Oil change coming up next week

[6spdxterra29732]

I have always been a fan of mobil 1 synthetic. I used it in my geo and I currently use it in my truck. Its really up to you whichever to decide, but with the amount of driving I do, it works out a little better to me, as I can drive a little longer before changing my oil. (usually 6-8k depending) I used to use Lucas Synthetic Oil stabilizer in my geo, which made a world of difference, especially with regards to gas mileage. I haven't put it in the X yet, but plan on it pretty soon. Any opinons on the oil stabilizer? I have about 15k miles on my X.

[lovemysan]

I've used mobil 1 before and no complaints. I've actually never had a problem with any oil I've used. I'm currently using amsoil 0w30 in the saturn. It works fine to. I'm running dino in the suburban and it has the typical 5.3 noisy lifters. I intend to try some amsoil on it too.

[chuckm]

I'm using mobil 1 and have for a couple years. On a previous car, switching to mobil 1 gave me around a 2mpg gain. Of course, it might have been the fact that I started taking better care in general than the previous owner.

[RH77]

I once heard that ELF oils are pretty good, but not available here.

But yeah, I've been using Castrol GTX for about 5 years with good results (and Purolator filters for the same amount of time). Inspecting the valvetrain at 120K revealed very little buildup and clear galleries.

I also perform the controversial Seafoam crankcase cleanse every year or so to de-gunk (including the brake booster draw).

RH77

[BlackDeuceCoupe]

Originally Posted by RH77

I... perform the controversial Seafoam crankcase cleanse every year or so to de-gunk (including the brake booster draw).

If you'll pardon the pun... Oh, you stinker!!!

Originally Posted by RH77

But yeah, I've been using Castrol GTX for about 5 years with good results (and Purolator filters for the same amount of time). Inspecting the valvetrain at 120K revealed very little buildup and clear galleries.

Motor oil [standards] is a moving target!

What was true a couple of years ago doesn't apply today!

To exemplify what I'm saying... 0W-40 is hella more 'thick' than 10W-30... 0W-30 is mad thicker than 5W-20!

If this confuses anybody, let me add to the mix - synthetic oils are thinner than 'dino oil', so called, weight for weight. That's one of the reasons synthetic oils are sooo great! These days you will want to go with thinner oil, for longevity/endurance, NOT thicker, like in 1968!

In the old days, you probably wanted and needed thicker oil than the manufacturer recommended. In the 'new world order' you'll probably want thinner oil than they recommend!

Add to that... the U.S. government has decided you don't need all those additives - the stuff that makes your car last longer - because it wrecks cat converters - which they mandated also! They have mandated that these great additives cannot be sold in 1 qt. containers in automotive stores, but they can be added and sold in non-automotive stores - such as Wal-Mart - or they can be sold in bulk, which commerce and the military depend on...

Plus, there's the 'old car' exemption, if you will. That is, if the oil is designed to be used in pre-2007 vehicles - all bets are off. So, for instance, regular Mobil 1 10W-30 oil, sold in 1 qt. bottles in an automotive stores cannot have over 800 ppm 'zinc' (ZDDP) - but, if it says "HIGH MILEAGE" on the bottle, then it's okay to 'boost' the additives - 1100 ppm ZDDP or whatever the market will bear - and the regulators will turn a 'blind eye' to it.

LoL!

Am I boring you?

[RH77]

Originally Posted by BlackDeuceCoupe

If you'll pardon the pun... Oh, you stinker!!!

Oh yeah, the neighbors are well aware when I've broken-out the Seafoam

Plus, there's the 'old car' exemption, if you will. That is, if the oil is designed to be used in pre-2007 vehicles - all bets are off. So, for instance, regular Mobil 1 10W-30 oil, sold in 1 qt. bottles in an automotive stores cannot have over 800 ppm 'zinc' (ZDDP) - but, if it says "HIGH MILEAGE" on the bottle, then it's okay to 'boost' the additives - 1100 ppm ZDDP or whatever the market will bear - and the regulators will turn a 'blind eye' to it.

LoL!

Am I boring you?

No, actually this is interesting stuff. I don't really use Synth due to the cost and the small-moderate amount of oil used between changes (sometimes I have to add a quart before it's time -- it varies). Plus, I don't buy Exxon/Mobil products for personal reasons. I went through the stage of mandatory Mobil 1 use in an '03 EVO.

So back to the whole zinc deal. "High Mileage" formulas have higher amounts? So, would it kill an aging cat quicker? I've been down that road too and I have a concern about emissions.

I'm probably over-generalizing, but I just take the philosophy that a responsible maintenance schedule, with a decent oil and filter, will be less costly in the long-run than using more expensive blends.

RH77

[BlackDeuceCoupe]

Originally Posted by RH77

I'm probably over-generalizing, but...

Yeah, me too - lately - it's safer that way...

Originally Posted by RH77

I just take the philosophy that a responsible maintenance schedule, with a decent oil and filter, will be less costly in the long-run than using more expensive blends...

Truth be told...

IMHO, viscosity is more important than manufacturer!

The thing is, you can't really rely on 'apriori knowledge' when it comes to motor oil - not these days. Things have changed, and are changing very fast - like everything else!

That said, Mobil 1 is the most proven synthetic oil by time, useage, and testing. It's the most trusted lubricant for jet aircraft engines both civilian and military. Mobil 1 has PROVEN itself across the board! In fact, many ppl trust their lives to Mobil 1, whether they know it or not - including yourself, if you fly commercially...

Why NOT put it in your ride?

[ATaylorRacing]

Originally Posted by BlackDeuceCoupe

"Plus, there's the 'old car' exemption, if you will. That is, if the oil is designed to be used in pre-2007 vehicles - all bets are off. So, for instance, regular Mobil 1 10W-30 oil, sold in 1 qt. bottles in an automotive stores cannot have over 800 ppm 'zinc' (ZDDP) - but, if it says "HIGH MILEAGE" on the bottle, then it's okay to 'boost' the additives - 1100 ppm ZDDP or whatever the market will bear - and the regulators will turn a 'blind eye' to it."

I did not know that. If my cats die they will be replaced with bigger and better flowing ones.....or, heaven forbid, straight pipe.

[ATaylorRacing]

Originally Posted by ATaylorRacing

I did not know that. If my cats die they will be replaced with bigger and better flowing ones.....or, heaven forbid, straight pipe.

My wife just walked by and only saw the cats die part, wants to replace with declawed version!

[RH77]

Originally Posted by BlackDeuceCoupe

Yeah, me too - lately - it's safer that way...

Truth be told...

IMHO, viscosity is more important than manufacturer!

The thing is, you can't really rely on 'apriori knowledge' when it comes to motor oil - not these days. Things have changed, and are changing very fast - like everything else!

That said, Mobil 1 is the most proven synthetic oil by time, useage, and testing. It's the most trusted lubricant for jet aircraft engines both civilian and military. Mobil 1 has PROVEN itself across the board! In fact, many ppl trust their lives to Mobil 1, whether they know it or not - including yourself, if you fly commercially...

Why NOT put it in your ride?

It's just finding the stuff cheap. Costco would intermittently have it, but it's just demands the coinage. I let Northwest keep my main ride (the DC-9) going with Mobil 1 (until they're retired later this year -- sniffle ).


Old Reliable. Courtesy Airliners.net

Plus (really knocking on wood here), I'm predicting the rest of the car to fall apart around the engine: starting with the autotrans. The plan is to keep the car for a few more years, so it's all cost-benefit analysis math stuff.

Originally Posted by ATaylorRacing

My wife just walked by and only saw the cats die part, wants to replace with declawed version!

I knew this would come up after I typed it! Funny...

RH77