The Peckish Synapse

Grumpy Bear · September 12, 2025

Moved from Some Assembly Required. More on point here.

The earth revolves around the sun. It's a basic truth that is independent of opinion. Independent of heart felt belief. It's how we know it is the truth. It doesn't change based on education, whim, view point, alternate facts. It just is.

So THE prerequisite for finding the truth is believing it, truth, exists. That's goal #1. If you can't admit that then the rest of any argument for it is a waste of time and breath.

If you can concede that first statement then what follows is a step two. Take your search for the truth SERIOUSLY.

If you are serious then you should be unafraid to make the third step. Make an UNBIASED examination of the FACTS and use you POWER OF REASON.

The fourth step is the hardest for those with a economic or emotional investment in a falsehood. Reject that falsehood your serious, unbiased review of FACTS subject to your powers of reason reveals to you.

Recent events in history have educated me to the idea that people will believe anything and lie from the heart to get other to believe whatever it is they are pedaling. I have ZERO interest in personal beliefs or in people who promote a lie for selfish reasonings. I don't care how loud one proclaims gravity is an illusion. I'm not stepping off a cliff. Truth matters. It exist and I am an avid student. It keeps me from doing DUMB things.

Grumpy Bear · September 16, 2025

https://www.slashgear.com/1307998/best-motor-oil-brands-ranked/

Red Line taps in a 15 of this list of 18 oil. One rug lower than Supertech and one rug higher than....wait for it....AMSOIL!

The winning oil in the April 2025 posting was the media Queen Mobil 1.

Okay....got al that out of your system

Now go inside this article and read the "WHY" Red Line HP is ranked so low. Oh go ahead, read the reason for AMSOIL doing worse. You know ya what to.

[Quote) Since 1979, Red Line has produced some of the best motor oils, automotive fluids, and lubricants that the racing industry has to offer. While these products are priced appropriately, it's hard to recommend Red Line products for everyday use. While they are high quality motor oils, made from some of the most heat resistant bases available, they are simply an unnecessary upgrade for daily driving. So, while Red Line Synthetic Oil is great for racing applications, it's tough to rank it too highly on our list because of its specialized nature. [Close quote]

I'm going to flat say these two guys have totally whiffed the purpose of this base oil package. I'm not posting this to promote an oil brand but to warn of a modern day danger of letting AI and OS algorithm do your thinking for you. This is about the most blatant example I could find of someone with very nice income not earning his money. Worse, this algorithm will now push two very good lubricants to the bottom that 6.5 million hit search list Joe Average relies on to make some fairly important discissions. This is true of more than motor oil.

That remark about AMSOIL not having enough products? Really?

Edited September 16, 2025 by Grumpy Bear

Atlas · September 16, 2025

Oh, but I think those two guys earned their income. They got you to read their stupid article, driving engagement and clicks with their website which also publishes articles on the entertainment industry and gaming.

At the top of the article it clearly states

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

And the at the bottom of the article, clearly stated:

This list was compiled and ranked based on a variety of metrics. Included in this process are considerations for each brand's product range, price, and quality, including range, components, reported performance, and mileage included. User feedback and professional reviews were taken into account.

Reported by whom? Which metrics?

Next Up:

How to use WD-40 to remove rust

(Are you kidding us with this stuff?)

In case anyone needed a translation, that sure reads like "We're writers for a website that makes money on commission, and we might make the most commission from the products at the top of our lists!".

Woosh and ...pop!, another boomer got sucked into the internet. Isn't critical thinking still taught in schools? And one wonders why scamming the elderly via the internet is an industry worth billions of dollars. They'll engage with anything on a screen!

OnTheReel · September 17, 2025

Just the sad state of the internet. We are the products now and nobody cares.

I’ve noticed lately even YouTube is littered with shitty AI generated and narrated videos that are full of bad information on any topic you want to search for. And it’s even hitting my business. Had a guy yesterday return a bunch of stuff that AI told him he needed for his system but didn’t. With friends like AI, who needs enemies?

diyer2 · September 17, 2025

Try buying a new computer without it.

garagerog · September 17, 2025

1 hour ago, diyer2 said:

Try buying a new computer without it.

That's why I'm still limping along on a 13 year old HP desktop with Windows 7.0, both figuratively and literally as I use a cane.

Grumpy Bear · September 17, 2025

5 hours ago, diyer2 said:

Try buying a new computer without it.

You can't. Agreed. I even use it sometimes to sort large batches of information. Like any tool. It has a use and like any tool there is no shortage of those willing to misuse it.

It's why we have to be the final filter and not just a sponge soaking up dirty water. First thing I ask my wife when she shares something she 'Read on the Internet" that sounds fishy. "What/Who was the source?" Is corroborated by a second and even third trusted source. When she shares something that sounds normal, I ask the same questions. I don't know the answers but I'm capable of finding the truth. I search for it and yes....sometimes on the Internet...from trusted sources.

I don't gauge truth based on what I "Like" or what I "Need" or what wins me "Likes". I don't look for it to support my current understanding. I just LOOK for it and accept it when I find it. Gravity was an easy one for me. :crackup: ( I slept on the top bunk)

OnTheReel · September 18, 2025

Google Lens has come in handy a lot for me. The rest of AI I have never used. I read a study that said 1 in 3 answers it gives are wrong. I can’t afford to goof up that much!

My computer is from 2017 and my iPhone is 4 years old. No rush to replace them. These tech companies are increasingly anti-consumer and the days of exponential improvements in their products every year are gone. All that said, I probably wouldn’t use a Win 7 laptop at this point though, too many security risks.

diyer2 · September 18, 2025

The wife wanted a laptop for her personal use, we share a windows desktop. I'm on the desktop the most. I looked at lot of laptops for her, AI is everywhere. Not our thing but impossible to avoid.

Edited September 18, 2025 by diyer2

Atlas · September 18, 2025

23 hours ago, garagerog said:

That's why I'm still limping along on a 13 year old HP desktop with Windows 7.0, both figuratively and literally as I use a cane.

It's a good idea to *not* be left behind on OS platforms. Microsoft has long since dropped support for Windows 7 and they no longer issue security updates and other patches which help safeguard against vulnerability (mostly on the internet).

If you keep anything personal (financial, important documents) or do anything of consequence (log into bank accounts, credit cards, make purchases) you should really consider upgrading to a supported operating system.

My folks are about to hit 80 years old and I don't think they believe me when I say they need to upgrade their computer and software. "But it works fine for what we do!" Actually, no, it doesn't, and for reasons that they will likely never truly understand.

Grumpy Bear · October 17, 2025

Don't see this every day

Typically we see this curve only for neat oils with no VM's. They complicate things. This one is for a single weight with 'friction modifiers'. (ZDP, Boron, Moly etc. e.g.) No VM.

Where do you think current design is placing OEM viscosity selection? Read up on GF-6B oils for a clue. Read up on the difference between GF4 to GF6 and ask how they get less friction from the same 100 C viscosity brackets? Explore the history of VM's for your answers.

What are you relying on for wear control between the blue and green slopes? How does that work in extended drain intervals? Since your UOA will only tell you the presents of the element and not its chemical availability, how long is to long?

What does your current observations of the whole of the industry and ring seal law suits tell you about this strategy?

Trust me, I know what I'm doing? :crackup: Tribologist are not power train engineers and power train engineers are not tribologist. Marketing people are neither and accounts haven't clue about any of it.

Edited October 17, 2025 by Grumpy Bear

Grumpy Bear · October 17, 2025

ZDP

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11249-016-0706-7

At least read the discussion and conclusion.

Edited October 17, 2025 by Grumpy Bear

Grumpy Bear · October 21, 2025

Beat a new Drum

I rarely start Pepper for a drive under 100 miles. Rarely, not never... Why?

How much time and how many threads I've I spent talking about the reduction of wear? Yea...a lot. News flash. Those discussions fall into the 25% of the engines total wear you have the most control over. After it's heated up.

75% of engine wear happens between ambient, cold start, and 160 F+. Not just water temperature but bulk oil temperature as well. Oil takes a much longer time to bring to fully warmed up than does the water.

SAE Tech Paper 2006-01-3413 (One of the GM studies)

SAE Tech Paper #600190 Standard Oil wear during cold start

Ring/bore life is the limiting factor in overall engine life, not bearing life. Ring and bore life hinge on the oil, oil condition and in its operating environment, the number of miles PER COLD START, and load. Yes there are more factors but these are the heavy hitters.

OTR engines get a cold start or two a day and then are run for 400-600 miles. Soccer mom's van almost never attains 160 F oil temperature between starts. One goes a million miles the other ??????? Go figure :dunno:

Edited October 21, 2025 by Grumpy Bear

KARNUT · October 21, 2025

That’s interesting. My wife’s 2011 Genesis at 155K miles has gone 100 miles at one time 3 times. It does go long enough to warm up that’s about it. Usually 9 miles is it’s max. My wife says it’s her last car. She’s 68 so I doubt it will go 1 million miles. I doubt many vehicles will. It just doesn’t add up. My trip vehicle only goes over 100 miles at start up a few times a year. The rest never. All are north of 150K miles. Some are getting close to 200K. My newest is a 2016, oldest is a 2002. Non use oil run fine. I drive about 15K miles a year now. 1 million miles? I bet pepper wouldn’t make it either. An exercise in futility? Not if it makes you happy.

OnTheReel · October 21, 2025

I don’t turn the key on my truck unless I’m running 30 miles. Wear metals were atrocious short tripping. Some motors handle it better than others so choose accordingly. Big V8s ain’t ideal. Especially not with GDI. Diesels should be out too. Emissions systems can’t handle it.

My V6 Jeep makes out just fine on the short trips however. Is it still wearing faster than if it was strictly a highway vehicle, yes. But we do the best we can.