Someone said that Redline isn't API certified? That's :bs

 

Please provide license then. They are not listed by the American Petroleum Institute as a holder of a license the last time I reviewed the list.

However, I believe that their additive package is provided by "76" who does hold a license, allowing them to display a starburst. Redline is NOT licensed by the API as far as I can tell. If I am wrong, please provide correct information, not something from the bottle, their advertisements or their web site.


[Modified by vettenuts, 4:45 AM 1/31/2002]

 

Also, please refer to:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=229966

 

Sorry, Finnish Vette, it is not!

It's easy to get that opinion reading their web sight as the wording is very, um unclear. Also not tested to GM4718M!

 

there is a new word for that...
"Klintonesque"
:)

If their product is API "grade" ... then what stops them from getting the certification. Is the process costly?


[Modified by Mike Mercury, 1:15 PM 2/1/2002]

 

Sorry, PeteL: => IT IS => API Services "SJ"
and to Mike Mercury: => I have recently received new tech-documentations:

RED LINE clearly states in their tech-documentation (rev. 05/2000): (....) we use the most stable synthetic components available and formulate our products for wear protection across a wide range of engine operating conditions. RED LINE lubricants are unique because they contain PE Polyol- Ester Base Stocks (100% synthetic), the only lubricants which can withstand the tremendous heat of modern jet engines. This high temp stability makes our motor oil a necessity to properly lubricate a turbocharger or hot-running engine. The 100% synthetic base stocks have a natural multigrade property, which means that large amounts of unstable polymeric thickeners, like those used in petroleum oils, are not required to manufacture our multigrades (....)

Typical Properties and Service Ratings are:

API Service Class for 5W-30, 10W-30, 10W-40 and higher => SJ/SH/SG/CE/CG-4/CH-4 => Gas / Diesel

Further to those facts, RED LINE is offically cleared to the somewhat even more stringent classification => ACEA E2, B3 and A3-96.

Re to the latter, pls check the GM SVC-Manual/MY99, page 0-40: GM is NOT fixed to use STARBURST GM4718 approved Brands at all (this is a GM in-house requirement and NOT an official industrial standard/norm), BUT recommends to use a synthetic engine-oil that meets the API Service "SJ" AND/OR ACEA A3-96 standard.

Facts and levels which are definetely and easily achieved or even exceeded by RED LINE HighPerformance Engine-Oils.

Also, if the engine regularily encounters higher than usual engine oil-temps, and OAT-readings will not pass below -4°F/-20°C, GM recommends use of a 10W-40 weight engine-oil. Now, this is exactly what I do. And of course, until the engine-oil does not reach a minimum operating temp of ~120°F/50°C, there is no question for applying of heavy load-factors, higher than ~2'500rpm (independent of gear selection).

In all fair respect to other valuable opinions of fellow 'Vetters (using other oily brands by their convincing), may be there is some hope, that the debate about one of the most famously engineered, if not the top-edge of a reputated US-Product in Lubrication, could be settled. AMEN.

PS: I have several first-hand informations from an US-Racing team-member (F-LE MANS/GTR/TransAm), that, despite the somewhat aggressive huge marketing and sponsoring of EXXON-MOBILE (Mobile1), many of the racing tech-teams colleagues, carrying as well their brands stickers in large format on their racing cars, most of them run RED LINE Racing Oils in the oil-pans.....they well know why...... No further comment........what a strange world, is it?

Joe.

 

Were does it say Redline meets any of these benchmarks? Where does it say it was test and passed and recieved the certification? This wording is misleading, and you have misunderstood!

Just in case, here is the e-mail I got back from REDLINE tech services last friday:

________________________________________ ________________________________________


>For use in an LS1 and LS6 Corvette engine, for street use:
>
>Does Redline Oil meet API specifications and has the oil been tested to
>and have API ratings?

Our motor oils are suitable for use where an API SG, SH, and SJ oil
is specified, but they have not been submitted for these tests.

>
>Has Redline oil been tested and met GM4718M for use in the LS1 LS6
>Corvette engines?

The Red Line 5W30 and 10W30 will satisfy the GM4718M requirements.

>
>Is their any reason that Redline oil could be used as an excuse to void
>the factory warranty, and what would that reason be?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Pete

I wouldn't expect that the use of Red Line would be used as an excuse
in a warranty claim, but it is hard to say. They can use any number
of reasons where warranty claims are involved. I would recommend
reading the owners manual as a basis to determine lubricant
requirements.

Thank you for your interest in Red Line Oil.

________________________________________ ________________________________________

The first question is clear: NO API!!!!
The second question is less clear "will satisfy" not "does satisfy" ,hmmmm a bit of the Fred Astair in that step me thinks!!!

I'm not saying it's a bad oil, it may very well be the best oil on the whole friggen planet! But it has not been tested to meet API specifications.

Maybe they took it to API, but they never inhaled?
:jester

 

Redline's market it all out racing. IMO, it's the best oil out there, period, bar none. They dont have to, nor need to, "certify" it to "off the shelf" standards, to sell to thier primary market, which is racing.

 

:yesnod: well said kewl :yesnod:
"we don't need no stinkin badges"

 

special racing oil may not be what you want in your street driven car because racing oil is designed to be used once and drained. acid and oxidation are just two of the problems that street oils deal with that race oils do not. most races are 500/600 miles not 1000s of miles like your street engine. i have spent time in the pits at NASCAR races and unless they go to a lot of trouble like sealing the bottles and cases to conceal some other brand most NASCAR teams use national brand syn oils right out of the bottle. :chevy

 

"we don't need no stinkin badges"[/QUOTE]

You CERTAINLY DO if your car is under warranty and you don't want to get screwed by a GM service dept. :yesnod:

 

Clem, thats why redline makes a pure race oil, and also a consumer motor oil. The great thing is that the consumer product uses the high dollar synthetic stock base that others dont. But again, thats not thier market. But I am glad they provide it.

 

......me too, kewlbrz. How right you are!! Thanx indeed for your appreciated intervention!! There is definetely just no "intellectual" or tech-based way to by-pass those outstanding products.

The only thing which may bother me is the way to reach those products. I have to mail-order about everything, b/c on the market here-around, you can just not go quickly to the next tuner/vendor/speedshop.

But who cares, I wanted absolutely this kind and highperformance level of heartblood in my engine, considered as the most important number one tuning-step. And I won - the USA/R-L Rep in Sweden understood very quickly and started to give me any required assistance in sending me everything I needed.

So, since quite a while and to my fully satisfaction (even the GM Dealers one!!!), my little NBM-Racer is RED LINEd - front bumper to the rear one - as already mentioned higher on this thread. YES, I know, may be I am just too enthusiastic, but I know at least the reasons for........

Joe.

 

So SwissVette_Joe: How about API ?

 

Just want to clarify a couple of things. First, I am not slamming Redline. I have used it for years in my other cars. I also like the base stock that they use in their oil. However, I found that Amsoil uses the same base stock (it is equally as expensive for the same reasons) but the difference is that Amsoil is fully tested and carries an API license as well as GM 8714M certification. Since I now have a 2002 that is under warranty, it is important to me to use an oil that has been tested to these requirements (notice I said "has been tested", not "meets"). I firmly believe that if Redline Oil submitted their oil to the same test process it would pass, but not having done so I prefer to stay with a product that has indeed been tested and certified to avoid any questions later if there is a problem with my car.

My real problem is indicating to others on the forum that it is certified as I don't want someone to have a warranty issue with GM based on information they received here on the forum.

 

Does anyone know any articles* with comparisons of motor oils. I mean anything from just numeric values to more informative tests. :smash:

 

I put together some information a while back based on test information I found at each web site including Royal Purple. Since then RP has removed the information. What I found was that the thinnest oil at 100 degrees C was Mobil-1 and the highest was Amsoil with Redline a little less the Amsoil, but higher then Mobil-1. Can't remember RP numbers.

 

the thinner the better as long as the film strength is there as it takes less HP to push it through the engine plus it flows faster through the bearings removing the heat. NASCAR racers use 0 W- 5 oil for qualifing to cut down on the HP drag.

 

ttt