what's PCMO? either way go read the respect tech specs/data sheets manufacturers provide.

for good/reputable API SN/GF5 certified fully synthetics, it will be in the range of 8-13.

not the be all end all though
considering torco's performance/racing oriented products, torco has a ton of friction modifiers to make up for what's low on the TBN.

And BITOG forumers has UOA that reports that their TBN doesn't deteriorate as fast as other EO.
i have also personally used torco on 16k km OCI, which had no performance degradation whatsoever.

my own personal take (again, imho) for petro canada is that they aren't well known in the boutique EO, and they are basically mainstream albeit for canadian petrol stations hence the name petrol canada.

yeap you are correct: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Base_Number

the idea is having better friction modifiers (or whatever proprietary additives) an EO has it's effect on more efficient engine operation would reduce the consumption of TBN.

else there would be no explanation to the UOA that BITOG members are submitting on various performance/racing based engine oils such as the 300v that motul has which only has barely 8 TBN http://www.motul.com/system/product_descri....pdf?1329125318 and still able to survive 10-20k km easily despite being a full fledged non api certified racing engine oil.

that is my personal take for extended OCI (which i am practicing now) so the more the better no? when everyone is proud to "exceed API specifications" while still being API SN/GF 5 certified. it kinda makes one wonder if API's standards are strict enough

we'll know by 2015/2016 with the new SO (or SP, considering SO sounds weird specifications, along with honda pushing for official SAW 0w16 viscosity) specs

anyways forgotten to post this:
https://plus.google.com/+JasonLimQuazacolt/posts/DzSwSWnqNaL package from Blackstone laboratories arrived... just waiting for 3k km more till my OCI so i can collect used oil samples to send over

watch the youtube/links i've linked previously la

it's something new, using natural gas to form the base oil. so i'm particularly intrigued by it

They are licensed to manufacture and market lubricant using brand name Pennzoil.