dunno what amsoil is saying about smaller engines using less oil making more power. More power sure, but less oil? No way dude.

RX 300 with a V6 3.0L takes 5 Quarts of 5w-30. RX 350 with V6 3.5L takes 6.5 quarts
LS 430 4.3L V8 takes 5.5 quarts. LS 460 with 4.6L V8 takes 9.1 quarts.

This doesnt add to the conversation, but we're (at least tech's at Lexus) are seeing MORE oil being required for each new engine generation thats getting released. Continue.

 

flash point is meaningless unless there is an induced spark. just because a flammable liquid reaches a flash point doesn't mean it will be come flammable. there has to be a spark. you can boil gasoline without it flaming.

 

"Flash point is the temperature at which an oil gives off vapors that can be ignited with a flame held over the oil. The lower the flash point the greater tendency for the oil to suffer vaporization loss at high temperatures and to burn off on hot cylinder walls and pistons."

 

Isn't the 'Flash/Fire" Point for most good 20W-50 or 15W-50 synthetic oils somewhere in the 470+ degree F range?

I'd say that if your oil gets to that temperature or above you'll end up with quite a few issues that will need to be addressed.

 

I'd say you're right about that Fender,,, nothing wrong with using mobile 1,,, I can go 10k on the oil change if I want to,, at least twice the factory interval for changing the oil,, my manual recommends change at 5K. Synthetic oil is great stuff,, I use it in all the motors I own and service, I also use it to lubricate bearings, tools, etc. around the house,, best lubricating oil there is at this point of scientific progress. IMO

 

I just switched from 20W50 M1 V-twin to Valvoline VR-1 20W50. It's flashpoint is 250 C. I drained the synthetic out at 3000 miles and it looked horrible, definitely wouldn't want to run 5,000-10,000 miles on the oil. IMO, the synthetic might be better, but it is not as thick as regular oil. It seems to have quieted down the noises I hear in the heads since the change back to dino.

 

What an oil "looks" like means little. Only an analysis of that oil can tell whether it is good, bad, or indifferent. And a 20w-50 synthetic is the same viscosity as a 20w-50 regular oil. And when that regular oil has less than 1000 miles on it, I'd wager it is now a 40 weight, and no longer a 50 weight. A good synthetic will maintain its initial viscosity much longer than regular oil.

As far as the perceived noise levels - I've heard this enough to wish someone would do an actual study on it. Be interesting to see the results, and why the difference. A mystery ....

 

I personally want my oil to look terrible when I drain it out. That means it is doing it's job of collecting the contaminates and suspending them in the oil so they can be drained out instead of being deposited on the internal engine parts. I used Mobile 1 in my Gold Wing for 130,000 miles before I sold it and it is still on the road without a single engine or clutch problem in 19 years. I trust it will protect my Harley as well also.