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What motor oil do you use and why?

I agree with billboost37, buy what is on sale and change it every 3K. Also, it should say 10W30 on the oil cap.
 




you do know they call it cheap oil for a reason its like pennzoil they used wax in there oil and it caused your engine to stop working due to wax build up. so cheap is not always the best.
 
My first oil change was Valvoline Synpower 10w-30 (synthetic) and a Wix filter.
My next will be Mobil 1 10w-30 and either a Wix or Purolator.

I prefer synthetic because I drive what's called extreme driving conditions. Winter cold start ups and short trips(lots of condensation in the engine in the winter). And it was on sale at the time and I started looking into it and eventually got myself into buying synthetic. Synthetic oil IS a better oil, period. It's like dex III and VI. (Knowing that, I still use III for certain reasons, just as some engines should seriously stick to conventional) It's better in more-so extreme conditions, many will not see these conditions so it may not do a whole lot for them(for the extra money they pay) besides extending the change interval. Plus there are more detergents and bla bla bla. I pay $24.97 for 5 quarts of full synthetic Valvoline/Mobil 1, so I can't complain about prices being too high.

If I paid for the cheapest conventional($13.97 for Mobil super) and went 3k; and the cheapest synthetic($20.97 for Quaker State) and went 5k, there's not much more money spent for oil that is a little better(for my engine, not all engines though)

Definitely don't use synthetic oil in worn engines because it's properties are a little different (Just like why I don't want Dex 6 in my 110k mile 02 trans) It can cause the engine to make more valve noise from a faster flowing oil, and cause seals to seep more. When I first got my car, as far as I knew, conventional was the only oil ever used in it. When I switched to synthetic, my valve cover gaskets began to seep more than twice as bad. It went from occasionally smelling it, to actually seeing smoke. Point being, there are certain places synthetic will be an improvement over conventional, and some places it will be worse. Choose carefully lol, but you can always switch back.
 
02NavyBlue said:
My first oil change was Valvoline Synpower 10w-30 (synthetic) and a Wix filter.
My next will be Mobil 1 10w-30 and either a Wix or Purolator.

I prefer synthetic because I drive what's called extreme driving conditions. Winter cold start ups and short trips(lots of condensation in the engine in the winter). And it was on sale at the time and I started looking into it and eventually got myself into buying synthetic. Synthetic oil IS a better oil, period. It's like dex III and VI. (Knowing that, I still use III for certain reasons, just as some engines should seriously stick to conventional) It's better in more-so extreme conditions, many will not see these conditions so it may not do a whole lot for them(for the extra money they pay) besides extending the change interval. Plus there are more detergents and bla bla bla. I pay $24.97 for 5 quarts of full synthetic Valvoline/Mobil 1, so I can't complain about prices being too high.

If I paid for the cheapest conventional($13.97 for Mobil super) and went 3k; and the cheapest synthetic($20.97 for Quaker State) and went 5k, there's not much more money spent for oil that is a little better(for my engine, not all engines though)

Definitely don't use synthetic oil in worn engines because it's properties are a little different (Just like why I don't want Dex 6 in my 110k mile 02 trans) It can cause the engine to make more valve noise from a faster flowing oil, and cause seals to seep more. When I first got my car, as far as I knew, conventional was the only oil ever used in it. When I switched to synthetic, my valve cover gaskets began to seep more than twice as bad. It went from occasionally smelling it, to actually seeing smoke. Point being, there are certain places synthetic will be an improvement over conventional, and some places it will be worse. Choose carefully lol, but you can always switch back.
Click to expand...




No.....You do not extend the interval between changes with synthetic.

That is false beyond all beliefs. Hell, my car, because it calls for synthetic says my interval should be 7500 miles....Yeah....**** that. I go every 3k-3500 in the wrx. Because it is retarded to go over that.
 
I'll take the advice of an oil expert any day over some uncited stuff on the internet. If you want to know your oil change interval with your vehicle/oil/filter/driving style, test your oil. The guy will tell you.
That being said, I'm happy as a clam to run cheap synthetic for 10k with an expensive filter, because it's cold and wet in the winter and I'm a busy dude. The filter is more of a limitation that the oil. Synthetic with a cheap filter? Change the filter every 3k, top off the oil, and change oil every 3-4 filters. If that's the sort of life that makes you happy. Do what helps you sleep at night.
 


I run Mobil1 10/30 with a ACDelco filter (shove it I get filter from work for cheap) and change it every 3-4K depending.
 
I've sent in an oil sample to blackstone labs after 14K Km's and there was still life left in the oil. Amsoil 5w30 and amsoil filter.
 
They are one of the worst filters available. I don't think they'll ever blow up an engine, but under no circumstances would I go over 3k on them. They're like $2.50 at walmart. How much cheaper could they possibly get?
 
Yea I ususally use WIX if I go to Oreillys for oil, but since I can get it much cheaper from work I just go with Mob1 and the ACDelco filter for cheap. I play with the car but its not a racekar and when I change the oil its usually still got life in it, dark but still see-through so meh.
 


MoarkatsINmuhtrailer said:
No.....You do not extend the interval between changes with synthetic.

That is false beyond all beliefs. Hell, my car, because it calls for synthetic says my interval should be 7500 miles....Yeah....**** that. I go every 3k-3500 in the wrx. Because it is retarded to go over that.
Click to expand...

For a 3800, I see no reason not to. They don't tend to exhibit any issues with sludging or clogging of the PCV.

Very different story for my current vehicle. Get this one, 7500 miles, non-synthetic, GF-2 or better was the factory recommendation. Basically any oil that was sold at any store from 2000+ in 10W-30.

Then a couple years later, they realized how dumb that was after seeing the buildup in the engines, and specified ACEA A5/B5 instead. In otherwords, top quality synthetics. Even with a quality synthetic, because of the overcomplicated PCV system, extended intervals are still frowned upon.

On the topic of filters, seeing as I have a cartridge filter, I don't even know what the best option is. Just a huge list of brands I've never heard of before. Mahle, Mann, etc. Mobil apparently makes an insert, but I haven't heard of anyone using it, yet.
 
MoarkatsINmuhtrailer said:
No.....You do not extend the interval between changes with synthetic.

That is false beyond all beliefs. Hell, my car, because it calls for synthetic says my interval should be 7500 miles....Yeah....**** that. I go every 3k-3500 in the wrx. Because it is retarded to go over that.
Click to expand...

You don't have to, but it will last longer than conventional. People go 10-12k on synthetic and it still looks fine afterwards. Do that with conventional, and you will probably have a blown motor, or at least really clumpy oil. Why do you think some transmissions are sealed (unserviceable) now? Because they're using fully synthetic fluids that will last over 250k miles.
 
Just because the synthetic oil tests good after 10k miles doesnt meen it is....
Filters clog up with ****, but this doesnt catch everything. So the longer you go between oil changes the longer that **** thats sitting in your oil filter and on the bottom of your pan, is getting flushed threw your engine causing wear. Stop being a cheap ass. If you can mod your car you can certainly afford spending 20-35 on an oil change with good synthetic oil every 3-4k miles, your engine will thank you in the long run. I spend 38 bucks on my oil change with a k&n or mobil 1 filter (same exact thing btw) and 5-30 royal purple every 3k miles. Granted i get like 50% off working at Cap. But i would still pay the 70 it would cost normally for the fact that i care about my car more than pretty much anything.

If you smoke for your entire life, chances are your not living as long as someone that doesnt.

And if you do smoke. Stop and spend the money on your oil changes so you and your car can live longer happily together :D
 
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