2019 test2 productsEngine Oil & Fluids

Which Motor Oil Brand Wins?

A head-to-head test of 2 motor oil options with the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.

The verdict
Ranked first

Mobil 1 Extended Performance

Price shown in test: $9.47 per quart

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The measured results

Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.

ProductGuaranteed protection intervalCertificationsMobil 1 star ratingFlash pointViscosityPour pointLubricity test wear scarCold flow test, first run (24 hours at -15 F)Evaporative heat loss test (about 375 to 400 F for 2 hours)Cold flow retest, new vs heat-exposed oilShelf life
1Mobil 1 Extended Performance$9.47 per quart15,000 miDexos 1, API SN Plustwo stars for preventing breakdown and extending life, protecting against engine wear, and combating sludge and deposits; three stars for protecting in high engine temperatures392 F57.2 cSt at 40 C, 10.2 cSt at 100 C-42 C (-44 F)6.01 mm, smaller and better than the jet oil's 6.29 mm scar; this figure comes only from a video chapter title, it is not spoken aloud in the narrationbeaten by the jet oil by over 8 incheslost about 2 g of weight, starting weight 407 g, ending weight 405 gthe uncooked (new) motor oil beat the cooked (heat-exposed) motor oil by around half an inch, but the uncooked motor oil was still beaten by the uncooked jet oil by over 8 inchesnot tested
2Mobil 1 Jet Oilnot testednot testednot testedover 246 C (475 F)27.6 cSt at 40 C, 5.1 cSt at 100 C-74 F6.29 mm, larger and worse than the motor oil's 6.01 mm scar; this figure comes only from a video chapter title, it is not spoken aloud in the narrationbeat the motor oil by over 8 inches, described as unfazed by the coldlost only 0.52 g of weight, starting weight 416.92 g, ending weight 416.4 g, and stayed visibly clearthe new (uncooked) jet oil beat the heat-exposed (cooked) jet oil by less than an inch, and beat the uncooked motor oil by over 8 inches10 years; manufactured March 2018, good until March 2028

How it was tested

  • safety data sheet comparison: flash point, viscosity, pour point
  • lubricity/wear test measuring bearing scar size
  • cold temperature oil flow test after 24 hours at -15 F
  • evaporative heat loss test, about 375 to 400 F for 2 hours (Noack-style)
  • cold flow retest comparing new oil to heat-exposed (cooked) oil
Data notes and caveats

Framed explicitly as a fun, not-for-real-use comparison; the reviewer repeatedly warns viewers not to use jet oil in a vehicle engine. No single overall winner is declared: the closing summary gives a clean per-test split verdict instead ('it did very good on the lubricity test, beating the jet oil, but that's where the motor oil ended its superior performance... the jet oil did very good in the evaporative test... the cold oil flow test was very impressive as well, totally dominated the competition'). Motor oil wins the lubricity/wear test; jet oil wins the cold flow test and the evaporative heat loss test. The lubricity wear-scar numbers (6.01 mm for Mobil 1 motor oil, 6.29 mm for jet oil) exist only in the video's chapter titles and are never spoken aloud in the transcript narration.

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