Royal Purple Oil As Compared to Red Line Oil

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ZLS

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Royal Purple Oil As Compared to Red Line Oil
« on: 2 Feb 2015, 05:02 pm »
    Hello,

    I drive a 2004 Subaru Forester XT (4 Cylinder Turbo)

    I am wondering if anyone has an opinion of the relative merits between the two synthetic oils mentioned

in the title. 

    I can get Royal Purple here in Chicago, but would have to have the Red Line shipped in. 



                                                                         Thank You

jtwrace

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Re: Royal Purple Oil As Compared to Red Line Oil
« Reply #1 on: 2 Feb 2015, 06:49 pm »
Neither!  Amsoil.  Mobil 1 if you want the best off the shelf easy to get oil. 

nickd

Re: Royal Purple Oil As Compared to Red Line Oil
« Reply #2 on: 2 Feb 2015, 08:11 pm »
I have used Royal Purple for years. As long as you go with 100% synthetic, you should be fine with any of those mentioned. The stuff is bomb proof. It does not really "wear out". It can only get "dirty" meaning suspended particles or moisture that could be harmful to mechanical systems. Most people change it more often than needed.

I change it once a year in my motor home (Ford V10) less than 2000 mi. and once a year in my wife's Honda Odyssey at about 12,000 mi. The motorhome sits so it's just a moisture prevention issue. The Honda is as tight as new at 115,000 mi. I could take the Honda up to 25,000 between changes, but my wife starts getting nervous because she does not understand how durable the synthetic oil really is. I keep the peace by changing the oil (even if its in good condition). :thumb:

In my youth I witnessed lab tests of the synthetics after thousands of miles. If the engine was tight the oil would test as new at more than 20,000 miles. The only danger was that the synthetic is so "slippery" that in older piston and ring designs or higher wear engines, the rings would sometimes become "unseated". With new engines that type of thing is no longer a problem unless overheating has occurred and the ring tension (outward pressure against the cylinder wall) has been lost.

FullRangeMan

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Re: Royal Purple Oil As Compared to Red Line Oil
« Reply #3 on: 2 Feb 2015, 09:13 pm »
Anyone used Militec? It really works?

ehider

Re: Royal Purple Oil As Compared to Red Line Oil
« Reply #4 on: 2 Feb 2015, 10:18 pm »
Redline is slightly superior to Royal in terms of robustness provided you don't drive your car for short under 10 minute drives. Redline has superior extreme temperature capability (Royal is no slouch mind you, Redline is just a slight bit better). Why? - Redline's formulation doesn't allow burn off of moisture as well until it is fully heated for a while but this is because it's additive package contains more high temperature agents as compared to allowing for that space to contain a higher moisture suspension package. Read - any oil "design" starts with the base stock carrier, the quality of that (which "synthetics" use a superior stock) then the additive packages (which there are many "recipes").  If you take away part of one part of the package, you could add more of another. But in the end, a quart can only have so much of the "additive package" per given quart.

Either Redline or Royal are very superior to ANY off the shelf non-synthetic oil based on the independent "insider" testing research I've looked at. And, as the other poster pointed out, Mobil is probably the best "off the shelf synthetic". Although, they did change their formulation base stock they use as compared to the formulation they offered a few years prior (always chasing those profits).

With the above said though, I actually use Mobil One (less than 30% the price of either Redline or Royal) and keep my intervals below 7,500 miles.  All four of my cars have between 120k and 500k miles and one of them has twin turbos (which can be really hard on oil) yet I have no issue with using Mobil 1 instead of the higher priced alternatives due to the lower change interval.

As to my experience to support the informational review above and "the insider of oil and it's effects on automotive engines" - In my prior career, I was on the inside of the auto industry working directly engine design engineers along with other advance groups as well. One myth that Synthetic oil companies claim to justify their UBER high price is an oil change can now go between 10K and 15K miles. What do the engineers think of this? That this idea of changing oil with over 10,000 miles is ludicrous (at least for long term engine robustness mind you). One primary reason is that gas in this country is VERY dirty indeed. Those blow by deposits of gas get into the oil regardless of what type. And, even the best formulation can only suspend so much dirt. As you approach 10K miles the oil becomes a "dirty carrier agent" instead of acting as a primary "anti-wear" agent  :thumb:

TomS

Re: Royal Purple Oil As Compared to Red Line Oil
« Reply #5 on: 2 Feb 2015, 10:56 pm »
You could send a sample to www.Blackstone-Labs.com and they'll baseline the oil currently in your engine for only $25. Ask them for a recommendation on a synthetic. I've used them for all of my boat engines and diesels over the years.

nickd

Re: Royal Purple Oil As Compared to Red Line Oil
« Reply #6 on: 2 Feb 2015, 11:14 pm »


Quote
You could send a sample to www.Blackstone-Labs.com and they'll baseline the oil currently in your engine for only $25. Ask them for a recommendation on a synthetic. I've used them for all of my boat engines and diesels over the years.

TomS, that is some good advice. :thumb: The lab tells all about what is really going on inside the engine. The question is: Do you really want to know??? You might like your engine more before you know all its bad habits and dark secrets. :lol:

S Clark

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Re: Royal Purple Oil As Compared to Red Line Oil
« Reply #7 on: 3 Feb 2015, 12:42 am »
I used to spend too much time on one of the Goldwing forums where Royal Purple and Mobil One were both highly thought of.  Amsoil also had fanatic followers.  Any of the three would be good options.   Amongst bikers, arguing oil is like arguing cables for audioophools  :guns:

DaveC113

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Re: Royal Purple Oil As Compared to Red Line Oil
« Reply #8 on: 3 Feb 2015, 12:59 am »
Subaru turbo motors require frequent enough change intervals I do not believe the pricier synthetics are worth it, I just use Mobil 1 I get from Costco and get the filter and crush ring from Subaru.

If your motor has some miles on it and uses a bit of oil you might consider some of the thicker diesel oils that are popular with the Subaru turbo motor like Shell Rotella T6 5W-40.

Mobil 1 5W-30 was changed to an easier to shear formula, it does tend to get better fuel economy as a result but acts a bit thinner than its rating might suggest. I think it's a good choice for stock to slightly modded Subaru 2.5 turbos.

If you want a bit more power (~125 HP) consider an E85 conversion...  :green:  I want to get one done on my WRX eventually.




Bob in St. Louis

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Re: Royal Purple Oil As Compared to Red Line Oil
« Reply #9 on: 3 Feb 2015, 01:28 am »
You could send a sample to www.Blackstone-Labs.com and they'll baseline the oil currently in your engine for only $25. Ask them for a recommendation on a synthetic. I've used them for all of my boat engines and diesels over the years.
That's interesting. I'd like to dig into that with them a bit more. Thanks Tom!