2018 test2 productsMyths & Experiments
Which Motor Oil Substitutes Brand Wins?
A head-to-head test of 2 motor oil substitutes options with the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.
Ranked first
vegetable oil soybean oil
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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.
| Product | Lubricity Tester Fresh Oil | Lubricity Tester After Use | Cold Flow Test | Engine Endurance Test | Flashpoint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1vegetable oil soybean oil | similar amount of bearing scouring compared to 10W30 conventional oil, described as having pretty good film strength for a 30 second run at about 800 rpm | after a solid hour of hard use in a running lawnmower engine, the used vegetable oil was drained and retested and showed no visible loss in lubrication ability compared to fresh vegetable oil or 10W30 | at about minus 14 degrees Fahrenheit inside a freezer, the vegetable oil turned into a solid block of ice, the only issue observed in the whole test | engine ran for about an hour on vegetable oil under a load applied by the engine brake system and survived, oil level remained full | material safety data sheet listed the flashpoint at over 625 degrees Fahrenheit |
| 210W30 conventional motor oil | used as the baseline comparison bearing in the lubricity tester, very close amount of scouring compared to the vegetable oil bearing | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested |
How it was tested
- lubricity tester bearing scouring test at about 800 rpm for 30 seconds, before and after an hour of engine use
- cold flow test at about minus 14 degrees Fahrenheit
- one hour engine endurance run under load using the engine brake system
- flashpoint check via material safety data sheet
“it seems as though it's a pretty decent substitute for engine oil but only in an emergency situation”
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