Yes, dozens if not hundreds of real world applications come to mind where synthetic is not superior.
Highway or off- highway internal combustion engines for cars, trucks and big iron, when new, offer a warranty. In most cases (exotic cars excepted) this warranty stipulates oil change intervals that are identical for synthetics and dinos. The warranty is voided if the hours recommended are exceeded. I have direct knowledge of big iron multi million dollar per year warranty programs that so state.
A 4000 HP haul truck truck engine is pulled after about 18,000 hours and rebuilt to last another 18,000 hours on a rigorous warranty and PM program. I know for a fact if synthetics would provide a 25% greater margin the users and manufacturers would indeed embrace it. It is not only about oil, it is about all the other things that create havoc for an IC engine that the builders and users are on the lookout for.
Preach as you might, the IC world is well beyond the nonsense that synthetic is a magic elixir for what ails us.
I see you, in your desperation, have taken to Strawmen ("magic elixir"). When people act so disingenuously, I tend to opt out.
The bottom line for years regarding synthetics has been:
- Good - yes,
- sometimes better - maybe,
- always better - no.
Please, the question is always cost effective, not superior - always. And cost effective takes way more into account than the base price per gallon of oil vs synthetic, way more.
I trust you have some credentials?