Question about engine oil
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
"...I also don't see where GM would gain a big benefit from using synthetic (the marketing ploy you allude to). GM doesn't make any money on dealer sales of synthetic, and it seems unlikely that Mobil was writing checks to GM because of this, either...." Steven
Steven, I could just about guarantee you that Mobil paid for GM's use of the first go round of Mobil One. Maybe not today, but at least for several years. In return, Mobil got a new, first-line, American "performance" car to carry its oil from the factory (much as Porsche did a year or so prior) AND those two (one?) stickers in the engine bay saying, "Mobil One" were great advertisements, to the potential customer, to the technicians and to owners alike.
It is called product tie in. Movies and television shows do it all the time, and mfrs. pay for their products to be "seen". So, too, did Mobil. In no way does it take away from the product, just that it wasn't completely benign.
Steven, I could just about guarantee you that Mobil paid for GM's use of the first go round of Mobil One. Maybe not today, but at least for several years. In return, Mobil got a new, first-line, American "performance" car to carry its oil from the factory (much as Porsche did a year or so prior) AND those two (one?) stickers in the engine bay saying, "Mobil One" were great advertisements, to the potential customer, to the technicians and to owners alike.
It is called product tie in. Movies and television shows do it all the time, and mfrs. pay for their products to be "seen". So, too, did Mobil. In no way does it take away from the product, just that it wasn't completely benign.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by OldCorvetteFan
From a design standpoint, there is an expectation that Corvette drivers will subject their car to a more rigorous and demanding environment than the run of the mill passenger car.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 741
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From: Athens, GA
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
On the contrary, back to Vettes vs Fbodies, I think the LS1/LT1 Fbodies are more likely than vettes to be driven hard. Look at the target consumer vs those who buy a vette.
Steven
Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 741
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From: Athens, GA
Originally Posted by LT4CompYell
"...I also don't see where GM would gain a big benefit from using synthetic (the marketing ploy you allude to). GM doesn't make any money on dealer sales of synthetic, and it seems unlikely that Mobil was writing checks to GM because of this, either...." Steven
Steven, I could just about guarantee you that Mobil paid for GM's use of the first go round of Mobil One. Maybe not today, but at least for several years. In return, Mobil got a new, first-line, American "performance" car to carry its oil from the factory (much as Porsche did a year or so prior) AND those two (one?) stickers in the engine bay saying, "Mobil One" were great advertisements, to the potential customer, to the technicians and to owners alike.
It is called product tie in. Movies and television shows do it all the time, and mfrs. pay for their products to be "seen". So, too, did Mobil. In no way does it take away from the product, just that it wasn't completely benign.
Steven, I could just about guarantee you that Mobil paid for GM's use of the first go round of Mobil One. Maybe not today, but at least for several years. In return, Mobil got a new, first-line, American "performance" car to carry its oil from the factory (much as Porsche did a year or so prior) AND those two (one?) stickers in the engine bay saying, "Mobil One" were great advertisements, to the potential customer, to the technicians and to owners alike.
It is called product tie in. Movies and television shows do it all the time, and mfrs. pay for their products to be "seen". So, too, did Mobil. In no way does it take away from the product, just that it wasn't completely benign.
You're probably right, and I hadn't thought of it that way. I was thinking purely as an engineer. I officially retract that part of the post.
Steven
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 264
Likes: 1
From: La Grande Oregon
Well since we have brought up tie in's, i guess we should remember that both oil and automotive companys are traded publicly and that both have a long history of owning each others stock. So in that context they both have a vested interest in each other and probably always will. However those with stock in the General may be having second thoughts.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Originally Posted by bluealtered
Well since we have brought up tie in's, i guess we should remember that both oil and automotive companys are traded publicly and that both have a long history of owning each others stock. So in that context they both have a vested interest in each other and probably always will. However those with stock in the General may be having second thoughts.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by LT4CompYell
I could just about guarantee you that Mobil paid for GM's use of the first go round of Mobil One. Maybe not today, but at least for several years.
There is no doubt that Mobil and GM worked closely in developing the GM 4718M spec, and I believe Mobil invested in this anticipating a significant ROI.
It worked, didn't it.
If Valvoline had pulled the same coup, and "Filled with Valvoline Syntec" was on the oil fill cap, we'd all be swearing allegence to Va'valeen instead of Mobil 1.
Larry
code5coupe
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Originally Posted by rocco16
While I don't believe that Mobil actually wrote a check to GM for this, I do believe that Mobil at least subsidized GM by supplying Mobil 1, either free or at a greatly reduced price, for the Corvette factory fill. (This could amount to a sizeable amount of money.)
There is no doubt that Mobil and GM worked closely in developing the GM 4718M spec, and I believe Mobil invested in this anticipating a significant ROI.
It worked, didn't it.
If Valvoline had pulled the same coup, and "Filled with Valvoline Syntec" was on the oil fill cap, we'd all be swearing allegence to Va'valeen instead of Mobil 1.
Larry
code5coupe
There is no doubt that Mobil and GM worked closely in developing the GM 4718M spec, and I believe Mobil invested in this anticipating a significant ROI.
It worked, didn't it.
If Valvoline had pulled the same coup, and "Filled with Valvoline Syntec" was on the oil fill cap, we'd all be swearing allegence to Va'valeen instead of Mobil 1.
Larry
code5coupe
So far, I've seen no other oil mfr. be quite as smart. Maybe that's why Penz/Quak. are now "Royal Dutch Shell" owned. The "mileage" (pun intended) that Mobil One's gotten out of the Corvette first-fill has been tremendous, imo. And they've followed it up with other "wins" in promo and advertising. Besides sponsoring races and race cars, I'd guess that this was one of their smartest investments and advertisement of the product.
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: sw Ohio
To be honest, i've never tried Mobil 1 in any of my cars. I really like Castrol GTX though. If theres a big difference between the two I guess I could try Mobil 1 on my next oil change. Theres a reason Penzoil belongs to another company, they're oil is crap compared to these other mentioned brands. I'm not saying its bad, but my cars idle rough with it for some reason.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by LT4CompYell
So far, I've seen no other oil mfr. be quite as smart. Maybe that's why Penz/Quak. are now "Royal Dutch Shell" owned. The "mileage" (pun intended) that Mobil One's gotten out of the Corvette first-fill has been tremendous, imo. And they've followed it up with other "wins" in promo and advertising. Besides sponsoring races and race cars, I'd guess that this was one of their smartest investments and advertisement of the product.
Larry
code5coupe
Pro
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 582
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From: Fayetteville, GA
Mobil 1 is first fill on a number of new cars....I always thought the main reason for the Mobil was becasue it only holds 4.5 quarts...my old beater v6 fords hold 5.5 quarts....think its interesting that once they switched to Mobil they removed the oil cooler....I dont think it has anything to do with being a sucker....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh Pirates PA
after over 2yrs of being on the forum, i still get laughs how some think mobil 1 is a conspiracy with our c4's and gm. what is the big deal about using mobil 1? it must be about some owners not liking being told what to do. pure and simple. quality oil is quality oil in my opinion. you can all point to web sites, and studies, and this and that, but i don't by it.
it's not like mobil 1 is 3x as much. i believe mobi 1 is an excellent choice and i will always use it. to each their own.
it's not like mobil 1 is 3x as much. i believe mobi 1 is an excellent choice and i will always use it. to each their own.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
This is a great discussion. Anyone that wants to do some more reading is encouraged to try this site:
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Just make sure you use the bathroom first. Lots to read there.
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi
Just make sure you use the bathroom first. Lots to read there.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 6
From: Middletown New Jersey
As mentioned before GM spec'd Mobil one because the small increase in cost for the oil was more than made up for with the deletion of the oil cooler. Anything more than that is in the realm of the conspiracy theorists.
I personally have been running M1 since I had my motor built. Probably not necessary, for the money I put into the motor, I don't mind a little piece of mind.
I personally have been running M1 since I had my motor built. Probably not necessary, for the money I put into the motor, I don't mind a little piece of mind.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Nobody wants to admit that they're spending more because of a payoff between corporate bigheads.
This is a case of buy-first and justify-second, whether or not you actually should be using it.
This is a case of buy-first and justify-second, whether or not you actually should be using it.
Last edited by CentralCoaster; Mar 26, 2006 at 01:50 PM.