Anyone else use TOTAL Synthetic motor oil?
10-20-2009, 05:01 AM
#1
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Anyone else use TOTAL Synthetic motor oil?
I gave my subie a mini-tune up today, changed my oil and upgraded to Total 5w30 synthetic which is supposed to be the friggin bomb, I also changed my air filter, topped off fluids, drained and refilled my coolant, rotated tires and tightened my belts just a tiny bit. All that cost me around $70 in supplies, if I had the dealer do that they'd probably charge a good $300 easy. ANYWAY...
After some trail and error with other oils, and failure with mobil 1 (My STi eats a quart every 1k miles!!!
Only that oil, specifically the new formula 10w30 synthetic, the old formula worked fine in this same car and all my old ones, I know Im not alone either cuz I've heard this from a lot of people!), I got tired of trying to find Amsoil anywhere so I asked around to various people in the know about oils and such and was swayed by Total so I figured I'd give it a shot. It's what GST uses and they were recommended it by a very high end race group with no affiliation with Total, so they no one gains anything by saying such great things about it. This stuff is made in France and is what the Pug 206 WRC was sponsored by (main sponsor)
See ad on WRC car here:
I drained my old mobil 1 mix which was all fairly new oil since I had to replace a quart every 1k miles, and the oil looked pathetic... Thin, watery, and very black... Def not good looking oil, looked like old coffee. This was a 10/30 weight mix so it was thicker then what most of you use too! Screw mobil 1! More viscosity break down then I've ever seen with any other oil in my history of cars! This is supposed to be a good oil, and it used to be pretty good, but since they changed that formula I've started seeing problems. No wonder my car's powerband started gaining flat spots here and there during the end of that oil cycle). Mobil 1 is going to get hit hard by this because just the people I know already know about this and have seen problems individually. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising, and the best way to spread bad reviews and destroy the said business.
When I first started filling up my oil filter with oil I noticed that it's almost perfectly clear and the 5w30 is as thick as other brands 10w30. Even the bottle it comes with is pretty damn cool! It has a pull-out nozzle so it's easier to pour, and with no spillage (w1n for me!)... That alone makes it worth switching!
Screw Mobil 1, I've added them to my black list, along with brands like PIAA (Worst, and most overpriced brand EVER) and places like Elephant Bar (By far the worst chain restaurant in existence!).
Advice to everyone: If you don't do this already, MAKE SURE, ALWAYS check your oil at every gas tank fillup, or at worst, every 1k miles! This is sooooo important and I've seen so many people blow up engines because they didn't check their oil! Imagine if I didn't check my oil when I was going through 1 quart every 1k miles!? Every time I get gas I also pop my good, grab a napkin, pull out the dipstick, wipe it off, put it back in and check the oil level on the dipstick to make sure I'm not low on oil. It only takes a good 30 seconds to do this and it could save your engine from catastrophic failure! While you're checking your oil, you should also pay attention to what the oil looks like when you smear it on the napkin, see what color it is and how thick it feels. If it's like black coffee, you have a problem and need to change the oil immediately! Just some small precautionary steps that most people neglect that can save you BIG TIME, in both money and power.
After some trail and error with other oils, and failure with mobil 1 (My STi eats a quart every 1k miles!!!
Only that oil, specifically the new formula 10w30 synthetic, the old formula worked fine in this same car and all my old ones, I know Im not alone either cuz I've heard this from a lot of people!), I got tired of trying to find Amsoil anywhere so I asked around to various people in the know about oils and such and was swayed by Total so I figured I'd give it a shot. It's what GST uses and they were recommended it by a very high end race group with no affiliation with Total, so they no one gains anything by saying such great things about it. This stuff is made in France and is what the Pug 206 WRC was sponsored by (main sponsor)See ad on WRC car here:
I drained my old mobil 1 mix which was all fairly new oil since I had to replace a quart every 1k miles, and the oil looked pathetic... Thin, watery, and very black... Def not good looking oil, looked like old coffee. This was a 10/30 weight mix so it was thicker then what most of you use too! Screw mobil 1! More viscosity break down then I've ever seen with any other oil in my history of cars! This is supposed to be a good oil, and it used to be pretty good, but since they changed that formula I've started seeing problems. No wonder my car's powerband started gaining flat spots here and there during the end of that oil cycle). Mobil 1 is going to get hit hard by this because just the people I know already know about this and have seen problems individually. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising, and the best way to spread bad reviews and destroy the said business.
When I first started filling up my oil filter with oil I noticed that it's almost perfectly clear and the 5w30 is as thick as other brands 10w30. Even the bottle it comes with is pretty damn cool! It has a pull-out nozzle so it's easier to pour, and with no spillage (w1n for me!)... That alone makes it worth switching!
Screw Mobil 1, I've added them to my black list, along with brands like PIAA (Worst, and most overpriced brand EVER) and places like Elephant Bar (By far the worst chain restaurant in existence!).
Advice to everyone: If you don't do this already, MAKE SURE, ALWAYS check your oil at every gas tank fillup, or at worst, every 1k miles! This is sooooo important and I've seen so many people blow up engines because they didn't check their oil! Imagine if I didn't check my oil when I was going through 1 quart every 1k miles!? Every time I get gas I also pop my good, grab a napkin, pull out the dipstick, wipe it off, put it back in and check the oil level on the dipstick to make sure I'm not low on oil. It only takes a good 30 seconds to do this and it could save your engine from catastrophic failure! While you're checking your oil, you should also pay attention to what the oil looks like when you smear it on the napkin, see what color it is and how thick it feels. If it's like black coffee, you have a problem and need to change the oil immediately! Just some small precautionary steps that most people neglect that can save you BIG TIME, in both money and power.
Last edited by brucelee; 10-20-2009 at 05:07 AM.
10-20-2009, 05:46 AM
#3
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Funny thing about Mobil 1, its all my forester has known for 150+k miles and when LIC did the leakdown test I am still way in the good. In fact I run nothing but Mobil 1 in every car I have, and have had for the last oh, 6 cars. Never once had a oil related problem due to it.
I would venture to say it is because of Mobil 1, that the forester is in as good a shape as it is. I can't be for sure, but I can guess that had it run on any other oil, it would not be in such condition.
I would venture to say it is because of Mobil 1, that the forester is in as good a shape as it is. I can't be for sure, but I can guess that had it run on any other oil, it would not be in such condition.
10-20-2009, 05:53 AM
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Funny thing about Mobil 1, its all my forester has known for 150+k miles and when LIC did the leakdown test I am still way in the good. In fact I run nothing but Mobil 1 in every car I have, and have had for the last oh, 6 cars. Never once had a oil related problem due to it.
I would venture to say it is because of Mobil 1, that the forester is in as good a shape as it is. I can't be for sure, but I can guess that had it run on any other oil, it would not be in such condition.
I would venture to say it is because of Mobil 1, that the forester is in as good a shape as it is. I can't be for sure, but I can guess that had it run on any other oil, it would not be in such condition.
There are a lot of people here who really hate Mobil 1 after years of using it and liking it.
By your logic, imagine what your forester would be like if you used Amsoil or Total!? You'd have a friggin Bugatti Veyron by now! A forester that transformed into a veyron because of how great the oil you used in your car was!
Man, I wonder what kind of car mine is going to upgrade to after using this awesometastic oil!
10-20-2009, 07:38 AM
#5
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I have been getting UOA (Used Oil Analysis) on my oil changes for the past 36k miles. Here is a list of the oils that I have used, and a general rating in terms of oil life, sheer resistance, and protection:
1: Amsoil 5w30
2: Redline 5w30/10w30 (a bit scary at first due to it's increased Moly content)
2: Shell Rotella 5w40 (what I currently use and will continue to use on the stock engine due to price, and consistency with good UOAs)
3: Amsoil 5w40 European Car Formula (actually sheered down to a 30 weight, but still provided good protection)
10: Mobile 1 5w30 (consistently sheers down to a 20 weight, and showed signs of increased wear...but it is cheap!)
I believe the Mobile 1 would work fine in many vehicles, but forced induction engines are tough on oil. Especially the Suby motor, since it has to run so rich on pump gas to avoid popping.
Total will be used with my built motor unless I am TOLD to use something different. I would have no issue with running the Rotella either, as it has been very consistent for myself and many many other people through the years.
Where do you buy Total in the Hayward/Fremont area by the way?
1: Amsoil 5w30
2: Redline 5w30/10w30 (a bit scary at first due to it's increased Moly content)
2: Shell Rotella 5w40 (what I currently use and will continue to use on the stock engine due to price, and consistency with good UOAs)
3: Amsoil 5w40 European Car Formula (actually sheered down to a 30 weight, but still provided good protection)
10: Mobile 1 5w30 (consistently sheers down to a 20 weight, and showed signs of increased wear...but it is cheap!)
I believe the Mobile 1 would work fine in many vehicles, but forced induction engines are tough on oil. Especially the Suby motor, since it has to run so rich on pump gas to avoid popping.
Total will be used with my built motor unless I am TOLD to use something different. I would have no issue with running the Rotella either, as it has been very consistent for myself and many many other people through the years.
Where do you buy Total in the Hayward/Fremont area by the way?
10-20-2009, 08:18 AM
#7
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Anyone use http://www.americanagip.com/ before?
I've used it for my race/track bikes. Kept the temps cooler and bike ran alot better. Thinking about using it for my Subie as well but it ain't cheap....
I've used it for my race/track bikes. Kept the temps cooler and bike ran alot better. Thinking about using it for my Subie as well but it ain't cheap....
10-20-2009, 08:32 AM
#8
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Car Info: '98/'04 Foresters (S & XT)
Funny thing about Mobil 1, its all my forester has known for 150+k miles and when LIC did the leakdown test I am still way in the good. In fact I run nothing but Mobil 1 in every car I have, and have had for the last oh, 6 cars. Never once had a oil related problem due to it.
I would venture to say it is because of Mobil 1, that the forester is in as good a shape as it is. I can't be for sure, but I can guess that had it run on any other oil, it would not be in such condition.
I would venture to say it is because of Mobil 1, that the forester is in as good a shape as it is. I can't be for sure, but I can guess that had it run on any other oil, it would not be in such condition.
10-20-2009, 08:42 AM
#9
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Location: San Leandro, CA
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I will be honest, I have been thinking of moving to amsoil but because I know a dealer and can get it at cost from him, so I might order a 55 gallon drum.
*edit* Oohh just found out I can get 30 gallon drums, anyone want to go in partners?
*edit* Oohh just found out I can get 30 gallon drums, anyone want to go in partners?
Last edited by Overbear; 10-20-2009 at 09:10 AM.
10-20-2009, 09:54 AM
#11
Been using Total/Elf for years now. Get it through Benny at Lubrify.com and tell him Karlton sent you. GST gets it from him too 
Oh Adam he's in Fremont too
Oh Adam he's in Fremont too
Last edited by xtremeyolks; 10-20-2009 at 09:57 AM.
10-20-2009, 10:36 AM
#12
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castrol full syn 5w-40, run great...especially in summer...haha
just a quick question for dan (thought that I mess up with the info after i read yours), isn't the rear number is how much heat that oil can take and how thick that oil is??
5w is just show what temp that oil can be pick up rite
just a quick question for dan (thought that I mess up with the info after i read yours), isn't the rear number is how much heat that oil can take and how thick that oil is??
5w is just show what temp that oil can be pick up rite
10-20-2009, 11:01 AM
#14
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castrol full syn 5w-40, run great...especially in summer...haha
just a quick question for dan (thought that I mess up with the info after i read yours), isn't the rear number is how much heat that oil can take and how thick that oil is??
5w is just show what temp that oil can be pick up rite
just a quick question for dan (thought that I mess up with the info after i read yours), isn't the rear number is how much heat that oil can take and how thick that oil is??
5w is just show what temp that oil can be pick up rite
explains it all.
