost a 3 lb. coffee can half full of the stuff. the car never ran right after that. maybe a coincidence but got rid of that sucker fast.
Paraffin is not a wax, it is the base product used to make wax. Is there a difference, not much.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,213
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Old world terminolgy and marketing bs. Quaker state was "Penselvania grade base". Whoopte-do. Suposedly better that parafin base. Every brand will have a few people who hate it for whatever. I wouldn't hesitate to use ANY major brand that met current standards.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
While I concur with your statement that I would trust ANY major oil, there are significant differences in crude stock. that is why you hear of phrases like PA crude, North Sea Crude, light sweet TX crude, etc. Some crudes bring a higher price on the futures market. I doubt that it makes much difference once it is all refined. I THINK that the major difference is how much useful top end product you get from refinning.
Gary
Gary
