No no no no, noooo. Please don't think I was implying anything at all! And I know you didn't make any reference to 'stealerships', it was just a way of making a point.
As was my whole reply. IMHO most of the tests and expert opinions are as much about drama and selling a product (if nothing more than just their results). In most cases the variance between one product and another isn't as great as the hoopla suggests it is. Think of (Bryan forgive me) qualifying at a NASCAR race. 43 cars are separated by tenths or hundredths of a second. Less time than it takes for your eye to blink. Yet listen to all the pre-race hype by the media and you'd think it was a huge span of time. Such as it is for microns...
Another closer to home and personal example for me was when the trucking company I was working for at the time was asked to participate in a test for a company that was one of the first to market synthetic oils (who shall remain nameless). They were doing extended drain interval tests and in theory they sounded good, but weren't much more than a joke in reality. The engines held something like 16 gallons of oil including what was in the large capacity external auxiliary filter, which held about 4 gallons if memory serves. What they would do is this; Check the engine oil level, and top it off. Remove the OE engine oil filters and top off the new ones with fresh oil. Remove the external filter, drain the can, replace the filter then refill the can and soak the filter. Crank the engine and let it warm up, then take a sample out of the external filter can and sent it off to an independent lab for analysis.
How do you think it tested?
To answer your question the amount of money saved or spent in an oil change by using one product over another isn't my primary concern. I also take my own personal results and feedback from other people that I trust, like you, far more seriously than any test results and in the end use what makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
In regards to oil and filters I've been real happy with Motul's E-Tech and 7100 oils, I'm considering giving the 300V a shot this time around. I can get OEM Kaw filters, but I'm real partial to K&N's because they have served me well and I love the handy bolt head on the top of the filter. Plus I have the added piece of mind knowing that my money was spent in a small local business that helps to feed people I know and love, and not in a big box store that treats it's employees like an expense that needs to be kept down and supports expoliting cheap foreign labor in the name of profits.
Test over, results are in. YMMV.
Bruce
