Engine Oil Substitutes: The Test Results
This head-to-head test of 1 engine oil substitutes options has the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.
Havoline Dexron VI ATF (automatic transmission fluid)
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.
All measurements (6 more)+
Lubricity test vs 10W-30 motor oil
- 1Havoline Dexron VI ATF (automatic transmission fluid)
more scoring on the automatic transmission fluid bearing than the 10W-30 bearing, so 10W-30 has better film strength than automatic transmission fluid, but the fluid did not lose lubricity after 1 hour of use
Compression test before and after use in a canola oil gummed engine
- 1Havoline Dexron VI ATF (automatic transmission fluid)
three readings before and three after using ATF, per video chapters the reading went from 95 PSI to 115 PSI, a significant improvement
Crankcase cleanliness via see through engine panel
- 1Havoline Dexron VI ATF (automatic transmission fluid)
the same spot inside the crankcase looked a little bit cleaner than before using automatic transmission fluid
Used fluid filtered for contamination
- 1Havoline Dexron VI ATF (automatic transmission fluid)
some metal flakes found in the used fluid, host could not determine if the flakes were caused by the ATF or were already in the engine
Carbon build up on piston and valves vs regular motor oil
- 1Havoline Dexron VI ATF (automatic transmission fluid)
left less carbon build up on the piston than regular motor oil, but about the same build up around the exhaust valve and intake valve
1 hour continuous run test
- 1Havoline Dexron VI ATF (automatic transmission fluid)
engine ran for a full hour, sometimes under load and sometimes not, and survived
How it was tested
- compression test before and after use, engine previously gummed up with canola oil
- lubricity and film strength test against 10W-30 motor oil using a bearing wear rig
- visual crankcase cleanliness check through a see through engine panel
- used fluid filtered through a coffee filter to check for metal contamination and sludge
- carbon build up comparison on piston, exhaust valve, and intake valve
- 1 hour continuous engine run test, under load and no load
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