I know Mobil 1 is good, but how is their conventional oil? Is it better than Pennzoil or Havoline? Curious. Thanks

 

Better is a very subjective term. In general Mobil has excellent quality control and refines to higher then required (federal and institutional) specification.
However if you change on a regular scheduled basis, it probably doesn't really make any difference what brand use.

 

I have heard other conventional oil except for Valvoline and Mobile have parafin wax in them. I used Valvoline before I switched to Mobile 1 and was very happy....I don't want that wax in my car.

 

I've never heard the whole wax theroy but.....Regular Havoline and Valvoline are plain non-synthetic oils. Mobile one oil is a Synthetic. In a stock 2002 C-5 Vette, they recomend you use Mobile One. (at the dealer) If you take a regular, non-synthetic oil and over heat it, it basically turns into water......viscosity wise, it thins out to the point that it's as THIN as water.= No protection from metal to metal contact. When you take lets say that Mobile one and put it in a high heat (350*) and high stress( 350*+ 200 lbs press.) environment, the small molecules that make up the synthetic oil, retain their molecular structure. It's a man made oil, and basically you don't have that "Viscosity Breakdown"......like we've all heard in comercials.

When a Synthetic oil is over heated it STAYS an oil. That's the best way I could explain synthetics. I hope that helps a bit.

 

Paraffin wax is a by-product of the refining process. So one could say that all refined oil is going to have some paraffin wax in it. However, modern refining removes virtually all of this product, and it is not a problem with any good brand name oil.
Resistance to high temp. breakdown is only one reason to buy syn. oil. As this is a manufactured oil, all aspects(parameters) of the oil are highly controlled. Most are the companies best products(most expensive) and therefore the quality control is very high.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Mobil 1, but the deal with Chevy had more to do with economics then oil quality.
For those who don't want to pay syn. prices the new blended brands are a good compromise.

 

I've never really looked in the the effects of Paraffin in motor oil. But I think I might now.
Anyway, paraffin is used in diesel fuel to lower cetane levels. which basicly means it makes it burn slower. My guess is that it would have the same effect on motor oil. I guess that would make sense, but I don't think it contains very much if any. but if you really want to know. Take some of the oil in question, stick it in a dish, and stick it in the fridge. Paraffin causes diesel fuel to GEL at around 20 degrees F. If the oil indeed contains paraffin, it should have the same effect.
Personally, I don't think you even need to try this experiment, if this were the case, people like me in chicago, without a pan heater would be destroying our engines within about 5 seconds every winter.