Brad Penn Grade 1 is blended crude and synthetic. True synthetic oil (unlike Mobil 1 is now) is awesome, if you've got the cash. Motul, Redline, Royal Purple, etc. I think everyone is using Ester base stock as an additive in what is classified in most common "synthetic" oil, instead of using it as the actual base stock, instead of sour crude.
The stuff that they get up in Penn. state is good quality and very consistent, blended with Ester base stock.
Synthetics have excellent viscosity properties. They don't change as much in cold to hot testing or beyond those temps. They rate oil cold and hot at 72°F and 212°F. So, cold tests and numbers published on viscosity is not nearly as cold as oils see, nor as hot.
As long as the Synthetics have good mineral additive numbers, it is the best thing you can do to an engine that is properly set up and sealed.
It isn't necessary in most situations, but it does help more in extreme situations, especially cold driving conditions. People cheap out on their drivers with things like clearcoat for paint jobs and oil, when in reality, paying for higher quality shows more benefit on a driver, in those products, than in a garaged car that is driven once in a while.
