Originally Posted by fnbrowning

​​​​​​​Speaking of pompus asses, I think the award goes to the poster that turns nasty when they're found to be wrong. You made an error and got called on it. Get over it.

Originally Posted by range96

^^^
No one disputed the ESP oil being OK. The question is, is the non-Dexos 2 oil ok for the ZR1 (aside from the lack of protection for the cats)?

Originally Posted by Questar

The "non-Dexos" certification means that it DOES NOT meet the requirements set out by GM for warranty... thus you're literally giving GM an "out" if anything happens to your engine they simply have to point out that you failed to use an oil product that meets or exceeds their required standards. GM has made it pretty clear in the various material I've read and what I've been told by GM reps and Mobil 1 reps (at this past years Canadian IMSA race) that the Eurpean (non-Dexos) and the new GM version (Mobil 1 0W-40 ESP Dexos 2) are NOT the same formulas and that use of the non-Dexos version does not meet the required standards for the C7 corvettes.

Of course it's your car and you can do what you want and use what you want... but is it really worth taking a chance that GM won't warranty your engine because you decided to buy a cheaper version oil?

Originally Posted by fnbrowning

What is frustrating about these oil threads is that they are often discussed at length, and good information is provided, and yet all too short a time goes by and the misinformation creeps back in and we're back at it again.

The Mobil 1 link you provided is not the product data sheets for the oils you are discussing. Those are only consumer information charts. The link you provided is not discussing the chemistry, and so your point is not proven. Furthermore, you are incorrect basing your argument on the Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) anti-wear additive in motor oil. While zinc has been the is the most commonly used anti-wear additive, it is by no means the only additive that may be used. By not examining the chemistry, you cannot make a claim on inadequate anti-wear additive.

It should be instructive that in the big thread here on the Mobil 1 0W-40 ESP Dexos 2, our resident petroleum engineer could find noting intrinsically wrong with the oil except that he was unsure about the life of the viscosity index improvers on long drain intervals. That was all. It is also instructive to note that the oil fanatics over at bobistheoilguy have had nothing bad to say about the Mobil 1 0W-40 ESP Dexos 2 chemistry. We will only know about any shortfalls in the viscosity or TBN numbers after people run and post their oil analysis.

To conclude; You can only make a sound verdict on oil if you know the chemistry. The oil companies will provide some limited public information on viscosity, pour points, and volatility, but little on chemistry. The only way to really know the chemistry of the additives is to spring for a VOA (best) or UOA test yourself and post the results. Otherwise we rely on our petroleum industry members and lubrication enthusiasts here or on bobistheoilguy that do post information or results. From what I've seen, the Mobil 1 0W-40 ESP Dexos 2 is superior to the European oil for our engines, especially for the Noack volatility numbers. I will continue to use and recommend Mobil 1 0W-40 ESP Dexos 2 for the C7 Corvettes.