VP Street Legal Synthetic Blend Formula Motor Oil (5W-30) is designed for trusted engine protection and peak vehicle performance, suitable for passenger cars, hybrid vehicles, light trucks, and SUVs, particularly those with turbocharged or naturally aspirated gasoline engines.
Standards and Compatibility
This oil meets several key standards:
- ILSAC GF-6A for improved fuel economy and engine protection.
- API SP, the latest API gasoline engine oil standard, addressing low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) in turbocharged engines.
- Chrysler MS-6395 (Revision S) and Ford WSS-M2C946A, ensuring compatibility with these manufacturers’ vehicles.
- It is backward compatible with older GM standards like GM6094M (obsolete), suitable for some older GM vehicles.
Benefits and Features
- Provides resistance to sludge and varnish, crucial for stop-and-go driving.
- Offers outstanding wear protection, especially under severe conditions.
- Ensures excellent low-temperature performance for cold starts.
- Protects vehicle emission systems, aiding compliance with environmental regulations.
- Delivers optimum fuel economy, enhancing vehicle efficiency.
Comprehensive Analysis of SAE 5W-30 VP Street Legal Synthetic Blend Formula Motor Oil
This detailed analysis provides an in-depth examination of the VP Street Legal Synthetic Blend Formula Motor Oil (5W-30), based on available documentation and online resources. The analysis covers product specifications, standards met, compatibility, benefits, and recommended applications, ensuring a thorough understanding for users seeking a high-performance engine oil for their vehicles.
Product Identification and Base Oil Type
The product in question is VP Street Legal Synthetic Blend Formula Motor Oil, SAE 5W-30, a synthetic blend engine oil. Synthetic blend oils combine conventional base oils with synthetic base oils, offering a balance between cost and performance, with improved thermal stability and engine protection compared to conventional oils. The 5W-30 viscosity grade indicates it is suitable for a wide range of temperatures, with “5W” ensuring flow in cold conditions and “30” providing protection at operating temperatures.
Standards and Certifications
The oil meets several industry and manufacturer-specific standards, which are critical for ensuring compatibility and performance:
- ILSAC GF-6A: Introduced in May 2020, this standard enhances fuel economy, engine protection, and performance, particularly for modern engines with turbocharged gasoline direct injection (TGDI) systems. It addresses issues like low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) and timing chain wear, making it suitable for vehicles requiring the latest oil specifications.
- API SP: The American Petroleum Institute’s latest gasoline engine oil standard, API SP, complements ILSAC GF-6A by focusing on LSPI control, deposit control, and fuel economy, ensuring robust protection for advanced engine designs.
- Chrysler MS-6395 (Revision S): This specification ensures the oil meets Chrysler’s requirements for engine protection and performance, particularly for their gasoline engines.
- Ford WSS-M2C946A: Ford’s specification for engine oils, this standard ensures compatibility with Ford vehicles, particularly those requiring 5W-30 viscosity oils.
- General Motors GM6094M (Obsolete): This older GM standard, now obsolete, indicates backward compatibility for some older GM vehicles, though not recommended for newer models requiring dexos standards.
Notably, the oil’s meeting of ILSAC GF-6A and API SP is unexpected for a synthetic blend, as these standards are typically met by fully synthetic oils. This suggests an advanced formulation, possibly with a higher proportion of synthetic base oils or enhanced additives.
Key Features and Performance Benefits
The VP Street Legal Synthetic Blend Formula Motor Oil (5W-30) offers several performance benefits, making it suitable for demanding driving conditions:
- Sludge and Varnish Resistance: The oil is formulated with a proprietary blend of conventional and synthetic base oils and a state-of-the-art additive system, providing added resistance to sludge formation and varnish deposits. This is particularly beneficial during stop-and-go driving, where engines are prone to thermal breakdown and deposit buildup.
- Outstanding Wear Protection: It offers excellent wear protection for critical engine components, ensuring longevity and reliability under severe operating conditions, such as high temperatures and heavy loads.
- Low-Temperature Performance: The 5W rating ensures ultimate low-temperature engine protection and performance, maintaining fluidity for cold starts and reducing wear during initial engine operation.
- Severe Condition Protection: The oil maintains maximum engine protection under severe conditions, such as high-mileage driving, fleet applications, or vehicles operating in extreme environments.
- Emission System Protection: It is designed to protect vehicle emission systems, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and supporting the longevity of catalytic converters and other emission control components.
- Optimum Fuel Economy: The formulation delivers optimum fuel economy, enhancing vehicle efficiency and reducing operating costs.
These features are derived from the oil’s blend of synthetic and conventional base oils and advanced additives, ensuring it meets the needs of modern, high-performance engines despite being a synthetic blend.
Recommended Applications and Vehicle Compatibility
This oil is recommended for a range of vehicles, particularly those with specific requirements for the standards it meets:
- Passenger Cars, Hybrids, Light Trucks, and SUVs: It is suitable for turbo-charged or naturally aspirated gasoline-powered and flex-fuel passenger cars, hybrid vehicles, light trucks, and sport utility vehicles, as well as fleets.
- Manufacturer Compatibility: Given its compliance with ILSAC GF-6A, API SP, Chrysler MS-6395, and Ford WSS-M2C946A, it is compatible with vehicles from Chrysler, Ford, and others that specify these standards, especially those requiring 5W-30 viscosity. It is also backward compatible with older GM vehicles meeting GM6094M, though not recommended for newer GM models requiring dexos standards.
- Driving Conditions: It is ideal for stop-and-go driving, severe operating conditions, and vehicles with high mileage or used in fleet applications, where engine protection is paramount.
The oil’s broad compatibility makes it a versatile choice for users with modern vehicles, ensuring peak performance and engine longevity, though users should consult their vehicle’s owner manual for specific recommendations.
Technical Specifications and Physical Properties
The following table lists the typical physical properties for the 5W-30 grade, based on the 2017 technical data sheet, though note that the current version may have updated specifications meeting GF-6A and API SP:
| Property | Method | Value for 5W-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Viscosity, cSt @ 40°C | D-445 | 63.2 |
| Viscosity, cSt @ 100°C | D-445 | 10.6 |
| Viscosity Index | D-2270 | 155 |
| Specific Gravity, @ 60°F | D-1250 | 0.860 |
| Flash Point, COC, °C (°F) | D-92 | 224 (435) |
| Pour Point, °C (°F) | D-97 | -39 (-38) |
| CCS, cP, maximum @ -30°C | D-5293 | 6300 |
| NOACK Volatility @ 700°F, % loss | D-5800 | <15 |
| Total Base Number (TBN) | D-2896 | 8.5 |
| Sulfated Ash, wt.% | D-4929 | 0.92 |
Note: The CCS value of 6300 cP at -30°C seems high for a 5W-30 oil, as ILSAC GF-6A typically requires less than 6000 cP. This may indicate a typo in the 2017 data sheet, and users should verify with the manufacturer for current specifications, especially given the GF-6A claim in recent listings.
Comparison with Fully Synthetic Version
An unexpected detail is that, despite being a synthetic blend, this oil claims to meet ILSAC GF-6A and API SP, standards typically met by fully synthetic oils like the VP Street Legal Full Synthetic Formula Motor Oil. This suggests VP may have enhanced the formulation, possibly with a higher synthetic content or advanced additives, to bridge the gap between synthetic blends and fully synthetic oils. Users should note that fully synthetic oils generally offer superior thermal stability and longer drain intervals, and should consult their vehicle manual for the recommended oil type.
Conclusion
The VP Street Legal Synthetic Blend Formula Motor Oil (5W-30) is a high-performance synthetic blend lubricant that meets stringent industry and manufacturer standards, including the latest ILSAC GF-6A and API SP. It offers excellent engine protection, resistance to sludge and varnish, and performance under severe conditions, making it ideal for modern vehicles, especially those from Chrysler, Ford, and older GM models. Its ability to meet GF-6A and API SP as a synthetic blend is notable, though users should verify current specifications and consult their vehicle manual for compatibility.
