Well I am an expert beings that I was once a chemist, although my specialty
was more with coal than oil. You are essentially correct in a general sense
about east versus west sulfur content although not all western oils are low
in sulfur, the stuff refined here in Montana is a higher sulfur oil but I
think a lot of it comes in from Canadian oil fields. There has been
legislation but that has always been geared more towards combustion
processes as in power plants with the sulfur dioxide combining with water
to form sulfuric acid. With the emphasis on changing oil every 3,000 miles
or six months, that will eliminate any problems with acidity in the oil.
That is more of a problem with old oil and very long stagnant periods I
would think.
David Councill
67 BGT
72 B
At 11:01 PM 7/26/2004 -0400, James Nazarian wrote:
> I don't in any way claim to be an expert in oil, but it is my understanding
>that there is still a significantly higher sulfer content in eastern oil.
>For this reason eastern oil turns acidic faster as it ages, and becomes more
>acidic than western oil. I know a few very well respected classic car
>builders that won't use eastern oil in cars that don't see regular service
>because of this. I would not be surprised if the "dirtier" eastern oils
>have some differences during their service lives as well. Again, I have
>been told, that there is legislation going on right now to force the eastern
>oils to become cleaner, but that is the extent of what I know.
>
>Like I said, this is all second hand, and may be old mechanics' tales but I
>don't know.
>
>
>James Nazarian
>71 MGBGT V8
>71 MGB Tourer
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