At 03:01 PM 11/11/2008, Jim Felder wrote...
>Maybe. I don't know for sure that an oil that you use in your car over
>a wide range of conditions is necessarily inferior to an oil designed
>to run a few hours flat-out in a very carefully designed mechanical
>environment. I don't know that it's not true, either, but it's
>probably worth looking into.

IMO, people are opinionated/emotional about oil because it's the most
basic engine maintenance item under their control. When's the last time
you heard of an engine failing due to the brand of oil used (other than
truly exceptional conditions, like sludging, properly associated with
poor engine design)?

The only concern (again, IMO) is the EPA related reduction in ZDDP, a
friction reducer important to flat tappet engines. I use a diesel (Cx)
rated oil, since they're allowed to have more (Shell Rotella Synthetic
5w-40, if anyone cares). Other than that, modern oils are magnitudes
better than what 20 year old engines were designed to use. Modern oils
are 4-5 generations improved.